Fox News is still leading the ratings game, leaving competitors like MSNBC and CNN far behind. In 2022, Fox News had its third-best year ever for total viewers in cable news history.
Fox ended the year as the top cable network for both primetime and total day viewers in basic cable for the seventh year in a row. It also held the title of the highest-rated cable news network for the 21st year straight.
Data from Nielsen/MRI Fusion shows that Fox News has the most politically varied audience in cable news. It has more Democrats, Independents, and Republicans watching than any other network, both in total viewers and among the younger age group of 25 to 54.
Fox News reached its second-best audience share ever, capturing 53% of the total day viewers in the 25-54 age group. During primetime, the network attracted 55% of all viewers.
Fox News CEO Suzanne Scott said:
In 2022, we showed off our amazing ability to bring the coolest news and opinions to our viewers, starting from America’s big decision on election night all the way to the popular late-night show. Our audience is still the most politically varied in cable news!
“I am beyond proud of our entire team’s incredible achievements this year.”
Fox News had the highest ratings for 13 out of 15 cable news shows, attracting the most viewers. This includes popular programs like The Five, Tucker Carlson Tonight, Jesse Watters Primetime, Hannity, Special Report with Bret Baier, The Ingraham Angle, Gutfeld!, Outnumbered, America’s Newsroom, The Faulkner Focus, Your World with Neil Cavuto, America Reports, and The Story.
Fox was really successful, having the top 15 shows for people aged 25 to 54 and the 13 best shows for the 18 to 49 age group.
The popular Fox News program ‘The Five’ kept setting new records.
For the first time ever, a cable show that didn’t air during primetime ended the year as the most-watched program on cable in terms of total viewers.
“The show ‘The Five’ airs at 5 PM ET and totally beat all the daytime and primetime shows on CNN and MSNBC. In 2022, it had the biggest audience in cable news, with 3,432,000 viewers overall and 465,000 in the 25 to 54 age group.”
According to Fox News:
Nielsen Cable News Ratings for 2022 (12/27/21-12/13/22) vs. 2021 (12/28/20-12/26/21)
Primetime:
FNC: 2,330,000 P2+ (down 1%); 346,000 25-54 (down 7%)
CNN: 730,000 P2+ (down 33%); 174,000 25-54 (down 36%)
MSNBC: 1,208,000 P2+ (down 21%); 133,000 25-54 (down 39%)
Total Day:
FNC: 1,489,000 P2+ (up 12%); 231,000 25-54 (up 3%)
CNN: 568,000 P2+ (down 27%); 123,000 25-54 (down 35%)
MSNBC: 733,000 P2+ (down 19%); 83,000 25-54 (down 35%)
