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Fox News Dominates Primetime Ratings, Outshining Major Broadcast Networks in March

Fox News Channel continues to solidify its position as a leader in cable news, consistently drawing high viewership numbers, especially during significant events. In the first week of March, it outperformed major broadcasters like ABC, CBS, and NBC.

According to Nielsen Media Research, Fox News attracted an impressive average of 4.8 million viewers in primetime. This figure surpassed CBS’s 4.2 million, NBC’s 3.4 million, and ABC’s 2.6 million, marking a decisive lead in the ratings.

Leading the Pack: Popularity of ‘Jesse Watters Primetime’

The show Jesse Watters Primetime emerged as the most-watched program, capturing 4.4 million total viewers and 554,000 in the pivotal demographic of ages 25-54 during its 8 p.m. ET time slot. Meanwhile, Hannity continued to attract a robust audience at 9 p.m. ET, maintaining an average of 3.7 million viewers with 503,000 in the key demographic.

Late Night Showdown: Fox’s Unrivaled Performance

In the realm of late-night television, Gutfeld! left its liberal competitors in the dust, averaging 3.7 million total viewers with 488,000 in the desirable demographic during the 10 p.m. ET time slot. This performance starkly contrasted with CBS’s The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, which trailed at 1.8 million viewers and just 272,000 in the key demo. Comparatively, ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live! drew 1.5 million viewers with 246,000 in the key demo, while NBC’s The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon fell short with 1.04 million viewers and 235,000 in the demographic.

The Five: A Steady Leader in Cable News

The Five retained its status as the most-watched show across all cable news platforms, attracting an average of 4.7 million total viewers. It also garnered 523,000 in the key demographic, further cementing its popularity during the 5 p.m. ET time slot, surpassing even the latest episode of Saturday Night Live hosted by Lady Gaga.

Consistent Performance in Primetime Slots

Another strong contender, Special Report with Bret Baier, dominated the 6 p.m. ET time slot, attracting 3.6 million total viewers and 413,000 in the key demo. Additionally, The Ingraham Angle secured 3.4 million viewers at 7 p.m. ET with 423,000 in the key demographic. The show Fox News @ Night, hosted by Trace Gallagher, achieved a steady viewership of 2 million total viewers and 321,000 in the advertiser-friendly demographic during its 11 p.m. ET post-primetime slot.

Exceptional Coverage of Key Events

Fox News also excelled in its coverage of major political events. Recently, it emerged as the most-watched network during President Trump’s joint address to Congress, leading ahead of all broadcast and cable news competitors. A staggering 10.7 million total viewers tuned in to watch the coverage, including 1.9 million in the coveted demographic of adults aged 25-54.

The major broadcast networks struggled in comparison; ABC ranked second with 6.3 million total viewers, followed closely by CBS with 4 million and NBC with 3.9 million. Notably, both CNN and MSNBC fell below two million viewers, each drawing 1.9 million, with CNN narrowly surpassing MSNBC in the key demographic at 585,000 compared to 237,000.

Remarkable Audience Share

Fox News’s impressive performance translated into a remarkable audience share, capturing 74 percent of the total cable news audience and 70 percent among viewers in the key demographic. This reflects the channel’s strong influence in the media landscape.

Key Figures Behind the Coverage

During the coverage of Trump’s address, Bret Baier and Martha MacCallum co-anchored alongside The Five co-hosts Dana Perino and Harold Ford Jr.. They were joined by seasoned political analyst Brit Hume and FOX Business host Larry Kudlow, who provided insights and commentary on the event.

The Continual Rise of Fox News

As Fox News continues to expand its viewership and enhance its programming, it demonstrates a solid trajectory under the current political landscape. Its adaptability and viewer engagement strategies position the network favorably to maintain its dominance in the competitive world of cable news.