Here’s the Third Quarter 2024 Cable News Report

Below are the cable news ratings for the third quarter of 2024.

The period from July to the end of September was busy for news. Calls for President Joe Biden to step down as the Democratic nominee grew louder after his disastrous performance during CNN’s presidential debate between him and former President Donald Trump. 

Plus, Trump was the target of an assassination attempt days before the start of the 2024 Republican National Convention, J.D. Vance was named the GOP vice-presidential candidate, and Vice President Kamala Harris became the nominee for the Democrats after President Biden announced he would not seek a second term of the presidency,

Following the Harris announcement, Tim Walz was named the Democratic vice-presidential candidate, with the 2024 Democratic National Convention taking place soon after.

But that’s not all. Harris and Trump participated in a much-hyped presidential debate hosted by ABC News, a second assassination attempt against Trump was thwarted before it even began, the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East continued, and Hurricane Helene battered the Southeast region of the United States.

It’s safe to say all this political, war, and weather news boosted the three cable news networks to viewership highs they had not seen in a long time.

Fox News led the way as it had the second-highest third quarter in its history, MSNBC had its highest-rated quarter in three years, and CNN had its best quarter on TV in over two years among total viewers and the Adults 25-54 demo.

With a consequential presidential election and its after-effects occurring in the fourth quarter, the cable news networks will likely see a more engaged and better-performing second half of 2024 than the first half.

Fox News Channel

Fox News averaged 2.725 million total primetime viewers in Q3 2024. That’s up +30% from the previous quarter. The network was up +62% in the primetime demo with 367,000 viewers. During total day, Fox News had 1.571 million total viewers, up +20% from the previous quarter, and 215,000 demo viewers, up +40% from Q2 2024.  

When looking at Fox News’ performance in the same quarter in 2023, it was up +56% in total viewers and +91% in the demo during primetime. Looking at total day, the network was up +43% and +63% in total viewers and the demo, respectively.

According to Nielsen Media Research, Fox News’ rule at the top of cable news has now stretched to 91 consecutive quarters. 

Fox News was the most-watched cable network during primetime with total viewers and was the second most-watched network in the demo. During total day, Fox News was again on top in total viewers and was No.1 in the demo.

MSNBC

During Q2 2024, MSNBC averaged 1.476 million total primetime viewers, up +24% from the previous quarter. It was up by +59% in the primetime demo with 181,000 viewers. During total day, MSNBC had 889,000 total viewers, up +10% from the previous quarter, while it was up +20% in the demo with 100,000 viewers compared with Q2 2024.  

When looking at MSNBC’s performance in the same quarter in 2023, it was up in total viewers and the demo by +15% and  +40% during primetime. Looking at the Q3 2023 total day, the network was up +9% in total viewers and +14% in the demo.

MSNBC is the only top 10 cable network with six consecutive quarters of year-over-year viewership growth and topped CNN for the 15th straight quarter. 

MSNBC was the second most-watched cable news network in total viewers and No. 5 in the demo. During total day, MSNBC remained in second place in total viewers and was fifth in the demo. 

CNN

CNN averaged 924,000 total primetime viewers in Q3 2024. That was a +50% improvement from the previous quarter. It also rose by +66% in the primetime demo with 206,000 viewers. During total day, CNN had 557,000 total viewers, up +18% from the previous quarter, and 110,000 A25-54 viewers, up +29 from Q2 2024. It remained the second-most watched cable news network in the demo during primetime and total day. 

When looking at its performance in the same quarter in 2023, CNN was up +55% in total viewers and +73% in A25-54 during primetime. During total day, the network was up +18% and +25% in total viewers and the demo, respectively.

CNN finished in 4th place during primetime with total viewers and in the demo. During total day, CNN was No.3 in total viewers and landed in the fourth spot in the demo. 

PROGRAMMING

  • Fox News – The Five was Fox News’ most-watched program, with total viewers coming in with an average of 3.466 million viewers at 5 p.m. ET, while Hannity at 9 p.m. ET was the network’s most-watched show in the demo, with 457,000 viewers.
  • MSNBC – The 5 p.m. ET edition of Deadline White House with Nicole Wallace was the network’s most-watched program in total viewers, with an average of 1.637 million viewers, and The Reidout was the network’s top show in the demo with 190,000 viewers.
  • CNN – Anderson Cooper 360 was the most-watched program, with total viewers coming in with an average of 916,000 viewers at 8 p.m. ET. It was also the network’s most-watched show in the demo, with 191,000 viewers.
  • Newsmax – Rob Schmitt Tonight was the net’s top show in total viewers and A25-54 with 465,000 and 35,000 viewers, respectively.
  • NewsNation – Cuomo was the net’s top show in total viewers and A25-54. It had 160,000 and 18,000 viewers, respectively. Of note – NewsNation is up in total day and primetime total viewers in the third quarter versus the same quarter last year.
  • Fox Business – Kudlow remained the net’s top show in total viewers and A25-54. It had 303,000 and 14,000 viewers, respectively. 
  • CNBC – Fast Money Halftime Report was the net’s top show in total viewers and A25-54. It had 217,000 and 44,000 viewers, respectively. 

Among Total Viewers 

  1. The Five – Fox News (3,466,000)
  2. Jesse Watters Primetime – Fox News -(3,450,000)
  3. Hannity – Fox News – (3,232,000) 
  4. Gutfeld!  – Fox News – (2,776,000)
  5. The Ingraham Angle – Fox News  – (2,692,000)
  6. Special Report with Bret Baier – Fox News – (2,506,000)
  7. Outnumbered – Fox News – (1,933,000)
  8. The Story with Martha MacCallum – Fox News – (1,898,00)
  9. America Reports – Fox News – (1,843,000)
  10. The Faulkner Focus – Fox News – ( 1,810,000)
  11. Your World with Neil Cavuto – Fox News – (1,807,000)
  12. America’s Newsroom – Fox News – (1,783,000)
  13. Deadline: White House with Nicole Wallace 5 p.m. – MSNBC – (1,637,000)
  14. The Reidout – MSNBC – (1,627,000)
  15. The Beat with Ari Melber – MSNBC – (1,609,000)

Among Adults 25-54 

  1. Hannity – Fox News – (457,000)
  2. Jesse Watters Primetime – Fox News –  (430,000)
  3. Gutfeld! – Fox News –  (413,000)
  4. The Five – Fox News –  (359,000)
  5. The Ingraham Angle – Fox News – (324,000)
  6. Special Report with Bret Baier – Fox News – (284,000)
  7. Fox News at Night – Fox News – (255,000)
  8. The Story – Fox News – (241,000)
  9. Outnumbered  – Fox News – (238,000)
  10. America Reports – Fox News – (231,000)
  11. Your World with Neil Cavuto – Fox News – (225,000)
  12.  The Faulkner Focus – Fox News – (224,000)
  13.  America’s Newsroom – Fox News – (221,000)
  14.  Anderson Cooper 360 – CNN – (191,000)
  15.  The Reidout – MSNBC – (190,000)

2024 Q3 Cable News Ratings  (Nielsen Live+SD data):

PRIMETIME Fox News MSNBC CNN
• Total Viewers: 2,725,000 1,476,000 924,000
• A25-54: 367,000 181,000 206,000
Total Day Fox News MSNBC CNN
• Total Viewers: 1,571,000 889,000 557,000
• A25-54: 215,000 100,000 110,000

3Q-24 P25-54 by Adweek on Scribd

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