Fox News Channel dominated the cable news landscape in November, achieving one of its most-watched months ever and maintaining its status as the top-rated cable news network. With major stories like the presidential election and President-elect Trump’s Cabinet appointments dominating headlines, Fox News surged ahead of its competitors, leaving CNN and MSNBC struggling to retain viewers.
Fox News commanded an average of nearly two million total daily viewers in November, far outpacing other cable networks. ESPN ranked second with 741,000 average daily viewers, while MSNBC and CNN trailed with 720,000 and 482,000, respectively.
During primetime, Fox News averaged an astounding 3.2 million viewers, crushing MSNBC’s 1.1 million and CNN’s 725,000. Even when combined, CNN and MSNBC couldn’t match Fox News’ numbers, reflecting the network’s growing dominance in the cable news market.
In the advertiser-coveted 25–54 demographic, Fox News continued its reign with 282,000 total daily viewers, compared to 108,000 for CNN and 91,000 for MSNBC. The network also led primetime ratings in this demographic, averaging 476,000 viewers—more than double CNN’s 196,000 and MSNBC’s 161,000.
The Power of “The Five” and Other Top Shows
Fox News’ success in November was spearheaded by The Five, which emerged as the most-watched program in cable news for the month. Hosted by Greg Gutfeld, Jesse Watters, Dana Perino, Jeanine Pirro, and rotating co-hosts Harold Ford Jr. and Jessica Tarlov, the show averaged 4.4 million total viewers and 510,000 in the key demographic.
Other programs also thrived:
- “Gutfeld!” experienced its best month since its debut.
- “The Ingraham Angle,” “Jesse Watters Primetime,” and “Hannity” continued to dominate their timeslots.
- Daytime programming, including Outnumbered, America Reports, Special Report with Bret Baier, and The Faulkner Focus, also contributed to the network’s success.
Fox News’ coverage of Election Night 2024 broke records, drawing nearly 13.6 million viewers across its platforms, with 4.4 million in the key demographic. Anchored by Bret Baier and Martha MacCallum, the network’s Democracy 2024 coverage was the most-watched among all television networks, averaging 10.8 million viewers.
The day after the election, Fox News’ coverage of Vice President Kamala Harris’ concession speech averaged over eight million viewers, with 1.4 million in the 25–54 demographic—making it the most-watched program of the day.
In stark contrast to Fox News’ success, MSNBC and CNN faced significant declines in viewership following the election. Since Vice President Harris’ loss, MSNBC has suffered a 42% drop in total viewership, a 52% decline in primetime, and a 57% decrease in its key demographic audience. CNN saw similar struggles, losing 39% of its primetime viewers and 30% of its total audience.
Key MSNBC programs, including The ReidOut, The 11th Hour with Stephanie Ruhle, and Jose Diaz-Balart Reports, recorded their lowest ratings ever during this period.
Critics argue that the networks’ declining performance reflects an inability to pivot their narratives post-election. For years, MSNBC and CNN framed Trump as a “fascist” and a “threat to democracy,” but their audiences appear to have disengaged after his decisive victory over Harris.
Adding to MSNBC’s woes, backlash erupted after Morning Joe co-hosts Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski revealed they had a face-to-face meeting with Trump after the election. The revelation angered many of their progressive viewers and highlighted internal divisions at the network.
Fox News has not only dominated its liberal competitors but has also outperformed major broadcast networks like ABC, CBS, and NBC in viewership since Election Night. With a commanding 62% share of total cable news viewers in November—and an even more dominant 73% share during primetime—Fox News remains the undisputed leader in cable news.
Programs like Sunday Morning Futures and Life, Liberty & Levin further bolstered the network’s weekend ratings, drawing 1.9 million and 1.8 million viewers, respectively.
November proved to be a banner month for Fox News as it solidified its position as America’s go-to source for cable news. With powerhouse programming, record-breaking election coverage, and sustained viewer loyalty, the network has left CNN and MSNBC struggling to keep up.
While critics of Fox News point to its partisan appeal, the network’s ability to capture such a large share of the audience speaks to its effectiveness in connecting with viewers during pivotal political moments. For CNN and MSNBC, the challenge moving forward will be finding a way to rebuild their audiences in the face of Fox News’ unrelenting dominance.
