Nielsen figures reported by Adweek put Fox News Channel first among cable channels in total prime-time viewers for Nov. 3 midterm coverage, while NBC led overall and CNN led cable among viewers ages 25-54.
Fox News Channel averaged 4.315 million viewers from 8 to 11 p.m. ET. NBC drew 6.740 million, ahead of ABC at 5.190 million. CNN averaged 4.147 million and MS NOW had 3.749 million, according to Adweek’s report of Nielsen figures.
Fox News Media said its “FOX News Democracy 26” coverage, simulcast on Fox News Channel and Fox Business Network, averaged nearly 4.7 million viewers. Bret Baier and Martha MacCallum co-anchored the program. Fox counted 4.3 million viewers on Fox News Channel and 346,000 on Fox Business Network, and reported digital measures separately. The combined figure covers both channels’ television audiences.
The cable ranking was different among viewers ages 25-54. CNN averaged 1.512 million in that group, compared with 771,000 for Fox News Channel and 665,000 for MS NOW, Adweek reported. NBC led all networks in the age group with 2.794 million viewers, followed by ABC at 1.672 million.
Nielsen figures reported by Adweek put the prime-time audience across 13 networks at 31.2 million. Axios reported that the total was 23% higher than in 2022 and 14% lower than in 2018.
Before election night, preliminary ratings put Fox on pace for a 27% year-over-year audience decline in October, The Independent reported. EconoTimes previously covered the October audience projection. That projection measured a month’s audience, while the Nov. 3 figures covered prime-time election coverage.
