Fox News tops March and Q1 ratings, but news channel audiences continue to decline from 2022; CNN sees a sharp drop in prime time

Fox News topped March ratings, but all major news networks saw double-digit erosion for the same month in 2022.

CNN saw some of the steepest declines, with a 61 percent primetime audience from March 2022 and a 73 percent drop in the 25-54 demo.

One factor: the lack of a dominant message. The war in Ukraine dominated the news during the same period a year ago, and CNN even saw an increase in viewership.

But the network tried to accommodate the 9pm ET hour by scheduling special town halls and one-on-ones. The network has said its programming is a bit of an experiment that hasn’t received a full promotional boost, while sources say it has been in talks with the likes of Gayle King and Charles Barkley about hosting a weekly show in the lock. The network is also starting a revamp of its daily lineup next month.

While CNN beat MSNBC in the primetime demo 25-54 in the first quarter, it was beaten by the NBCU network in March.

Meanwhile, MSNBC is a bright spot as it launches new shows Inside with Jen Psaki, which airs Sundays at 12pm ET. It averaged 1.06 million viewers in its second week, beating out competition on Fox News and CNN. In the 25-54 demo, it averaged 125,000 viewers, with CNN at 97,000 and Fox News at 140,000.

That month, Fox News averaged 2.09 million viewers, down 27%, versus MSNBC’s 1.14 million, down 12%, and CNN, at 473,000, down 61%. In the 25-54 demo, Fox News led with 245,000, down 54%, followed by MSNBC at 107,000, down 42%, and CNN at 100,000, down 73%.

For the day, Fox News averaged 1.32 million, down 27%, followed by MSNBC at 701,000, down 10%, and CNN at 425,000, down 52%. In the 25-54 demo, Fox News averaged 162,000, down 53%, followed by CNN at 83,000, down 64%, and MSNBC at 78,000, down 24%.

Tucker Carlson tonight was the top program in total viewers for the month, averaging 3.25 million, followed by The five with 3.06 million, Jesse Watters’ best time with 2.67 million, Hannie with 2.51 million and Special report with Bret Baier with 2.20 million

For adults 25-54, Tucker Carlson tonight 421,000 on average, followed by The five with 317,000, Hannie with 290,000, Gutfeld! at 283,000 and Prime Time by Jesse Watters with 280,000.

In the first quarter, Fox News primetime programs averaged 2.09 million viewers, down 18% from 2022, followed by MSNBC at 1.11 million, down 8%, and CNN at 568,000, down 8% or 34%. In the 25-54 demo, Fox News averaged 259,000, down 40%, followed by CNN at 124,000, down 47%, and MSNBC at 111,000, down 26%.

Overall, Fox News averaged 1.36 million viewers, down 15%, followed by MSNBC at 703,000, down 1%, and CNN at 478,000, down 27%. In the 25-54 demo, Fox News averaged 174,000, down 38%, versus CNN at 94,000, down 40%, and MSNBC at 78,000, down 9%.

The five was the top cable news program for the quarter, averaging 3.26 million viewers, followed by Tucker Carlson tonight with 3.25 million, Jesse Watters’ best time with 2.78 million, Hannie with 2.59 million and Special report with Bret Baier at 2.35 million in adults 25-54, Tucker Carlson tonight awarded 443,000 followed by The five with 357,000, Hannie with 317,000, Prime Time by Jesse Watters at 304,000 and Gutfeld! with 301,000.

Figures come from Nielsen via Fox News and MSNBC.