Fox News blew past its cable-news rivals in July, thanks to weeks of news-packed broadcasts that marked the most-watched month in cable network history, according to data from the Nielsen Research Center.
Ratings rose significantly due to coverage of the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump, the Republican National Convention and President Joe Biden’s announcement that he was ending his reelection campaign.
The right-leaning network was the most-watched cable news network during these events, far ahead of rivals CNN and MSNBC, according to Nielsen.
“Jesse Watters Primetime” led the way with its highest monthly viewership since the show debuted in the 8 p.m. time slot. Breaking the record held by “The Fives,” which had been Fox’s top show, the show drew 4.4 million viewers and nearly 600,000 in the demo.
“The Five” wasn’t far behind, averaging 3.9 million viewers and nearly 400,000 viewers in the 25-54 age group.
Fox dominated primetime overall, averaging about 3.5 million viewers and about 500,000 in the demo, while left-leaning MSNBC averaged about 1.2 million viewers and 82,000 in the demo.
Struggling CNN, whose primetime lineup includes “Anderson Cooper 360” and “The Source with Kaitlan Collins,” drew 856,000 viewers and just over 200,000 in the demo.
During daytime programming, Fox News averaged about 1.9 million viewers per month, including more than 260,000 in the advertiser-coveted 25-54 demographic.
Meanwhile, MSNBC averaged 721,000 viewers and 82,000 in key demos, while CNN averaged 523,000 viewers and 111,000 in key demos.
During the 2020 and 2016 elections, MSNBC and CNN saw double-digit declines in viewership, while Fox saw increases, according to Nielsen data.
Fox’s total viewership was up 17% in daytime and 15% in primetime compared to 2020, while CNN saw its daytime and primetime viewership drop by more than 40% and MSNBC was down about 40% overall.
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