Rachel Maddow Tops Fox News and CNN in Total Viewers for Full Quarter for First Time

No wonder Fox News is moving Sean Hannity to go head-to-head with MSNBC star

MSNBC

Fox News remained on top in ratings for the third quarter of 2017, but Rachel Maddow also has reason to celebrate.

“The Rachel Maddow Show” got 2.7 million total viewers, making it the top cable news show in overall viewers and adults aged 25 to 54.

It marks the first quarter that an MSNBC show has ranked No. 1 for all of cable news. The numbers for “Maddow” represent a 75 percent increase over the third quarter in 2016.

“Tucker Carlson Tonight” was the No. 2 most-watched cable news show for the quarter with 2.54 million total viewers; “Hannity” followed with 2.51 million.

Maddow has had less-stiff competition in the time slot without going against Bill O’Reilly, who left Fox News in April. But things may soon get tougher for her, as Sean Hannity shifted back to 9 p.m. on Monday and will directly compete with “Maddow.”

Meanwhile, Fox News remained No. 1 for the quarter in both primetime and total day viewers, claiming its 63rd consecutive quarter as the most-seen cable news channel.

Fox News averaged 1.4 million total day viewers, compared to 951,000 for MSNBC and 797,000 for CNN.

For its part, Fox Business Network scored its fourth consecutive quarterly win over CNBC as the top-rated business network.

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