Week of September 23 Cable News Ratings: Fox News Leads in All Categories

This is TVNewser’s basic cable network ranker and cable news report for the week of September 23, 2024.

The last full week of September saw Fox News continue to dominate in primetime and total day, while also posting week-to-week audience losses in total viewers and Adults 25-54 demos during both dayparts. On the other hand, CNN was the only network not to see any primetime drops in both measured categories, but still joined its cable news competitors with total day losses.

NETWORKS:

Nielsen live plus same-day data for the week of September 23 saw FNC average 2.334 million total viewers and 276,000 A25-54 viewers during primetime. The network was down in total viewers by -7% and -11% in the A25-54 demo relative to the week prior. 

Fox News averaged 1.438 million total viewers and 189,000 demo viewers in total day viewing. It was down -3% and -7% in those respective categories compared to the previous week.

Among all basic cable networks, Fox News reclaimed No. 1 in total primetime viewers and second in the primetime demo. In total day, it continued to lead in total viewers and held onto second place in the total day demo.

MSNBC’s primetime lineup averaged 1.178 million total viewers and 131,000 viewers in the A25-54 demo. That translates to week-to-week losses of -20% and -15%, respectively. In total day, MSNBC averaged 846,000 total viewers and 90,000 A25-54 viewers for respective losses of -11% and -9% from what the network averaged the week before.

Among all basic cable networks, MSNBC was No. 3 in total primetime viewers and ranked seventh in the demo. During total day, it finished as the No. 2 cable network in total viewers and claimed sixth place in the demo. 

CNN averaged 695,000 total primetime viewers and 138,000 A25-54 viewers during primetime. The network rose by +2% in the former categry and stayed flat in the latter compared to the previous week. In total day, the network had 511,000 total viewers and 89,000 viewers in the demo for dips of -1% and -5%, respectively.

Notable: CNN topped MSNBC in the primetime demo and finished behind its rival by only 1,000 viewers in the total day demo.

CNN ranked fourth place in primetime with total viewers and sixth in the demo. It was also fourth in total day viewers and ranked seventh in the total day demo. 

When looking at these networks’ performance during the same period a year ago (the week of Sept. 25):

• During primetime, Fox News was up by +7% in total viewers and +1% in the A25-54 demo. In total day, the network saw gains of +20% in total viewers and +28% in the demo.
• MSNBC was down -22% in total viewers and -5% in the demo. During total day, the network was down -10% in total viewers and -5% in the demo.
• CNN saw a primetime lift of +21% in total viewers and +22% in the demo. During total day, CNN was up by +7% in total viewers and +2% in the demo.

PROGRAMMING:

Fox News occupied 12 of the 15 spots of the most-watched cable news shows of the week, with The Five (3.337 million viewers at 5 p.m. ET) staying on top. MSNBC occupied the remaining spots, with Deadline: White House with Nicole Wallace (1.796 million viewers at 5 p.m. ET) landing at No. 8.

Gutfeld! (406,000 viewers at 10 p.m. ET) was on top in the Adults 25-54 demo, with FNC claiming 14 out of the 15 top shows. MSNBC’s All In with a Chris Hayes/Inside with Jen Psaki average (180,000 viewers at 8 p.m. ET) landing in the 15th spot.

Week of September 23 cable news ratings, Monday-Sunday (Nielsen Live+SD data):