For the eighth consecutive year, Fox News took the prize as the top-rated cable channel in 2023.
The network “delivered nearly 2 million viewers and 214,000 in 25-54 demo, topping CNN and MSNBC combined in total viewership,” according to Nielsen Media Research data, Fox News reported.
Interestingly, MSNBC came in second as it outpaced CNN with an average of 784,000 viewers to 482,000 in 2023, respectively.
In a year that saw shake-ups, scandals, and an exodus of viewers, Fox News came away with the top prize as the home of the cable news industry’s top six shows.
The top-rated cable news show was not on the prime-time lineup – a first in television history – but was the network’s afternoon program, “The Five” which averaged 2.9 million viewers and 303,000 in the 25-54 demographic.
TV RATINGS: Fox News remained cable TV’s most-watched network in 2023 for the eighth consecutive year.
• CNN had its lowest-rated year of all time in 2023.
• MSNBC recorded its least-watched year in the primetime 25-54 demo since 1999.
• Fox News averaged nearly 2 million… pic.twitter.com/ZReQAEYczt
— TV News Now (@TVNewsNow) December 17, 2023
The network “had the largest share of the audience in total day (46%) and primetime (48%), capturing nearly half of the cable news landscape,” Fox News noted in a press release.
“On a 24-hour total day basis, FNC averaged over 1.2 million viewers and 150,000 in 25-54, with a 153% advantage over CNN in viewers. FNC continued to sweep the competition, winning every hour in the 25-54 demo,” the press release noted.
“During yet another unprecedented news cycle, cable viewers continued to choose FOX News Channel. From moderating debates to reporting in war zones and many stories in between, I am honored to work alongside this unrivaled team of journalists and opinion hosts as they continue to exceed expectations,” FOX News Media CEO Suzanne Scott said.
According to the press release:
This year, FNC notched the top six most-watched cable news programs (The Five, Jesse Watters Primetime, Hannity, Special Report with Bret Baier, The Ingraham Angle and Gutfeld!). The network also garnered 13 out of the 15 highest-rated programs in cable news in the 25-54 demo, including The Five, Hannity, Gutfeld!, Jesse Watters Primetime, The Ingraham Angle, Special Report with Bret Baier, Outnumbered, The Faulkner Focus, America’s Newsroom, FOX News @ Night, America Reports, Your World with Neil Cavuto and The Story. FNC also had 12 of the top 15 rated shows in the 18-49 demo.
Though MSNBC was the second most-watched network on cable, growing its viewership, it still “had its lowest-rated year in the demo since 1999,” and “has the oldest audience of the big three cable news networks, with viewers averaging 70 in the fourth quarter of the year,” according to Mediaite.
Fox News touted its primetime lineup and impressive numbers for popular hosts, all coming after a rocky year that saw the company reach a $787 million lawsuit from Dominion Voting Systems. It also saw the dramatic firing of the top-rated cable news host, Tucker Carlson, moving Jesse Watters into the time slot formerly occupied by “Tucker Carlson Tonight.”
“FNC’s new primetime lineup crushed the cable news competition, kicking off with Laura Ingraham dominating the 7 PM/ET timeslot with 2 million viewers and 220,000 in 25-54 demo. At 8PM/ET, Jesse Watters Primetime (2.5 million P2+; 255,000 25-54) was the second most-watched cable news program in viewers and Hannity (weekdays at 9 PM/ET) drew the third largest audience with viewers and second in the 25-54 demo, delivering 2.4 million viewers and 271,000 in 25-54 demo,” Fox News shared in the press release.
While the network celebrated its wins, Mediaite pointed out that “the network saw an 18 percent drop in year-over-year total viewers from 1.49 million to 1.2 million – its lowest total viewership since 2015. MSNBC averaged 784,000 total day viewers, up from 733,000 the year before. CNN, meanwhile, averaged 482,000 total day viewers, a 15 percent drop from 2022’s 568,000 average viewers.”
However, hosting two Republican presidential primary debates, covering the Israel-Hamas war, and Sean Hannity’s DeSantis vs. Newsom debate all helped boost viewership.
Writers and editors can be contacted at [email protected] with feedback, tips, or corrections.
Originally from New York, Powers graduated from New York University and eventually made her way to sunny South Florida. Powers also contributes to BizPac Review.
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