With Nielsen live plus same day data for the week of November 14 now in, we can confidently report Fox News Channel has now achieved 46 consecutive weeks as the most-watched basic cable network in the 24-hour daypart (according to Nielsen live-plus-same-day data), and 92 consecutive weeks as the most-watched network on cable news.
The three major cable news networks—Fox News, MSNBC and CNN—saw double digit week-to-week audience losses, which was expected given the previous week featured wall-to-wall coverage of the 2022 Midterm Elections.
Fox News averaged 1.57 million viewers and 216,000 adults 25-54 in total day this past week, -% and -%, respectively, from what the network averaged in those two categories during the election week. Fox’s 216,000 A25-54 viewer count places it at No. 2 on basic cable behind ESPN (,000). Additionally, Fox News averaged 2.4 million total viewers in primetime this past week, which is -% from the prior week. FNC also averaged 319,000 adults 25-54 in primetime, which is -% from the previous week and No. 2 on basic cable behind ESPN (,000).
Compared with the same week in 2021, Fox News is -19% in total primetime viewers, -38% in the prime time demo, -12% in total day viewers and -34% in the total day demo.
After an impressive ratings week driven by live election coverage, CNN saw its ratings return to Earth during the week of Nov. 14; although they were still better than usual. CNN was a top 10 basic cable network this past week, not only in total viewers but also among adults 25-54, both in primetime and in total day. The network averaged 625,000 total day viewers during the week of Nov. 14, which is -19% from the previous week and No. 5 on basic cable. CNN also averaged 131,000 adults 25-54 in total day, which is -35% from election week and also No. 5 on all of basic cable. Shifting over to primetime, CNN averaged 877,000 total primetime viewers, No. 5 on all of basic cable and -28% from the prior week. CNN also averaged 205,000 adults 25-54 in primetime, No. 10 on all of basic cable and -44% from election week.
Unlike Fox, CNN managed to gain viewers from the same week in 2021. The network is up +22% in total primetime viewers and +31% in the primetime demo, +14% in total day viewers and +11% in the total day demo from the comparable week in 2021.
MSNBC averaged 1.31 million total primetime viewers during the week of Nov. 14, which is -23% from the previous week and No. 4 on all of basic cable. The network also averaged 144,000 adults 25-54 in primetime, which is -47% from election week, and No. 22 on all of basic cable. Shifting to total day, MSNBC averaged 818,000 total viewers, third-most on basic cable (behind FNC and ESPN) and -17% from the prior week. The network averaged 94,000 A25-54 in total day, -36% from election week, and No. 17 on all of basic cable.
Like CNN, MSNBC posted year-over-year audience gains. The network is +8% in total primetime viewers and +2% in the primetime demo, +10% in total day viewers and +8% in the total day demo from the same week in 2021.
Week of Nov. 14 cable news ratings, Monday-Sunday (Nielsen Live+SD data):
| PRIME TIME | Fox News | MSNBC | CNN |
|---|---|---|---|
| • Total Viewers: | 2,399,000 | 1,312,000 | 877,000 |
| • A25-54: | 319,000 | 144,000 | 205,000 |
| TOTAL DAY | Fox News | MSNBC | CNN |
|---|---|---|---|
| • Total Viewers: | 1,567,000 | 818,000 | 625,000 |
| • A25-54: | 216,000 | 94,000 | 131,000 |
In terms of individual programming, The Five is the most-watched cable news show for the 13th consecutive week. The news talk panel program averaged 3.585 million total viewers during the week of Nov. 14, predictably down from the prior week. Tucker Carlson Tonight is second place in total viewers (more than 3.46 million at 8 p.m.), with Hannity (3.42 million at 9 p.m.), Jesse Watters Primetime (3.07 million at 7 p.m.), and Special Report with Bret Baier (2.75 million viewers at 6 p.m.) rounding out the top five.
Hannity shot up to No. 1 in A25-54 viewers (499,000), driven by Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign announcement in the 9 p.m. hour. Tucker Carlson Tonight dropped to No. 2 on cable news among adults 25-54, averaging 486,000 viewers from the measurement at 8 p.m. The Five ranks No. 3 (461,000), followed by Jesse Watters Primetime (393,000) and The Ingraham Angle (389,000).
Anderson Cooper 360 gave CNN a presence in the A25-54 top 10 — No. 8 with 294,000.
Below are the basic cable network rankers for this past week. The first is sorted by most to fewest total viewers, and the second is sorted by most to fewest adults 25-54: