FOX News Marks 14 Years as Top Cable News Channel in January

FOX NEWS channel (FNC) finished January as the most-watched cable news channel, marking 14 consecutive years topping the genre, according to Nielsen Media Research. Additionally, the network was rated second among basic cable primetime for the month, following only ESPN and finishing ahead of TBS, USA and TNT, and placed third in total day.

In primetime for the month, FNC averaged 2,102,000 million viewers and 390,000 in the key demo in primetime, tallying the biggest year-to-year gains while trouncing both CNN and MSNBC combined in total viewers. FNC was up the most compared to all cable news channels in both total viewers (+43%) and in A25-54 (+43%). In total day, FNC averaged 1,255,000 viewers (up 30%), beating both CNN and MSNBC combined, with 235,000 in A25-54 (up 23%). Additionally, every program from 6AM-10PM/ET was up double-digits in total viewers while all programs from 9AM-7PM/ET and the primetime programs 8PM-11PM/ET were up double-digits in the key demo compared to the same month last year.

Also, FNC swept the top 14 programs in cable news in total viewers and delivered eight out of the top 10 programs in A25-54. The O'Reilly Factor continued as the top program among the cable news genre, delivering its highest-rated month since November 2012 with 3,256,000 (+26%) in viewers and 523,000 in A25-54 (+12%). Placing second in most-watched cable news programs, THE KELLY FILE averaged 2,576,000 viewers at 9PM/ET (+28%) with 459,000 in the demo (+15%). At 10PM/ET, HANNITY posted the network's biggest increases in both total viewers and the demo delivering 1,744,000 total viewers (+50%) and 373,000 in A25-54 (+47%). On the Record with Greta Van Susteren, at 7PM/ET, delivered 1,963,000 total viewers (+19%) and 315,000 25-54 (+9%) and Special Report, anchored by Bret Baier at 6PM/ET, averaged 2,296,000 viewers (+21%) with 358,000 in A25-54 (+22%).

Additionally, on January 28, 2016 FNC delivered its second highest-rated telecast in network history with the GOP Primary Debate live from Des Moines, Iowa. The debate averaged 12.5 million viewers and was the number one telecast, topping all cable and broadcast programs for the week.

RATINGS FOR THE TOP 5 PROGRAMS IN CABLE NEWS FOR JANUARY 2016

• Total Viewers: The O'Reilly Factor (3,256,000); THE KELLY FILE (2,576,000); The Five (2,366,000); Special Report w/ Bret Baier (2,296,000); ON THE RECORD WITH GRETA VAN SUSTEREN (1,963,000).
• Adults 25-54: The O'Reilly Factor (523,000); THE KELLY FILE (459,000); HANNITY (373,000); Special Report w/ Bret Baier (358,000); The Five (350,000).

JANUARY 2016 VS. JANUARY 2015 NIELSEN NUMBERS (7 day week, L+SD):

TOTAL DAY
FNC: 1,255,000 total viewers - up 30% (235,000 in 25-54 - up 23%)
CNN: 579,000 total viewers - up 12%; (168,000 in 25-54 - up 1%)
MSNBC: 423,000 total viewers - up 31%; (112,000 in 25-54 - up 20%)

PRIMETIME: 8-11PM/ET
FNC 2,120,000 total viewers - up 43% (390,000 in 25-54 - up 43%)
CNN: 842,000 total viewers - up 40%; (271,000 in 25-54 - up 20%)
MSNBC: 720,000 total viewers - up 39%; (179,000 in 25-54 - up 27%)

PRIMETIME: 7-11PM/ET
FNC: 2,004,000 total viewers - up 38%; (360,000 in 25-54 - up 37%)
CNN: 799,000 total viewers - up 34%; (252,000 in 25-54 - up 17%)
MSNBC: 712,000 total viewers - up 35%; (168,000 in 25-54 - up 23%)

***all must be attributed to Nielsen