Donald Trump and Megyn Kelly have helped Fox News Channel make history: The network to finished in first place among total-day viewership for seven consecutive weeks.
The network’s feud with Trump over his attacks on Kelly culminated Thursday in a debate-stage reunion between the two, who last faced off in a summer debate in which she questioned him about his past statements on women. The seven-week viewership record shows that the conflict didn’t seem to hurt the GOP frontrunner or the network.
For the week of Feb. 29 through March 6, Fox News was the No. 1 network among all basic cable in primetime with 4.3 million viewers, as well as in total day with 1.8 million viewers. It also finished atop the key demo of adults age 25-54 in primetime, and finished second to Adult Swim in the total day demo.
FNC’s primetime demo win is its first since early August during coverage of the network’s first GOP debate of the 2016 cycle. The network’s feud with Donald Trump didn’t hurt either party, and seems to be over: the GOP frontrunner will appear on Fox News tonight and he thanked Kelly during a press conference last night.
CNN finished No. 2 in prime time, while MSNBC failed to crack the Top 10 but finished eleventh. HGTV, AMC and TBS join Fox News and CNN among the Top 5 most-watched prime time networks.
FNC’s presidential primary debate Thursday was the most-watched telecast in all of television for the week, including cable and broadcast, with 16.9 million viewers. It was the highest-rated debate of 2016 and also broke the previous debate demo record for the year, delivering 5.5 million age 25-54 viewers.
The debate Thursday was the fourth highest-rated primary debate in history, and the second highest-rated telecast in Fox News Channel’s nearly 20-year history.
Fox News also had a big week in the mornings, with Ainsley Earhardt’s first week co-hosting “Fox & Friends” helping the show gain 33 percent in viewers over last year’s average.
The network looks to extend its record streak to eight consecutive weeks and is off to a good start. Monday’s Democratic town hall averaged 2.6 million viewers and 473,000 in the key demo of adults age 25-54 during its initial airing at 6 p.m. ET Monday. The Bret Baier-hosted event, including a re-broadcast, earned a total of 3.7 million viewers.
Fox Business Network, meanwhile, posted its highest-rated week ever during the business day. It averaged 162,000 total viewers over the same time period.