FOX News Channel Finishes 25th Anniversary Year as Most-Watched Basic Cable Network for Sixth Consecutive Year Across Total Day and Primetime in Total Viewers

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Dec 15, 2021

FOX News Channel (FNC) capped off its 25th anniversary year by dominating all of basic cable in total day and primetime for the sixth consecutive year, according to Nielsen Media Research. In primetime, FNC averaged 2,365,000 viewers and 374,000 with A25-54 along with 233,000 in A18-49. Meanwhile, in total day, the network delivered 1,328,000 viewers and 223,000 in the younger 25-54 demo and 135,000 in A18-49. The network was the most-watched basic cable network, obliterating CNN and MSNBC across the board, and the only cable network to deliver over two million viewers in primetime and one million in total day. According to data from Nielsen/MRI Fusion, this year, more independents and democrats tuned into FNC than CNN while delivering the largest independent audience in cable news, making FNC’s audience the most politically diverse (graph attached) in cable news. Notably, FNC holds 44% of the cable news audience in total day viewership and 41% of the audience with A25-54. In primetime, the network holds a 47% audience share in total viewers and 43% in the younger A25-54 demo. As a result, FNC increased its share of the cable news audience with A25-54 from 2020 to 2021.