Fox News Channel crushes CNN, MSNBC in 2023, finishes as most-watched cable network for 8th straight year

Fox News Channel finished 2023 as the most-watched cable network for the eighth consecutive year, cementing its position as the leader in cable television viewership.

This achievement is marked by the continued success of its flagship program “The Five” and the strong performance of its new primetime lineup.

In a year characterized by significant news events, Fox News maintained its dominance, with its programming drawing substantial audiences across various time slots.

FOX News Media CEO Suzanne Scott praised the network’s team, stating, “During yet another unprecedented news cycle, cable viewers continued to choose Fox News Channel.

From moderating debates to reporting in war zones and many stories in between, I am honored to work alongside this unrivaled team of journalists and opinion hosts as they continue to exceed expectations.”

“The Five,” featuring Greg Gutfeld, Jesse Watters, Dana Perino, Jeanine Pirro, and rotating co-hosts Jessica Tarlov and Harold Ford Jr., emerged as the No. 1 cable news program for the second year in a row, averaging 2.9 million total viewers.

This marks a notable achievement for the show, reinforcing its popularity among cable news audiences.

Following closely was “Jesse Watters Primetime,” which averaged 2.5 million viewers, securing the second spot.

“Hannity” rounded out the top three with an average of 2.4 million viewers. Other top Fox News programs included “Special Report with Bret Baier,” “The Ingraham Angle,” and “Gutfeld!” These programs helped Fox News secure 13 of the top 20 most-watched cable news slots.

In contrast, CNN struggled to maintain its viewership. The network’s highest-rated program, “Anderson Cooper 360,” finished No. 29 in the cable news rankings, drawing just 737,000 viewers.

This disappointing performance has led CNN’s in-house media reporter to question whether the network’s “lackluster” ratings can be reversed.

CNN’s challenges are further highlighted by its performance in the key demographic of adults aged 25-54.

“The Five” led this demographic with 301,000 average viewers, marking the first time a non-primetime cable program has achieved this feat.

Fox News shows like “Hannity,” “Gutfeld!,” “Jesse Watters Primetime,” and “The Ingraham Angle” also outperformed CNN and MSNBC in this crucial category.

2023 marked a record low for CNN, with its lowest-rated year ever and back-to-back historic lows. MSNBC also experienced a downturn, with its least-watched year in primetime among the key demographic since 1999.

Fox News averaged 1.2 million total viewers for the day, leading MSNBC, which averaged 776,000 viewers, and CNN, which lagged behind with 479,000 viewers.

In primetime, Fox News averaged 1.9 million viewers, surpassing ESPN, while MSNBC and CNN trailed behind, with MSNBC averaging 1.2 million and CNN only managing 582,000, placing it No. 12 among cable networks.

Notably, the first Republican primary debate of the year, co-moderated by Bret Baier and Martha MacCallum, became the most-watched telecast of 2023, attracting nearly 13 million viewers. Sean Hannity’s “DeSantis vs. Newsom: The Great Red State vs.

Blue State Debate,” broadcast on November 30, also performed exceptionally well, garnering over 5.5 million viewers and becoming the top-rated regularly scheduled telecast of the year.

Fox News’s morning show “FOX & Friends” continued its reign as the highest-rated morning cable news show for the 22nd consecutive year, averaging 1.1 million viewers.

The weekend saw significant victories for Fox News as well, with “Sunday Morning Futures with Maria Bartiromo” achieving the largest weekend cable news audience with 1.5 million viewers and “Life, Liberty and Levin” topping Saturday with 1.2 million viewers.

The data, provided by Nielsen Media Research, underscores Fox News Channel’s continued success and dominance in the cable news landscape, reflecting its ability to attract and retain a substantial viewership in a competitive market.