Is the news part of Fox News on the rise?
News program "Special Report with Bret Baier," landed in second-place in total viewers in November — both on Fox News and cable news overall. The finish was notable because opinion and commentary-driven shows traditionally dominate cable news.
November's election coverage helped Baier quietly beat "Hannity" and "Glenn Beck," both topped by headline-topping commentators.
Also read: Fox News Beats ABC, CBS, NBC on Election Night
"The O'Reilly Factor" remained, as usual, the top-rated show in total viewers on the network and on any cable news network, and ratings held relatively steady since November 2009. "Hannity" was down 10 percent year-over-year and "Beck" 14 percent, continuing a recent "Beck" decline.
"Special Report" hasn't landed in the number two spot in five years. It was hosted at the time by Brit Hume, from whom Baier took over the show in 2009. Also landing in the top five, behind Beck and Hannity, was the news show "Fox Report with Shepard Smith."
In the 25-54 year old demo most coveted by TV news advertisers, "The O'Reilly Factor," Hannity, and Beck still led, followed by Smith and Baier.
Fox News also had the top 11 programs in total viewers and nine out of the top 10 in the 25-54 demographic.