Fox News has now achieved 37 consecutive weeks as the most-watched network on all of basic cable (not just cable news) in the 24-hour daypart—and 83 consecutive weeks as the most-watched cable news network with its Nielsen ratings performance during the week of Sept. 12, 2022.
According to live plus same day data from Nielsen in total day (6 a.m.-6 a.m. ET), Fox News averaged 1.42 million total day viewers and 195,000 adults 25-54. The 1.42 million is +2% from what the network averaged during the Labor Day holiday week beginning on Sept. 5—and the 195,000 in A25-54 is -4% from that same week. Fox News remained No. 2 in total primetime cable viewers behind ESPN, which continues to grab large audiences with its live college football and now Monday Night Football coverage. The network saw week-to-week growth in the daypart, averaging 2.21 million total viewers (+10%) and 281,000 adults 25-54 (+4%). Fox News drew the third-most adults 25-54 in primetime cable behind ESPN (1.065 million) and USA (294,000).
MSNBC also had a positive week on the ratings front. The NBC News politics-focused outlet finished the week of Sept. 12 as the third-most-watched network on basic cable, averaging 791,000 in total day and 1.26 million total viewers in primetime. The 1.26 million viewer average in prime is +23% from the prior week, while the 791,000 is +10% versus what the network averaged in total day the prior week.
MSNBC averaged 112,000 adults 25-54 in primetime, ranking No. 26 on basic cable—and +12% from the prior week. The network averaged 81,000 adults 25-54 in total day, which is +5% with the prior week, placing it at No. 18 on all of basic cable.
MSNBC, per usual, beat CNN in total viewers, but not the key A25-54 demo.
CNN averaged 597,000 total viewers and 108,000 adults 25-54 in total day during the week of Sept. 12. That’s -1% in total viewers and -11% in adults 25-54, respectively, from the week prior. When it comes to total viewers in total day, CNN ranks No. 4 on all of basic cable, and when it comes to adults 25-54 in total day, CNN ranks No. 9. In primetime, CNN averaged 705,000 total viewers (No. 8 on basic cable) and 136,000 adults 25-54 (No. 17 on basic cable) this past week. That’s +1% in total viewers and flat in A25-54 relative to the prior week.
Relative to the week of Sept. 13, 2021 (the year-ago week), in primetime, Fox News is down -17% in total viewers and -33% in the A25-54 demo. In total day viewing, the network lost -4% in total viewers and -18% in the key demo, year-over-year. CNN shed -12% in total primetime viewers and -23% in the primetime demo, gained +2% in total day viewers but lost -14% in the total day demo from the comparable week in 2021. MSNBC shed -9% in total primetime viewers, but gained +3% in total day viewers, shed -6% in total day demo and continues to have issues attracting the primetime demo—shedding -28% from the measurement year-over-year.
Week of September 12 cable news ratings, Monday-Sunday (Nielsen live-same-day data):
| PRIME TIME | Fox News | MSNBC | CNN |
|---|---|---|---|
| • Total Viewers: | 2,213,000 | 1,256,000 | 705,000 |
| • A25-54: | 281,000 | 112,000 | 136,000 |
| TOTAL DAY | Fox News | MSNBC | CNN |
|---|---|---|---|
| • Total Viewers: | 1,421,000 | 791,000 | 597,000 |
| • A25-54: | 195,000 | 81,000 | 108,000 |
In terms of individual programming, The Five is the most-watched cable news show for the fourth consecutive week. The news talk panel program averaged 3.27 million total viewers during the week of Sept. 12, up from the prior week. Tucker Carlson Tonight is second place in total viewers (3.18 million at 8 p.m.), Jesse Watters Primetime (2.84 million at 7 p.m.), Hannity (2.61 million at 9 p.m.) and Special Report with Bret Baier (2.4 million viewers at 6 p.m.) round out the top five.
Tucker Carlson Tonight (438,000), The Five (418,000), Jesse Watters Primetime (352,000), Hannity (321,000) and Gutfeld! (316,000) were the top five cable news offerings for the week among adults 25-54. Fox had the seven most-watched cable news shows of the week—and at least the top 15 among adults 25-54
Fox News also posted 81 of the 100 most-watched cable news telecasts for the week.
Below are the basic cable network rankers for this past week:
Week of Sept. 12 (Total Viewers)
Week of Sept. 12 (Adults 25.-54)