Fox News Retakes the Lead in Total Viewers and Demo

This is TVNewser’s basic cable network ranker and cable news report for the week of August 26, 2024.

With the 2024 Democratic National Convention in the rearview, it was a return to the status quo among the cable news networks. Fox News reclaimed the top spot in total viewers and the Adults 25-54 demo, and was also the only network to post week-to-week gains in either of the measured categories and dayparts.

All three networks exceeded over a million viewers in primetime, while there was a notable shake-up in the demo. CNN claimed second place, moving ahead of MSNBC in both primetime and total viewers.

NETWORKS:

Nielsen live plus same-day data for the week of August 29 saw FNC average 2.309 million total viewers and 287,000 A25-54 viewers during primetime. The network was up a respective +6% and +1% in those categories relative to the week prior (the week beginning August 19). 

In total day, Fox News averaged 1.385 million total viewers and 180,000 A25-54 viewers. That translates to week-to-week declines of -5% and -10%, respectively.

Among all basic cable networks, FNC jumped back to No. 1 in total primetime viewers and placed second in the primetime demo. It continued to lead in total viewers during total day and moved from fourth to second in the demo.

MSNBC’s primetime lineup averaged 1.295 million total viewers and 143,000 viewers in the A25-54 demo. Without the DNC boost, the network saw respective double-digit declines of -62% and -74% in both of those categories.

In total day, MSNBC averaged 857,000 total viewers and 89,000 A25-54 viewers for week-to-week declines of -41% and -56%, respectively.

Among all basic cable networks, MSNBC dropped from first to third among total primetime viewers and finished No. 7 in the demo. During total day, it finished second in total viewers and fell from third to sixth in the demo. 

CNN averaged 1.038 million total viewers and 195,000 A25-54 viewers during primetime. The network fell by -53% and -64%, respectively, compared to the previous week.

In total day, the network saw 555,000 total viewers and 100,000 viewers in the demo. That’s a week-to-week loss of -39% in the former category and -50% in the latter.

CNN ranked as the No. 4 network in primetime with both total viewers and the demo. It fell to from third to fourth in total day viewers and dropped from No. 2 to No. 3 in the total day demo. 

When looking at these networks’ performance during the same period a year ago (the week of Aug. 28):

• During primetime, Fox News was up by +35% in total viewers and +44% in the A25-54 demo. In total day, the network saw gains of +26% in total viewers and +38% in the demo.
• MSNBC’s year-to-year primetime numbers fell -4% in total viewers, but upticked +8% in the demo. During total day, the network was flat in total viewers and rose +3% in the demo.
• CNN’s primetime lineup saw a big lift of +70% in total viewers and +49% in the demo. During total day, CNN was up by +8% in total viewers, but fell by -4%  in the demo.