The ratings numbers are in for the third quarter of 2024, and Fox News enjoyed its second-highest-rated third quarter in the network’s history. Additionally, it was the 91st consecutive quarter that Fox News had the highest ratings for prime-time shows among all other cable news channels.
News coverage during this period featured several historical events, including both political conventions, President Joe Biden ending his presidential campaign, and the first assassination attempt of former President Donald Trump.
“For the third quarter of 2024, more viewers turned to FNC than any other cable news network for historic political news, including the ABC presidential debate simulcast, Republican and Democratic National Conventions, the assassination attempts against former President Donald Trump and President Joe Biden dropping out of the 2024 presidential election,” a press release said.
Coverage of these moments resulted in several ratings milestones for the network. It said it led during “breaking news coverage” of Biden dropping out as “2.1 million viewers and 336,000 in [the demographic of those age] 25-54” watched Fox News regarding Biden’s decision. Its simulcast of ABC News’s presidential debate on Sept. 10 between Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris had higher ratings than cable news and legacy networks NBC and CBS.
Fox News’s coverage of the Republican National Convention was the “highest-rated prime-time convention coverage of all time,” according to the press release. And the network’s coverage of the attempted assassination of Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13, was “its highest-rated weekend ever, delivering 6.9 million viewers and 1.4 million in the 25-54 demo.”
Fox News’s prime-time lineup in the third quarter was of particular dominance. The Ingraham Angle was watched by more viewers in the 7 p.m. time slot than any other cable news network, according to the press release. Jesse Watters Primetime was the highest-rated program at 8 p.m., and Hannity was the highest-rated program at 9 p.m. in the much-coveted demographic of viewers between the ages of 25 and 54.
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Gutfeld!, which airs daily at 10 p.m., “delivered its highest-rated quarter in program history with 2.8 million viewers and 413,000 in 25-54.” This included the Sept. 18 episode, which featured Trump as one of the show’s panelists, drew nearly 5 million viewers, and was “its highest-rated telecast in program history.”
Furthermore, the network’s dominance in the quarter extended to programs around the clock, starting in the morning with Fox and Friends, which was “cable news’ most-watched morning show.” Fox News @ Night, which airs at 11 p.m., was the “most-watched program in its time slot.”
