Here Are the Cable News Ratings for September 2024

From a weather perspective, September is the transition from summer to autumn/fall. For many, this period of the calendar is the sweet spot weather-wise as the blistering temps of the summer have gone and given way to milder, more enjoyable temperatures, with the surrounding vegetation still looking as lush as ever.

The days are getting shorter; nights are getting longer; the majority of the younger generation are back in school; football is back as an entertainment distraction, and after a fervent political period during the peak of the summer season, normalcy has returned to the campaign season as it heads into its final stretch. 

While still a late entrant to the presidential election, the dust has now settled surrounding Vice President Kamala Harris’ inclusion as the Democrat’s presidential candidate. In September, viewers saw Harris and former President Donald Trump participate in what seems their only presidential debate, which ABC News hosted and was simulcast across the broadcast and cable news networks.

Fox News was the most-watched of the three big cable news networks during the Harris/Trump debate. It was also the highest-rated cable news network in total day and primetime in September. This marks its 43rd month on top in cable news as well as in all of cable for total day.

Additional good news for Fox News vs. its cable news competitors was that it was the only network that did not have month-to-month declines in both measured categories during both dayparts.

Fox News

Fox News had 2.505 million total viewers in primetime and 324,000 viewers in the adults 25-54 demo. During total day, it had 1.433 million total viewers and 194,000 viewers in the demo.

Compared to its performance in August 2024, Fox News was up +10% in total viewers and +13% in the A25-54 demo during the primetime viewing hours. During total day, it was flat in total viewers and up +2% in the demo when compared to the previous month. 

Looking at Fox News’ performance to the same month in 2023, it was up by +48% in total viewers and +73% in the demo during prime. In total day, it was up +34% in total viewers and +48% in the demo. 

The network finished September as the No. 1 cable network in total viewers and in second place in the demo during primetime and total day.

MSNBC

MSNBC was the No. 2 cable news network in primetime and total day in September, with 1.430 million and 921,000 viewers, respectively. The A25-54 demo had 165,000 viewers in primetime and 99,000 viewers during total day. 

Compared to August, MSNBC was down -22% in total viewers and -33% in the demo during primetime. It was also down -10% in total viewers and -18% in the demo during total day.

Looking at its performance in the same month in 2023, MSNBC was up +17% in total viewers and +42% in the demo during primetime. It was up +16% in total viewers and up +18% in the demo during total day.

MSNBC was in second place during primetime and second place during total day. It was the No. 5 network in the demo during primetime and finished tied for third place with CNN during total day.

CNN

During primetime in September, CNN had 853,000 total viewers and 180,000 A25-54 viewers. When looking at total day, it had 541,000 total viewers and 99,000 demo viewers.

Compared to the previous month, CNN was down -21% in total viewers and -25% in the demo during primetime. The network was also down -12% and -20% in total viewers and the demo, respectively, during total day. When looking at its performance to the same month in 2023 during primetime, it was up +56% in total viewers and +65% in the demo. In total day, CNN grew by +18% and +16% in total viewers and the demo, respectively. 

CNN finished as the No. 4 network during primetime and total day. Its position in the demo was also No. 4 in primetime and tied with MSNBC for third in total day.

PROGRAMMING

• Fox News – The Five was the most-watched program in Total Viewers (3.336 million at 5 p.m. ET), while Gutfeld! was first in the advertiser-coveted demo of Adults 25-54 (403,000 at 10 p.m. ET).
• MSNBC – Its most-watched show in total viewers was Deadline: White House with Nicole Wallace (1.776 million at 5 p.m. ET). In the demo, the 8 p.m. slot of All In with Chris Hayes and Inside with Jen Psaki was the most watched, with an average of 190,000 viewers.
• CNN – Anderson Cooper 360 at 8 p.m. ET was the network’s top performer in total viewers and the A25-54 demo, with 915,000 and 194,000 viewers, respectively. 
• Newsmax – Rob Schmitt Tonight was the net’s top show in total viewers and the A25-54 demo with 467,000 and 36,000 viewers, respectively.
• NewsNation – Cuomo led the net in total viewers and A25-54 with 148,000 and 17,000 viewers, respectively. 
• Fox Business – Kudlow remained the net’s top show in total viewers and demo, with 299,000 and 14,000 viewers, respectively. 
• CNBC – Fast Money Halftime Report took the top spot in total viewers with 223,000 and tied with Squawk on the Street in the A25-54 demo with 49,000 viewers.  

Among Total Viewers 

1. The Five – Fox News (3,336,000)
2. Jesse Watters Primetime – Fox News -(3,074,000)
3. Gutfeld!  – Fox News – (2,798,000)
4. Hannity – Fox News – (2,742,000) 
5. The Ingraham Angle – Fox News  – (2,389,000)
6. Special Report with Bret Baier – Fox News – (2,326,000)
7. Outnumbered – Fox News – (1,841,000)
8. Deadline: White House with Nicole Wallace 5 p.m. – MSNBC – (1,776,000)
9. The Faulkner Focus – Fox News – (1,710,000)
10. The Beat with Ari Melber – MSNBC – (1,699,000)
11. Your World with Neil Cavuto – Fox News – (1,696,000)
12. Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell – MSNBC – (1,673,000)
13. Deadline: White House with Nicole Wallace 4 p.m. – MSNBC – (1,660,000)
14. America’s Newsroom – Fox News – (1,651,000)
15. America Reports – Fox News – (1,650,000)

Among Adults 25-54 

1. Gutfeld! – Fox News – (403,000)
2. Jesse Watters Primetime – Fox News – (362,000)
3. Hannity – Fox News – (358,000)
4. The Five – Fox News –  (351,000)
5. The Ingraham Angle – Fox News – (277,000)
6. Special Report with Bret Baier – Fox News – (260,000)
7. Fox News at Night – Fox News – (251,000)
8. Outnumbered  – Fox News – (227,000)
9. Your World with Neil Cavuto – Fox News – (214,000)
10.  The Faulkner Focus – Fox News – (211,000)
11. America Reports – Fox News – (208,000)
12. The Story – Fox News – (204,000)
13.  America’s Newsroom – Fox News – (203,000)
14.  Anderson Cooper 360 – CNN – (194,000)
15.  All In with Chris Hayes/Psaki – MSNBC – (190,000)

September 2024 cable news ratings (Nielsen Live+SD data):

Sept-24 Cable Ranker by Adweek