FOX News Channel Is Number One in All of Television With Weekday Primetime and Delivers Highest-rated July in Network History Amid Historic Breaking News

FOX News Channel (FNC) finished the month of July as the most watched network in all of television in weekday primetime, outpacing not only all of cable but the competition on broadcast networks ABC, CBS and NBC. Posting its highest July on record and among top 10 highest-rated months of all time, FNC is the only channel to grow its audience versus 2020 and 2016, as the competition shed massive viewership. According to Nielsen Media Research, FNC has accelerated the most among U.S. television, gaining the largest percentage of viewers and solidifying its spot as the go-to destination for all breaking news, occupying the largest share of the audience since November 2014 (60% in total day viewers). Attracting the highest viewership in television, FOX News Media was the leader in news during the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump, the Republican National Convention (RNC), President Biden’s decision to end his re-election campaign and his first Oval Office address to the nation following the news. FNC delivered 99 of the top 100 telecasts in cable news, while MSNBC netted just one and CNN had zero. July was the highest-rated month since the November 2020 election as more Independents continued to tune in to FNC over any other network, according to data from Nielsen MRI Fusion. Additionally, FNC ranked as the top network in all of cable among upscale, Asian and Hispanic viewers during total day viewership and 25-54 demo.

In primetime, FNC delivered 3.5 million viewers and 498,000 in the 25-54 demographic, growing its audience double-digits year-over-year (+120%) in total viewership and even attracting 236% more viewers in the 25-54 demo. In total day, FNC drew 1.9 million viewers and 268,000 in the 25-54 demo, again more than doubling its demo audience. FNC also posted the most growth month over month, accelerating 41% in total viewership and 69% in 25-54 demo during total day hours and 52% in primetime viewers with a 95% bump in the 25-54 demo. In contrast, MSNBC posted its lowest weekday primetime viewership average of 2024.

FNC is the only network to show growth across the board versus the prior political seasons, a notable feat due to heightened viewership during the pandemic and the impact of cord cutting on the industry. Notably, FNC is up double-digits in both total day (+17%) viewers and 7-11 PM/ET primetime (+15%), while CNN lost 47% of total day viewers and 43% in primetime versus 2020. MSNBC followed suit dropping 40% of total day and primetime viewers. This trend also is reflected versus 2016, with FNC growing 21% in total day viewers and 25% in primetime as CNN shed 45% and 47%, respectively while MSNBC was also down across the board in primetime.