FOX News Channel’s The Five to Continue as Scheduled Program

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--FOX News Channel’s (FNC) ensemble opinion show, The Five, has been picked up as a scheduled program for the network’s 5 PM/ET timeslot, announced Roger Ailes, Chairman and CEO of the network. The lively roundtable of five co-hosts will be comprised of rotating FNC personalities Dana Perino, Bob Beckel, Eric Bolling, Juan Williams, Kimberly Guilfoyle, Greg Gutfeld and Andrea Tantaros.

“The Five’s viewership growth and unique appeal has led to the time period once again being embraced by FNC’s Blue Chip advertisers.”

In making the announcement, Ailes, who created the show, said “The Five is unlike any show in news and politics, from the co-hosts’ chemistry to the provocative, yet fun presentation style. It has quickly connected with the audience, and I’m pleased to install it in our daily lineup.”

The Five originally began as a summertime replacement program for Glenn Beck in July and has steadily increased viewership since its debut. According to Nielsen Media Research, the program was the sixth most-watched show in cable news with an average of 1.4 million total viewers in the third quarter of 2011.

Since its launch, The Five’s total viewership has increased by 16 percent, to nearly 1.5 million viewers in the Nielsen month of October to date. In the key 25-54 demographic, the program is up by 26 percent, averaging 349,000 viewers this month to date, drawing national advertisers back into the 5 PM timeslot.

Paul Rittenberg, Executive Vice President of Ad Sales for FOX News added, “The Five’s viewership growth and unique appeal has led to the time period once again being embraced by FNC’s Blue Chip advertisers.”

FOX News Channel (FNC) is a 24-hour all-encompassing news service dedicated to delivering breaking news as well as political and business news. A top five cable network, FNC has been the most watched news channel in the country for nearly ten years and according to Public Policy Polling, is the most trusted television news source in the country. Owned by News Corp., FNC is available in more than 90 million homes and dominates the cable news landscape, routinely notching the top ten programs in the genre.