Below, the basic cable ranker and cable news programming report for the week of October 16, 2023.
NETWORKS
With Nielsen live plus same day data for last week officially in, Fox News Channel retains its usual position as the top-rated cable news network in total viewers and among Adults 25-54.
In total day viewing, FNC averaged 1.37 million total viewers, No. 1 on all of basic cable, and 179,000 A25-54 viewers, No. 4 on all of basic cable, behind live sports-focused networks ESPN, TBS and Fox Sports 1. However, the 1.37 million and 179,000 are -14% and -19%, respectively, from the week prior — which currently stands as Fox’s most-watched week of 2023 to-date, driven by big ratings for the first few days of live Israel-Hamas war coverage.
October is a huge sports month and Fox News was knocked from perch atop the primetime cable landscape as a result. FNC’s 2.05 million total primetime viewer average is No. 3 for the week, behind TBS (MLB’s National League Championship Series) and FS1 (MLB’s American League Championship Series). In addition to ranking No. 3 in total primetime viewers, Fox News ranks No. 4 for the week in the primetime demo (251,000), behind TBS, college and NFL-carrying ESPN, and FS1. Fox News’ 2.05 million total primetime viewer average for the week is -2% from what the network averaged the previous week (Oct. 9, 2023) and the 251,000 A25-54 average is -12% from the week prior.
Turning to MSNBC, the NBCU-owned politics-focused cable newser hasn’t benefited (ratings-wise) from Israel-Hamas war breaking news coverage, but received a nice bump from its live coverage of President Biden’s primetime remarks on the war on Thursday night. For the full week, MSNBC averaged 1.29 million viewers and 124,000 Adults 25-54 in primetime, +17% and +2% respectively, from what the network averaged the previous week. The network’s 1.29 million total primetime viewer average for the week is No. 5 on all of basic cable (behind Fox News and the cable sports networks), and its 124,000 A25-54 primetime viewer average is tied with Discovery for No. 17 on all of basic cable.
In total day, MSNBC averaged a solid 918,000 total viewers but just 101,000 A25-54 viewers, +18% and +7%, respectively, from the week prior. The 918,000 total day viewer average places MSNBC at No. 2 on basic cable (behind FNC) while the 101,000 A25-54 average is No. 17 on all of basic cable.
CNN, like Fox, shed viewers from the week prior. The network averaged 687,000 total viewers and 182,000 Adults 25-54 in primetime this past week, -15% and -7% respectively, from what the network averaged the previous week (Oct. 9). That said, the network’s audience levels remain up from their 2023 to-date averages, driven by the hot news cycle. The 687,000 total primetime viewer average from last week places CNN at No. 8 on all of basic cable, and the 182,000 A25-54 primetime viewer average for the week is No. 7 on all of basic cable.
In total day, CNN averaged 631,000 total viewers and 139,000 A25-54 viewers, -8% and -8%, respectively, from the week prior. The 631,000 total viewer average places CNN at No. 5 on all of basic cable, while the 139,000 A25-54 average places CNN also at No. 5 on all of basic cable.
So, how do Fox News, MSNBC and CNN fare relative to the year-ago week? Fox News is -4% in total primetime viewers, -14% in the primetime demo, -8% in total day viewers and -12% in the total day demo vs. the week of Oct. 17, 2022.
CNN and MSNBC, conversely, are trended positively. CNN is +34% in total primetime viewers, +67% in the primetime demo, +38% in total day viewers and +51% in the total day demo versus the year-ago week. MSNBC is +15% in total primetime viewers, +12% in the primetime demo, +28% in total day viewers and +25% in the total day demo versus the year-ago week.
Lastly, according to Nielsen Media Research, upstart cable news network NewsNation had its most-watched week in total day ever (steady with the week prior). Compared to the year-ago week, the network’s primetime slate is up by double-digit percentage points in multiple demos and dayparts.
Week of Oct. 16 cable news ratings, Monday-Sunday (Nielsen live-same-day data):
| PRIMETIME | Fox News | MSNBC | CNN |
|---|---|---|---|
| • Total Viewers: | 2,209,000 | 1,290,000 | 687,000 |
| • A25-54: | 251,000 | 124,000 | 182,000 |
| TOTAL DAY | Fox News | MSNBC | CNN |
|---|---|---|---|
| • Total Viewers: | 1,369,000 | 918,000 | 631,000 |
| • A25-54: | 179,000 | 101,000 | 139,000 |
Below are the basic cable network rankers — sorted by average total viewers followed by Adults 25-54.
Week of Oct. 16 (Total Viewers)
Week of Oct. 16 (Adults 25-54)
PROGRAMMING
Fox News had the eight most-watched daily cable news offerings for the week of Oct. 16, led by The Five, averaging 3.05 million total viewers at 5 p.m.
Jesse Watters Primetime secured second place among all daily cable news shows with a 2.55 million total viewer average at 8 p.m., followed by Special Report with Bret Baier (2.28 million at 6 p.m.) and The Ingraham Angle (2.23 million at 7 p.m.). Your World With Neil Cavuto, which featured rotating guest hosts, shot up to No. 8 in total viewers (1.77 million at 4 p.m.).
MSNBC’s Deadline: White House is the most-watched non-Fox News cable news show of the week, coming in at No. 9 with a 1.76 million viewer average from 4-6 p.m.
Fox News boasts nine of the top 10 cable news shows of the among Adults 25-54, including the top six. Gutfeld!, back after a week off the air, took first place with a 322,000 A25-54 average at 10 p.m. The Five followed close behind (311,00) with Jesse Watters Primetime (298,000), Hannity (278,000) and The Ingraham Angle rounding out the top five.
For the second consecutive week, CNN’s Anderson Cooper 360 is the top-rated non-Fox News cable news show in the A25-54 demo. It finished No. 7 with an average of 250,000 for the week.