Week of December 9 Cable News Ratings: Audiences Check Out News Before Holiday

These are TVNewser’s basic cable network rankings and cable news reporting for the week of December 9, 2024.

Cable news networks had a rocky week, as none of the big three outlets posted weekly gains in total prime-time viewership. But CNN had reason to celebrate as the network saw a slight increase in total daily viewers – the only network to post weekly gains in either category measured during the time slots tracked.

Fox News also had reason to celebrate: The network attracted 69% of the total daily cable news audience over the weekend, marking FNC’s second-best performance in its history.

As the year comes to a close and the holiday season is in full swing, the lack of any major news during this time could cause cable news networks to stay on the move until January.

NETWORKS:

Nielsen live and same-day data for the week of December 9 saw FNC average 2.502 million total viewers and 281,000 adults 25-54 viewers in primetime. The network was flat in both categories compared to the previous week.

On the total day, Fox News averaged 1.655 million total viewers and 201,000 A25-54 viewers, for declines of -2% and -3%, respectively.

Among all basic cable networks, Fox News finished in first place in total primetime viewers and moved from No. 2 to No. 3 in the primetime demo. Over the entire day, it held first place in total viewers and remained in second place with A25-54 audiences.

MSNBC’s primetime lineup averaged 590,000 total viewers and 49,000 A25-54 viewers, for weekly declines of -7% and -13%, respectively.

Across the day, MSNBC averaged 444,000 total viewers and 38,000 A25-54 viewers, for respective declines of -3% and -5% from the previous week.

In the basic cable ratings, MSNBC remained in fifth place in total primetime viewers and fell from 29th to 35th in the primetime demo. During the total day, the network remained in fourth place in total viewers and 26th in the demo, tied with Hallmark Mystery.

CNN averaged 360,000 primetime viewers and 62,000 primetime A25-54 viewers, for declines of -2% and -7%, respectively, from the previous week.

Over the total day, the channel attracted 326,000 total viewers and 50,000 demo viewers for a gain of +1% in the first category and a drop of -4% in the second. CNN also remained the No. 2 network in the primetime and total daytime demo.

In the cable ratings, CNN fell from 17th to 19th in total primetime viewers and from 26th to 27th in the primetime demo, tied with TV Land. During the total day, CNN slipped from fifth to sixth place in total viewers and fell from 15th to 19th place in the demo.

When we look at the performance of these networks compared to the same period a year ago (the week of December 11):

In prime time, Fox News saw a +43% increase in total viewership and a +61% increase in the demo. During the total day, the channel saw gains of +42% in total viewers and +62% in the demo. MSNBC saw a -47% decline in total viewers and -50% in the demo. During the total day, the network saw a -41% decline in total viewers and -46% in the demo. CNN fell -21% in total viewership and -34% in primetime demo. For the day as a whole, CNN saw a -22% decline in total viewers and -32% in the demo.

PROGRAMMING:

Fox News took the top 15 spots for most-watched cable news shows of the week, with The Five (4.019 million viewers at 5 p.m. ET) remaining in the lead.

The Five (400,000 viewers at 5 p.m. ET) was also the top show in the A25-54 demo, with FNC once again filling all 15 spots.

Prime time

Fox News MSNBC CNN • Total number of viewers: 2,502,000 590,000 360,000 • A25-54: 281,000 49,000 62,000

Total day

Fox News MSNBC CNN • Total number of viewers: 1,655,000 444,000 326,000 • A25-54: 201,000 38,000 50,000

[Editor’s Note: Due to the holiday, this will be the last cable ranker of 2024. Reports will resume the week of Jan. 5]

Cable Rating Week of 12-9-24 by Advertising week on Scribd