Fox News continued to dominate all of basic cable during the month of May as the most-watched network in total day for 35 consecutive months among total viewers, according to Nielsen Media Research.
As the top cable news network for the 209th month in a row, FNC garnered 1.3 million viewers in total day and 2.4 million viewers in primetime. Hannity and Tucker Carlson Tonight finished the month of May as the number one and number two cable news programs, respectively, beating MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow Show in both categories, which also delivered its lowest-rated month since President Trump took office. May also marked CNN’s lowest-rated 25-54 demo in total day since August 2015 and MSNBC’s lowest-rated demo since December 2016. Additionally, CNN’s Cuomo Primetime experienced an all-time low in the demo since launch.
For the month of May, FNC programs accounted for 10 of the top 15 cable news programs in total viewers and claimed 11 of the top 15 cable news programs in the 25-54 demo. Hannity, Tucker Carlson Tonight, The Ingraham Angle and The Five were among the top five cable news programs in both total viewers and in the 25-54 demographic.
Throughout total day and primetime, FNC continued to beat CNN and MSNBC in total viewers and Adults 25-54. In primetime, FNC secured 2,388,000 beating CNN’s 761,000 and MSNBC’s 1,654,000 total viewers. With Adults 25-54, FNC garnered 377,000, topping CNN’s 185,000 and MSNBC’s 242,000. In total day, FNC averaged 1,342,000 viewers, trouncing CNN’s 553,000 and MSNBC’s 912,000. In the 25-54 demo, FNC averaged 231,000 ranking ahead of CNN with 137,000 and MSNBC with 134,000 in total day.
Kicking off FNC’s daytime programming, the 4AM/ET hour of FOX & Friends First garnered 468,000 viewers and 104,000 with A25-54. The 5AM/ET hour of FOX & Friends First had a total of 645,000 viewers and 145,000 with A25-54. Continuing to make cable news history, FNC’s signature morning show FOX & Friends marked 211 months as the number one cable news program in its timeslot, with an average of 1.4 million viewers and 270,000 in the demo. At 9AM/ET, America’s Newsroom delivered 1.6 million viewers and 251,000 with A25-54. FNC’s 12PM/ET afternoon ensemble program, Outnumbered garnered 1.5 million viewers and 252,000 in the 25-54 category. Outnumbered Overtime anchored by Harris Faulkner delivered 1.3 million viewers and 223,000 with A25-54 while The Daily Briefing with Dana Perino averaged 1.3 million viewers and 214,000 in the 25-54 demo. During the 3PM/ET hour, FNC’s Shepard Smith Reporting averaged 1.3 million viewers and 203,000 with A25-54. Your World with Neil Cavuto at 4PM/ET delivered 1.3 million viewers and 220,000 in the demo.
During FNC’s early evening and primetime programming, The Five garnered 2.3 million viewers and 349,000 in the demo, beating CNN and MSNBC combined in both total viewers and with A25-54. Anchored by chief political anchor Bret Baier at 6PM/ET, Special Report averaged two million viewers and 326,000 in the 25-54 demo. The Story with Martha MacCallum at 7PM/ET delivered 1.8 million viewers and 307,000 with A25-54.
At 8PM/ET, Tucker Carlson Tonight delivered 2.8 million viewers and 473,000 with A25-54, ranking in the top two overall cable news programs for the month and also topping CNN and MSNBC combined in both total viewers and demo. Hannity was the most-watched cable news program for the month with 3.1 million viewers and 506,000 in the 25-54 demo. The Ingraham Angle, hosted by Laura Ingraham, averaged 2.4 million viewers and 386,000 in the 25-54 demo. FOX News @ Night with Shannon Bream garnered 1.4 million viewers and 278,000 with A25-54.
During the weekends, FNC’s late-night comedy program The Greg Gutfeld Show on Saturdays at 10PM/ET delivered 1,813,000 viewers and 259,000 in the demo, beating late-night broadcast shows like ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live! (1,703,000), NBC’s Late Night with Seth Meyers (1,201,000) and CBS’ Late Late Show with James Corden (1,226,000) in total viewers.
Additionally, Sunday Morning Futures with Maria Bartiromo secured 1,430,000 viewers and 256,000 in the demo on Sundays at 10AM/ET. MediaBuzz hosted by Howie Kurtz delivered 1,303,000 million viewers and 220,000 in the 25-54 demo, easily besting CNN’s Reliable Sources (P2+ 685,000; A25-54 137,000). The Next Revolution with Steve Hilton, which marks its two year anniversary next week, averaged 1,288,000 viewers and 173,000 in the demo.