Fox News Scores Big Win In 2022 Cable News Ratings As CNN, MSNBC Have Worst-Rated Years Ever

Fox News Channel’s The Five was the most-watched show in cable news in 2022, making history as the first show airing outside of prime time to finish a full year at number one. The Five had an average total audience of 3.432 million viewers—despite airing at 5 p.m., hours ahead of prime, when viewership is typically the highest.

Among viewers 25-54, the demographic group most valued by advertisers, Fox News Channel’s Tucker Carlson Tonight finished the year in first place, with an average audience of 523,000 viewers according to full year ratings data compiled by Nielsen.

FNC’s Gutfeld! also made history, finishing the year as television’s second highest-rated show in late night, behind only CBS’ The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. The show delivered an average total audience of 2.045 million viewers and 345,000 viewers in the key demo.

“From America’s choice on election night to the home of late night’s smash hit show, 2022 was a testament to our unmatched skill in delivering the most innovative news and opinion programming to our audience which continues to rank as the most politically diverse in cable news,” said Fox News Media CEO Suzanne Scott in a statement released by the network. “I am beyond proud of our entire team’s incredible achievements this year.”

Overall, Fox News Channel finished the year with an average prime time audience of 2.33 million viewers, well ahead of MSNBC (1.208 million viewers) and CNN (730,000 viewers). Fox News was down just 1% from 2021, while MSNBC declined 21% and CNN dropped a massive 33%.

In the key demo, Fox News finished first with 346,000 viewers (down 7%), followed by CNN (174,000 viewers, down 36%) and MSNBC (133,000 viewers, down 39%). Fox News’ victory marks the network’s seventh consecutive year as the most-watched network in cable television, while CNN and MSNBC both had their lowest-rated years in history.