Fox News has been attracting massive audiences recently, lifted by its wall-to-wall coverage of the Senate impeachment trial.
It was the most-watched network on basic cable last week, the week of Jan. 27, both in total day and during prime time.
Not only did Fox News finish No. 1 last week in total viewers, but it delivered its most-watched week since Jan. 2017 (the month of Trump’s inauguration) in total day, averaging a whopping 2.1 million total viewers and 361,000 adults 25-54.
In prime time, FNC also outperformed the competition, garnering 3.4 million viewers and 561,000 in the 25-54 demo. FNC’s 561,000 demo average for the week is only -20,000 vs. ESPN, which is traditionally tops across basic cable in that measurement.
Washington-based show Tucker Carlson Tonight and The Ingraham Angle each delivered their best ratings for a week in program history.
Hannity, the No. 1 show on cable news, averaged its second largest total audience in program history (4.3 million total viewers). Fox News @ Night anchored by Shannon Bream also had its second-most-watched week ever.
Additionally, FBN’s Lou Dobbs Tonight marked its 100th consecutive weekly win over CNBC in the 7 p.m. ET (in Total Viewers, not A25-54), according to Nielsen data. The program scored its 57th straight week as the No. 1 business TV news show in Total Viewers.
Fox News was also the most-watched cable news network for impeachment coverage last week, during the 12-3 p.m. ET time period. ABC News was No. 1 in Adults 25-54.
MSNBC and CNN grabbed positive ratings headlines as well. As has become custom in recent years, MSNBC earned the second-most viewers of any basic cable network for the week. This past week, it averaged 1.6 million in prime time and 1.1 million in total day.
CNN grabbed a top 5 spot as well, finished No. 5 in total prime time viewers (1.1 million) and No. 3 in total day viewers (769,000).
MSNBC beat CNN in average total viewers for the week, while CNN averaged more adults 25-54 than its counterpart.
All in all, a pretty good week for all of the cable newsers, not just Fox News.
However, compared to the same week 1 year ago, it was Fox News which significant year-over-year viewer growth. FNC was +54% in total prime time viewers, and +52% in total day viewers. There was even year-over-year growth in the demo, +55% in the prime time demo and +50% in the total day demo.
MSNBC, on the other hand, was down year-over-year in the relevant categories: Total prime time viewers (-16%), total day viewers (-1%), the prime time demo (-20%) and total day demo (-9%).
CNN was -1% in total prime time viewers from last year, but +4% in total day viewers. Its performance in A25-54, however, was not quite as strong: -16% in prime time and -10% in total day.
Cable News Ratings (A25-54)
- FNC – Prime time (561,000) and Total Day (361,000)
- CNN – Prime time (278,000) and Total Day (188,000)
- MSNBC – Prime time (268,000) and Total Day (169,000)
Basic Cable Top 10 – Prime Time (Total Viewers)
- Fox News (3,384,000)
- MSNBC (1,588,000)
- ESPN (1,214,000)
- HGTV (1,126,000)
- CNN (1,084,000)
- A&E (1,050,000)
- History (1,004,000)
- Hallmark Channel (982,000)
- Discovery (942,000)
- TBS (936,000)
Basic Cable Top 10 – Total Day (Total Viewers)
- Fox News (2,070,000)
- MSNBC (1,081,000)
- CNN (769,000)
- HGTV (702,000)
- ESPN (652,000)
- Nickelodeon (566,000)
- ID (562,000)
- Hallmark (533,000)
- A&E (527,000)
- Food Network (505,000)
Source: Nielsen, live+SD data.
Basic Cable Ranker: Week of Jan. 27 (Total Viewers) by TVNewser on Scribd
Additionally, the Adults 25-54 ranker:
Basic Cable Ranker: Week of Jan. 27 (Adults 25-54) by TVNewser on Scribd