Physical Address
304 North Cardinal St.
Dorchester Center, MA 02124
Fox News Leads the Pack in July Ratings
In July, Fox News Channel firmly established its superiority across television by attracting a substantial viewership, significantly outperforming key competitors such as CNN and MSNBC. While Fox News averaged an impressive 1.5 million total day viewers, CNN struggled with a dismal average of 370,000 viewers, marking a stark contrast between the two networks.
During the crucial primetime hours, Fox News captured an astonishing 2.4 million viewers. This figure illustrates more than double the audience of MSNBC, which managed to draw only 865,000 viewers from 8 to 11 p.m. ET. In stark contrast, CNN’s primetime performance plummeted to just 497,000 viewers, relegating the network to a position behind not only Fox and MSNBC but also popular channels like ESPN and HGTV.
Long-standing Dominance in Viewership
Fox News has now topped both CNN and MSNBC in primetime for an impressive 54 consecutive months, solidifying its status as a leader in the cable news landscape. This longstanding dominance underscores the challenges faced by CNN, which has witnessed a staggering decline in viewership.
Overview of Broadcast Network Performance
While Fox News thrived on cable, it also outshined broadcast networks during primetime. NBC averaged 2.1 million viewers, while CBS and ABC each attracted 2 million viewers. Since the onset of summer on June 20, Fox News maintained its lead over these broadcast networks, averaging 2.6 million viewers compared to ABC’s 2.3 million, NBC’s 2.1 million, and CBS’ 2 million.
Fox News Captures the Coveted Ad Demographic
Fox News not only led in total viewership but also dominated the key demographic of adults aged 25 to 54 during July, a critical category heavily targeted by advertisers. With an average of 184,000 total day viewers in this demographic, Fox outranked cable channels such as ESPN, TBS, and Comedy Central. In contrast, CNN struggled to capture this demographic, attracting only 62,000 viewers, marking its lowest-rated July in history.
Analysis of Audience Engagement
Fox News further solidified its lead with 257,000 demo viewers during primetime, dwarfing CNN’s meager 92,000. While CNN faced significant challenges, it still managed to outperform MSNBC, which averaged only 81,000 demo viewers. This lackluster performance placed MSNBC behind various other cable options, including A&E and Bravo, suggesting a broader audience shift away from traditional news consumption.
Unprecedented Performance Metrics
July marked the 53rd consecutive month in which Fox News swept both total viewer counts and the important demographic category across cable news platforms. Commanding an impressive 63% of cable news viewership for total day and 64% in primetime, Fox News continues to dominate the news media landscape.
Highlighted Programs of Note
The popular show “The Five,” featuring Dana Perino, Greg Gutfeld, Jesse Watters, Jessica Tarlov, and Harold Ford Jr., averaged 3.5 million total viewers and 378,000 within the key demographic. This engagement showcases its strong appeal and ability to attract a diverse audience.
Other successful programs, including “Jesse Watters Primetime,” “Gutfeld!,” and “Hannity,” all outperformed anything offered by CNN or MSNBC, collectively ranking at the top of viewers’ preferences. Even “Gutfeld!” succeeded in beating “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,” despite the latter’s strong promotional push, indicating a remarkable shift in audience preferences.
Competing Shows and Their Performance
Among non-Fox News programming, MSNBC’s “The Rachel Maddow Show” secured an average audience of 2 million. However, with only three airings during the month, its limited presence diminished its potential impact on overall ratings.
Morning Show Success Stories
“FOX & Friends” ended July with 1.3 million viewers and 169,000 in the demo, retaining its title as the leading cable news program in the mornings for the 53rd consecutive month. Other programs like “America’s Newsroom” with Bill Hemmer and Dana Perino and “The Faulkner Focus” also played integral roles in Fox News’ success during daytime programming.
Weekend Ratings and Viewer Preferences
The “Big Weekend Show” averaged 1.5 million viewers, securing the top position in cable news ratings on Saturdays. “Sunday Morning Futures” also averaged 1.7 million viewers, establishing a stronghold on Sundays. “My View with Lara Trump” emerged as the most-watched weekend program in primetime, with over 1.4 million viewers.
Extensive Audience Reach
In addition to dominating traditional viewership, Fox News excelled with audiences among Asians, Hispanics, and upscale viewers during July, demonstrating its broad appeal and engagement across diverse demographics.
A Final Look at the Ratings Landscape
As reported by Nielsen Media Research, the exceptional ratings enjoyed by Fox News highlight significant shifts in viewer preferences and the ongoing challenges faced by competitors such as CNN and MSNBC. The data reflects a resilient audience loyalty to Fox News, underscoring its continued dominance in cable news.
