Fox News Boasts The Five Most-Watched Shows In Cable News On Thursday

Fox News posted dominant ratings numbers on Thursday as it not only led cable news across the board but also boasted the five most-watched shows of the day in total viewership.

According to Nielsen, Fox News averaged a robust 3.411 million total viewers and 649,000 in the key 25-54 demographic during the 8 PM to 11 PM primetime hours. MSNBC pulled in 429,000 in the demo and a total audience of 2.224 million. CNN attracted 861,000 viewers overall and 266,000 in the key demo.

For total day, Fox News drew 1.784 million total viewers and 363,000 in the demo. MSNBC placed second on both metrics, nabbing 1.068 million viewers overall and 220,000 in the demographic. CNN captured 180,000 in the demo and a total audience of 626,000.

Fox News’ Hannity was once again the most-watched program in all of cable news in both total viewership (3.849 million) and the key demo (728,000). Besides leading cable news in total viewers, Hannity ranked sixth in all of television for the day. Fox’s The Ingraham Angle was second overall in cable news in the demographic (617,000) and total viewers (3.2 million) while placing tenth in broadcast TV in total audience.

The top-rated non-Fox cable news program was MSNBC’s The Rachel Maddow Show, which placed fifth in the demo (550,000) and sixth in total viewers (2.785 million). Surprisingly, the primetime-airing Maddow was beaten in the demo (557,000) and total audience (2.878 million) by Fox’s The Five, which airs at 5 PM. FNC’s Special Report, which airs at 6 PM, also topped Maddow in total viewers (2.963 million).

CNN’s most-watched program of the day was the 10 PM broadcast of CNN Tonight, which attracted 926,000 total viewers and 320,000 in the demo.