Fox News Sweeps July Cable News Ratings As All Networks See Declines

Fox News Channel easily outdistanced its cable news competition in July, finishing the sweeps month as the most-watched network in prime time and for total day, and among both total viewers and adults 25-54, the key demographic group valued by advertisers.

Fox News delivered an average total audience of 2.116 million viewers in prime time, down just 1 percent from the same period one year ago, according to ratings data compiled by Nielsen. MSNBC was second with 1.295 million viewers (down 2 percent from 2021), while CNN was a distant third in prime with 731,000 viewers—down 15% from one year ago.

Among viewers 25-54, Fox News was first in prime with an average audience of 292,000 viewers (down 13% from a year ago), followed by CNN (159,000 viewers, down 18%) and MSNBC (133,000 viewers, down 22%).

Fox News was the only cable news network to see an increase year-over-year—in total day ratings, with an average audience of 1.35 million viewers—up 13% from the same period one year ago. MSNBC was second overall with 765,000 viewers (down 1%) and CNN finished third with 541,000 viewers (down 15%).

Fox News Channel’s The Five was the most-watched show in cable news, delivering an average total audience of 3.21 million viewers in July, the seventh time in the last eight months that the show—despite airing outside of prime time when viewership is typically highest—has led all of cable news.

Tucker Carlson Tonight was second overall with 3.103 million viewers, followed by Jesse Watters Primetime (2.636 million viewers) and Hannity (2.53 million viewers)—all airing on Fox News. MSNBC’s The Rachel Maddow Show was fifth with 2.391 million viewers—the highest-rated show not airing on Fox News Channel.

Among viewers in the key demo, Tucker Carlson Tonight finished first in July with 482,000 viewers, followed by The Five (410,000 viewers), Hannity (343,000 viewers), Jesse Watters Primetime (330,000 viewers) and the late night show Gutfeld! (326,000 viewers), all airing on Fox News.