Cable Ratings: Fox News Dominates July, MSNBC Has Significant Growth

Fox News has been most-watched cable news network for 187 straight months

Fox News Channel finished July as the most-watched network among all of cable for the 13th straight month, averaging 1.3 million total day viewers. FNC has now been the most-watched cable news network in both primetime and total day for 187 straight months, but rival MSNBC has shown marked growth.

Fox News averaged 2.1 million primetime viewers and 407,000 among the key demo of adults age 25-54, winning both categories. MSNBC finished second in both primetime categories, averaging 1.7 million viewers and 388,000 among the demo, while CNN averaged 892,000 total viewers and 296,000 between the ages 25-54.

Among Total Day, CNN managed to top MSNBC among the key demo, averaging 216,000 compared to 210,000, but Fox News finished No. 1 with an average of 279,000 demo viewers. MSNBC topped CNN among Total Day viewers, averaging 926,000 compared to 674,000 while FNC dominated with an average of 1.3 million viewers.

Last July’s programming included the Republican and Democratic conventions, coverage of terrorist attacks in Nice, France and the Dallas police officer shooting — so a decline in viewers should be expected. However, MSNBC managed to add viewers from this time last year.

During primetime, MSNBC grew 29 percent in total viewers and 12 percent in the demo, while Fox News dropped 25 percent in viewers and 27 percent among the demo. However, Fox News still beat MSNBC in both categories for July 2017, indicating that MSNBC was in bad shape just one year ago. CNN lost a whopping 48 percent of viewers in both categories.

Total Day growth was similar, with MSNBC gaining 30 percent in viewers and 16 percent among the demo. Fox News dropped 16 percent in viewers and 11 percent in the demo, while CNN lost roughly 28 percent in each category compared to the same month last year.

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