Fox News has reclaimed its top spot in cable news ratings, with the new primetime lineup led by Jesse Watters and Greg Gutfeld dominating their time slots over rivals at MSNBC and CNN.
Last month, Fox was the highest-rated network on cable television for 29 consecutive months – leading in both primetime and total day viewership – outperforming its competitors while coming close to surpassing the combined viewership of CNN and MSNBC.
The changes came after Fox News took top-rated host Tucker Carlson off the air in late April. “Fox News Tonight” temporarily filled his time slot with rotating hosts until July 17 when “Jesse Watters Primetime” made its debut averaging 2.4 million viewers on a weekly basis, according to Deadline.
Meanwhile, Greg Gutfeld’s time slot was moved up an hour to 10 p.m., ET where he averaged 1.98 million viewers and 252,000 viewers 25-54 demographic—second only to “The Five.”
In terms of total day (6 AM-6 AM), Fox News averaged 1.07 million viewers, down 21%, compared to MSNBC with 723,000 off by 5%, and CNN with 426,000 down 21%. In the 25-54 demo for total day viewership, it ranked second behind ESPN with 122,000 viewers—down 37%.
A press release from Fox said:
FNC’s 5 PM/ET roundtable program The Five which has been number one in viewership for seven consecutive quarters, continued its streak with both categories, securing 2,591,000 viewers and 254,000 with A25-54. Evening newscast Special Report with Bret Baier (weeknights, 6 PM/ET) averaged 1,743,000 million viewers and 164,000 in the 25-54 demo.
Finishing the month as the highest-rated primetime lineup in all of cable, FNC is the only cable network to average over 1.5 million viewers in primetime. Notably, the new primetime lineup increased FNC’s share of the cable news audience versus the prior month from 41% to 48% in total viewers and from 34% to 42% with A25-54.
Kicking off the new lineup at 7 PM/ET, The Ingraham Angle garnered 1,926,000 million viewers and 174,000 in the 25-54 demo, continuing host Laura Ingraham’s streak as the most-watched woman in cable news.
Following at 8 PM/ET, Jesse Watters Primetime garnered 2,403,000 viewers and 207,000 with A25-54, making it the highest-rated program in primetime viewers and second overall behind only The Five. The program grew the timeslot by nearly 50% versus the prior month and posted double and triple-digit advantages over the competition on CNN and MSNBC.
The Five topped all shows among both categories; followed by Jesse Watters Primetime with 2.4 million; Hannity with 2.16 million; Gutfeld! With 1.98 million; The Ingraham Angle with 1.93 million; Special Report With Bret Baier (weeknights 6 PM/ET) averaging 1,743,000 million viewers—164K A25-54 demo–and The Ingraham Angle garnering 1 926 000 millions viewer 174K A25-54 demo making her the most watched woman in cable news thus far this year..
Meanwhile, several reports have said that a handful of current Fox News talent have contemplated jumping ship and joining Carlson in a new media venture which could potentially shake up established players within networks across media platforms as Carlson launches “Tucker on Twitter” posting monologues and interviews featuring former Hunter Biden business partner Devon Archer already.
