NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--FOX News Channel (FNC) continued to crush all of basic cable during the month of February as the most-watched network among total viewers in both total day and primetime, according to Nielsen Media Research. Marking 32 consecutive months as the top basic cable network in total day with 1.5 million viewers, FNC also garnered 2.6 million viewers in primetime. Hannity finished the month of February as the highest-rated cable news program while Tucker Carlson Tonight beat MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow in both total viewers and the 25-54 demo. Additionally FNC’s State of the Union coverage was the number one cable telecast for the entire month of February with 11.3 million viewers, beating the NBA All-Star Game and All-Star Saturday Night (TNT) telecasts combined in total viewers.
Throughout total day and primetime, FNC continued to beat CNN and MSNBC in total viewers and Adults 25-54. In primetime, FNC averaged 2,609,000 beating CNN’s 1,073,000 and MSNBC’s 1,964,000 total viewers. With Adults 25-54, FNC garnered 463,000, topping CNN’s 316,000 and MSNBC’s 342,000. In total day, FNC averaged 1,458,000 viewers, trouncing CNN’s 707,000 and MSNBC’s 1,105,000. In the 25-54 demo, FNC averaged 261,000 ranking ahead of CNN with 197,000 and MSNBC with 184,000 in total day.
For the month of February, FNC programs accounted for eight of the top 15 cable news programs in total viewers and claimed six of the top ten cable news programs in the 25-54 demo. Hannity, Tucker Carlson Tonight, The Five and The Ingraham Angle were among the top five cable news programs in both total viewers and in the 25-54 demographic.
Kicking off FNC’s daytime programming, the 4AM/ET hour of FOX & Friends First garnered 484,000 viewers and 112,000 with A25-54. The 5AM/ET hour of FOX & Friends First had a total of 654,000 viewers and 153,000 with A25-54. Continuing to make cable news history, FNC’s signature morning show FOX & Friends marked 208 months as the number one cable news program in its timeslot, with an average of 1.5 million viewers and 293,000 with the 25-54 demo for the month of February. At 9AM/ET, America’s Newsroom delivered 1.7 million viewers and 268,000 with A25-54. FNC’s afternoon ensemble program at 12PM/ET, Outnumbered, garnered 1.6 million viewers and 269,000 in the 25-54 category. Outnumbered Overtime anchored by Harris Faulkner delivered 1.5 million viewers and 241,000 with A25-54 while The Daily Briefing with Dana Perino averaged 1.5 million viewers and 225,000 in the 25-54 demo. During the 3PM/ET hour, FNC’s Shepard Smith Reporting averaged 1.4 million viewers with P2+ and 224,000 with A25-54. Your World with Neil Cavuto at 4PM/ET delivered 1.6 million viewers with P2+ and averaged 250,000 with A25-54.
During FNC’s early evening and primetime programming, The Five garnered 2.6 million viewers and 415,000 in the demo. Anchored by chief political anchor Bret Baier at 6PM/ET, Special Report averaged 2.4 million viewers and 386,000 in the 25-54 demo. The Story with Martha MacCallumat 7PM/ET delivered 2 million viewers and 359,000 with A25-54.
At 8PM/ET, Tucker Carlson Tonight delivered 3.1 million viewers and 549,000 with A25-54. Hannity was the most-watched cable news program for the month with 3.2 million viewers and 575,000 in the 25-54 demo. The Ingraham Angle, hosted by Laura Ingraham, averaged 2.5 million viewers and 459,000 in the A25-54 demo. FOX News @ Night with Shannon Bream garnered 1.4 million viewers and 293,000 with A25-54. During the weekends, Sunday Morning Futures with Maria Bartiromo averaged 1.5 million viewers and 284,000 in the demo on Sundays at 10AM/ET. MediaBuzz hosted by Howie Kurtz delivered 1.4 million viewers and 221,000 in the 25-54 demo, easily besting CNN’s Reliable Sources (816,000 P2+; 197,000 25-54 demo).
RATINGS FOR THE TOP FIVE PROGRAMS IN CABLE NEWS FOR FEBRUARY 2019:
Total Viewers: Hannity (3,165,000), Tucker Carlson Tonight (3,087,000), Rachel Maddow Show(3,067,00), The Five (2,641,000), The Ingraham Angle (2,489,000)
Adults 25-54: Hannity (575,000), Tucker Carlson Tonight (549,000), Rachel Maddow Show (549,000), The Ingraham Angle (459,000), The Five (415,000)
FEBRUARY 2019 VS. FEBRUARY 2018 NIELSEN NUMBERS (7-day week, L+SD):
TOTAL DAY:
FNC: 1,458,000 total viewers – down
6% (261,000 in 25-54 – down 21%)
CNN: 707,000
total viewers – up 1% (197,000 in 25-54 – down 14%)
MSNBC: 1,105,000
total viewers – up 12% (184,000 in 25-54 – down 14%)
PRIMETIME: 8-11PM/ET
FNC: 2,609,000 total
viewers – down 6% (463,000 in 25-54 – down 20%)
CNN: 1,073,000
total viewers – up 10% (316,000 in 25-54 – down 11%)
MSNBC: 1,964,000
total viewers – up 9% (342,000 in 25-54 – down 14%)
FOX News Channel (FNC) is a 24-hour all-encompassing news service delivering breaking news as well as political and business news. The number one network in cable, FNC has been the most watched television news channel for 17 consecutive years. According to a Suffolk University/USA Today survey, Fox News is the most trusted source for television news or commentary in the country and a 2017 Gallup/Knight Foundation survey found that among Americans who could name an objective news source, Fox News is the top-cited outlet. Owned by 21st Century Fox, FNC is available in nearly 90 million homes and dominates the cable news landscape, routinely notching the top ten programs in the genre.
