FOX News Channel Crushes CNN and MSNBC Combined in Total Day and Primetime Viewers for First Quarter of 2024

FOX News Channel (FNC) finished the first quarter of 2024 as cable’s most-watched network in total day and primetime, dominating primetime viewers in cable news for 89 consecutive quarters, according to Nielsen Media Research. FNC notched its highest-rated quarter since 1Q’23 among all categories and beat CNN and MSNBC combined with total day and primetime. During the first quarter of 2024, FNC delivered 95 of the top 100 telecasts in cable news for the entire quarter. In total day, FNC delivered 1,297,000 viewers, 156,000 with 25-54 demo and 100,000 with 18-49 demo. In primetime from 7-11 PM, FNC netted 2,018,000 viewers, 221,000 in the 25-54 demo, and 147,000 with 18-49 demo. FNC’s share of the cable news audience was 50% across total day and 53% prime viewers as more Independents tuned in to FNC over any other network, according to data from Nielsen MRI Fusion. Notably, FNC posted the largest gains across the board in both categories versus the prior quarter. Additionally, CNN which saw quarter over quarter declines in total day and primetime averaged just 85,000 in total day 25-54 demo, which is an all-time low in the network’s recorded history.

During the month of March, FNC was number one in all of cable in total day and primetime viewership and beat CNN and MSNBC across the board with double and triple advantages. Additionally, FNC occupied more than half the audience share among total viewers and swept every hour in the 25-54 demo.

At 5 PM/ET, FNC’s powerhouse The Five continued to shatter records by becoming the first non-primetime program ever to top all of cable news for ten consecutive quarters. Averaging over 3 million viewers and 275,000 in A25-54, the show also outpaced every program on CNN and MSNBC across the board. Special Report with Bret Baier (weeknights, 6 PM/ET) averaged 2.2 million viewers and 213,000 in 25-54 demo, dominating its timeslot.

Gutfeld! garnered 2.2 million viewers and led all of cable news in primetime in the younger demo (304,000) for the full quarter for the first time in the program’s history, notching double digit increases over the first quarter of 2023. Gutfeld! has remained the highest-rated late-night program in broadcast and cable television in viewers, topping CBS’ The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live!, NBC’s The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, Late Night with Seth Meyers and CBS’ After Midnight with total viewership. Additionally, Gutfeld! outpaces Kimmel in the younger A25-54 and 18-49 demos and has continued to trounce Comedy Central’s The Daily Show with Jon Stewart in viewers and A25-54 despite Stewart’s much touted return to the program.