Fox News topped its rivals in the March and first-quarter 2024 ratings by a wide margin, but MSNBC and CNN showed the biggest growth versus the same period a year ago.
The past month saw major events like Super Tuesday and President Joe Biden’s State of the Union address. Although the numbers aren’t giving the networks the blockbuster audiences of the 2020 cycle, the networks have for now staved off the large double-digit declines of recent years.
In primetime in March, Fox News averaged 2.14 million viewers, up 2% from the same period a year ago. MSNBC posted 1.31 million, up 15%, and CNN averaged 601,000, up 27%. In the 25-54 demo, Fox News averaged 246,000, up less than 1% over 2023, while MSNBC averaged 133,000, up 24%, and CNN was at 124,000, up 24%.
In total day in March, Fox News topped with 1.31 million, down less than 1%, while MSNBC posted 830,000, up 18%, and CNN averaged 461,000, up 8%. In the 25-54 demo, Fox News led with 158,000, down 2%, followed by MSNBC with 86,000, up 10% and CNN with 84,000, up 1%.
In the first quarter primetime, Fox News topped with 2.07 million, down 1%, followed by MSNBC with 1.25 million, up 13%, and CNN with 594,000, up 5%. In the 25-54 demo, Fox News topped with 233,000, down 10%, followed by CNN with 121,000, down 2%, and MSNBC also with 121,000, up 9%.
In total day in the first quarter, Fox News was first with 1.3 million, down 5%, followed by MSNBC with 814,000, up 16%, and CNN with 467,000, down 2%. In the 25-54 demo, Fox News averaged 156,000, down 10%, followed by CNN with 85,000, down 10% and MSNBC with 82,000, up 5%.
In March, Fox News’ The Five was the top show, averaging 3.05 million viewers, followed by Jesse Watters Primetime with 2.76 million, Hannity with 2.34 million, Gutfeld! with 2.19 million and Special Report with Bret Baier with 2.17 million. In the 25-54 demo, Gutfeld! topped with 302,000, followed by Jesse Watters Primetime with 284,000, The Five with 281,000, Hannity with 274,000 and The Ingraham Angle with 221,000.
Fox News’ The Five also was the top show of the first quarter, averaging 3.04 million, followed by Jesse Watters Primetime with 2.79 million, Hannity with 2.43 million, Special Report with Bret Baier at 2.22 million and The Ingraham Angle with 2.21 million. In the 25-54 demo, Gutfeld! topped with 304,000, followed by Jesse Watters Primetime with 284,000, The Five with 275,000, Hannity with 266,000 and The Ingraham Angle with 222,000.
The rankings do not include MSNBC’s The Rachel Maddow Show, which airs one night a week in its 9 p.m. ET slot, while Alex Wagner Tonight is seen on the remaining days. On its own, Maddow’s show averaged 2.5 million viewers in the first quarter, enough to top its time slot on that night.
The figures are from Nielsen via the major networks.