The climax of the 2024 presidential election between the vice president Kamala Harris and president-elect Donald Trump this led to big numbers for Fox News and audience erosion for MSNBC and CNN.
Trump’s victory was a big boon for FNC, as it had the largest cable news share in its history with 62% of the all-day cable news audience. It was the most-watched channel on election night and during the vice president’s concession speech the next day. Fox News was also the only network to see growth in total primetime and total day viewers.
Meanwhile, CNN and MSNBC audiences largely lost interest after the election, with both networks seeing double-digit declines in total primetime and all-day viewers compared to October.
All three networks posted better numbers in the advertiser-coveted Adults 25-54 primetime demo compared to the previous month. On the other hand, MSNBC was the only network to record losses in the all-day demo.
On the programming front, MSNBC’s Morning Joe experienced significant audience losses after his hosts revealed they had met with Trump. This erosion follows the morning show which had its second most-watched month in the last three years,
Fox News
Fox News had 3.181 million total viewers in prime time and 476,000 viewers in the A25-54 demo. During the total day, it gathered 1.951 million viewers in the first category and 282,000 viewers in the second.
Compared to its October 2024 performanceFNC is up +16% in total audience and +33% in the A25-54 demo in prime time. Across the day, the series saw monthly gains of +20% in total viewers and +33% in the demo.
Watching Fox News performance alongside the same month in 2023the channel saw gains of +84% in total viewers and +139% in primetime demo. Over the total day, it is up +65% in the first category and +97% in the second.
The network finished November as the No. 1 cable network in total viewers and second place in the primetime demo. During the total day, it held first place among total viewers and finished second in the demo.
MSNBC
MSNBC was the second-largest primetime and daytime cable news network in total viewers in November, with 1.085 million and 720,000 viewers, respectively. Among A25-54 viewers, the channel attracted 161,000 primetime viewers and 91,000 total daytime viewers.
Month over month, MSNBC saw a 22% decline in total primetime viewers, but a +1% increase in the primetime demo. Over the total day, the channel saw a -20% drop in total viewers and -6% in the demo.
Year over year, MSNBC saw a -5% decline in total viewership and a +48% increase in the primetime demo. Over the total day, it fell by -7% in the first category and increased by +12% in the second.
In the basic cable ratings, MSNBC finished in third place in total primetime viewers and second place in total viewers per day. In the demo, it was network #8 during prime time and #7 throughout the day.
CNN
In November, CNN’s primetime programming attracted 725,000 total viewers and 196,000 A25-54 viewers. During the total day, it attracted 482,000 total viewers and 108,000 demo viewers.
Compared to the previous month, CNN saw a 13% decline in total viewership and a +12% increase in the primetime demo. For the day as a whole, the network lost 9% in total viewers and gained 8% in the demo. Year over year, CNN saw a +34% increase in total viewership and a +61% increase in the primetime demo. In total over the day, the network progressed by +2% and +16% respectively in these measurement categories.
CNN finished November as the No. 5 network in primetime and total daytime in terms of viewers. In the demo, it ranked #4 in primetime and #3 in total daytime.
Looking at how other news networks performed in November:
Newsmax — Rob Schmitt Tonight was the network’s most popular show, both in total viewers and the A25-54 demo, with 515,000 and 44,000 viewers, respectively. NewsNation — Cuomo ranked first in total viewers and A25-54 viewers with 165,000 and 20,000 viewers, respectively. Fox Business — Kudlow remained the network’s top show in total viewers and demo, with 343,000 and 18,000 viewers, respectively. CNBC — Fast Money Halftime Report took first place in total viewers with 229,000 viewers, while Squawk on the Street finished first among the A25-54 audience with 52,000 viewers.
PROGRAMMING
Fox News — The Five (4.423 million at 5 p.m. ET) was the most-watched show by total viewers as well as the A25-54 crowd (510,000 viewers). MSNBC — Election night coverage led the way for MSNBC with Decision 2024 (2.412 million at 6 p.m. ET) among total viewers and demo (617,000 viewers). Among the channel’s regular programs, Deadline: White House with Nicole Wallace (1.4 billion viewers at 5 p.m. ET) finished in 15th place. CNN — Election Night in America at 4 p.m. ET was the network’s best performer in total viewers and the A25-54 demo, with 2.913 million and 1.189 million viewers, respectively. None of its regular shows made the Top 15 in total viewers, but Anderson Cooper 360 (147,000 viewers at 8 p.m. ET) snuck in at No. 15 on the demo charts.
Among total viewers
The Five – Fox News (4,423,000) Jesse Watters Primetime – Fox News (3,945,000) The Ingraham Angle – Fox News (3,316,000) Gutfeld! – Fox News (3,299,000) Special report with Bret Baier – Fox News (3,265,000) Hannity – Fox News (3,201,000) Outnumbered – Fox News – (2,462,000) The Faulkner Focus – Fox News – (2,351,000) America’s Newsroom – Fox News – (2,237) 000) America Reports – Fox News – (2,182,000) Your World with Neil Cavuto – Fox News – (2,156,000) The story with Martha MacCallum – Fox News (2,107,000) Fox News @Night – Fox News (1,833,000) Fox & Friends – Fox News (1,621,000) Deadline: White House with Nicole Wallace – MSNBC (1,400,000)
In adults aged 25 to 54
The Five – Fox News (510,000) Jesse Watters Primetime – Fox News (503,000) Gutfeld! – Fox News (480,000) The Ingraham Angle – Fox News (427,000) Hannity – Fox News (424,000) Special Report with Bret Baier – Fox News (404,000) Outnumbered – Fox News (305,000) Fox News at Night – Fox News (295,000) The Faulkner Focus – Fox News (293,000) America Reports – Fox News (287,000) Your World with Neil Cavuto – Fox News (285,000) America’s Newsroom – Fox News (270,000) The Story with Martha MacCallum – Fox News (265,000) Fox & Friends – Fox News (218,000) ) Anderson Cooper 360 – CNN (147,000)
November 2024 Cable News Ratings (Nielsen Live+SD data):
PRIMIME Fox News MSNBC CNN • Total number of viewers: 3,181,000 1,085,000 725,000 • A25-54: 476,000 161,000 196,000 TOTAL DAY Fox News MSNBC CNN • Total number of viewers: 1,951,000 720,000 482,000 • A25-54: 282,000 91,000 108,000
