Updated
Updated · Fox News · Jul 1
Fox News Tops Q2 Cable Ratings With 1.6 Million Viewers, Extending Primetime Streak to 98 Quarters
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Jul 1

Fox News Tops Q2 Cable Ratings With 1.6 Million Viewers, Extending Primetime Streak to 98 Quarters

3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Jul 1

Summary

  • Fox News averaged 1.6 million total-day viewers in Q2, the only basic cable network above 1 million and far ahead of ESPN’s 664,000, MSNBC’s 655,000 and CNN’s 496,000.
  • Primetime widened the gap: Fox News drew 2.5 million viewers versus 1.7 million for ESPN, 1.1 million for MSNBC and 711,000 for CNN, marking its 98th straight quarter at No. 1 in primetime.
  • Among adults 25-54, Fox News posted 149,000 total-day viewers and 230,000 in primetime, beating CNN and MSNBC in both periods and capturing nearly 60% of cable news viewers overall.
  • Flagship programs drove the quarter, with 13 of the top 15 cable news shows on Fox News; "Gutfeld!" averaged 2.8 million viewers, while "The Five" led cable news for a 19th consecutive quarter.
  • June extended the momentum beyond cable news: Fox News averaged 2.6 million weekday primetime viewers, topping both CBS and NBC and leading cable among Hispanic, Asian and upscale audiences.

Insights

What is the secret to the audience loyalty that has fueled a 98-quarter winning streak in primetime television?
As cable subscriptions fall below 50%, how does one network defy the industry trend to tighten its grip?