Fox News Leads Cable Ratings with Record Viewership in 2024

Fox News Channel (FNC) closed out 2024 as the most-watched cable news network for the ninth consecutive year, achieving its largest audience share in nearly a decade. According to Nielsen Media Research, the network continued to dominate cable news viewership across key demographics, especially during a year filled with high-profile political events and major global stories.

Among its top-performing programs, The Five emerged as a standout. Airing weekdays at 5 PM ET, the show made history by becoming the first non-primetime program to average over four million viewers in a single quarter. For the fourth quarter of 2024, it drew an average of 4.03 million total viewers and 429,000 viewers in the key 25-54 age demographic, cementing its place as the highest-rated program on cable news.

Other Fox News programs also posted strong numbers. Jesse Watters Primetime, airing at 8 PM ET, led its time slot with 3.1 million viewers and 352,000 in the 25-54 demographic. Hannity, at 9 PM ET, followed closely with 2.8 million viewers and 341,000 in the same demographic.

Fox’s late-night offering, Gutfeld!, had its best year since its launch. The show, airing at 10 PM ET, averaged 2.5 million viewers and led all cable news programming in the 25-54 demo with 355,000 viewers. Notably, Gutfeld! also outperformed several long-running network late-night shows, including The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, and The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, a rare feat for a cable program.

In addition to primetime success, the network’s early evening lineup also performed well. The Ingraham Angle, airing at 7 PM ET, drew 2.5 million viewers and 278,000 in the 25-54 age group.

Fox News Media CEO Suzanne Scott praised the network’s performance during a challenging news cycle. “Throughout a year filled with significant political developments, international conflict, and major breaking news, viewers turned to Fox News for reliable coverage and analysis. I’m proud of our team for delivering consistently and connecting with audiences across the country,” she said in a statement.

The 2024 election cycle played a significant role in boosting ratings. FNC offered comprehensive coverage of debates, conventions, campaign events, and breaking developments, including high-profile moments such as President Biden’s withdrawal from the race and the assassination attempts on major political figures. Fox News was the most-watched cable news network in every major battleground state, including Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.

According to post-election Nielsen data, Fox News accounted for 72% of the primetime cable news audience, while competitors experienced sharp declines. MSNBC and CNN both saw significant drops in their core 25-54 demographics. MSNBC averaged 51,000 viewers in the demo (down 65%) and 576,000 total viewers (down 57%), while CNN averaged 70,000 (down 56%) and 378,000 total viewers (down 49%).

Since Election Day, Fox News has claimed 374 of the top cable news telecasts, maintaining a commanding lead over competitors. Neither CNN nor MSNBC has surpassed the two-million-viewer mark during that period.

A separate study by YouGov found that independent voters were more likely to rely on Fox News than any other cable news source during the 2024 campaign. This suggests the network’s appeal continues to extend beyond its core audience, attracting a broad spectrum of viewers interested in national and international events.

As the network looks ahead to 2025, its continued investment in programming, analysis, and coverage appears to be paying off. With multiple shows hitting record highs and maintaining strong positions in their time slots, Fox News remains a dominant force in cable news.