As the New Hampshire primary unfolded on Tuesday, Fox News Channel became the most-watched cable news network, dwarfing CNN and MSNBC in combined viewership in prime time.
During special coverage of the nation's first primary, FOX News reached approximately 4 million total viewers at 8 p.m. ET, according to data from Nielsen Media Research, reaching a total audience of 25-54, a demographic coveted by advertisers. The demo was watched by 521,000 people. , as former President Trump was declared the winner of the Republican contest. Meanwhile, MSNBC followed him in second place with 1.98 million total viewers, followed by CNN in third place with 1.25 million total viewers, with 278,000 and 284,000 viewers in the key demos, respectively. It was a person.
Overnight from 8-11 p.m. ET, Fox News averaged 3.3 million total viewers and 453,000 viewers in the key demo, compared to MSNBC's CNN averaged less than 1 million total viewers and only 246,000 viewers in the demo. .
The special coverage was spearheaded by FOX News' Bret Baier and Martha McCallum.
FOX News Channel's coverage of the Iowa Republican caucus draws more than four times as many viewers as CNN
Fox News' Martha McCollum and Bret Baier led the station's special coverage of New Hampshire's presidential primary on Tuesday. (Fox News Media)
FOX News Channel also dominated cable news coverage of last week's Iowa caucuses, averaging 2.8 million total viewers from 8 to 11 p.m. ET, compared to 1.1 million for MSNBC. , CNN averaged a dismal 688,000 viewers. Fox News more than quadrupled CNN's viewership, and MSNBC's viewership doubled.
Trump made history again Tuesday as the first non-incumbent candidate in modern times to win both New Hampshire and Iowa. The former president won 54% of support among Granite State primary voters, but his remaining opponent, former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley, outperformed expectations with about 43% of the vote. Haley has vowed to continue running and campaigning for president in her home state of South Carolina, even as polls show her trailing behind the leading Republican candidates.
FOX News Channel beats CNN, MSNBC to end 8th consecutive year as most-watched cable network in 2023
Former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley and former President Trump continued to quarrel after the New Hampshire primary. (Michael M. Santiago/Al Drago/Bloomberg)
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On the Democratic side, President Biden won an unprecedented write-in campaign, which was the result of a standoff between the DNC and New Hampshire. The DNC had designated South Carolina as the nation's first primary, but New Hampshire continued its campaign in compliance with state law, declaring the Granite State the nation's first primary.
Also in the spotlight is Biden's main primary challenger, Rep. Dean Phillips of Minnesota, who won about 20% of the Democratic vote.
Fox News' Brian Flood contributed to this report.
