Fox News Leads, but CNN Enjoys a Great Week

This is TVNewser’s basic cable network ranker and cable news report for the week of Dec. 30, 2024.

The cable news nets showed some life during the holiday period as New Year’s Eve coverage and two breaking news situations led to an increase in viewership compared to the previous week, which included the Christmas Day holiday. 

Former President Jimmy Carter’s passing on Sunday, Dec. 29, and the early morning terror attack in New Orleans on New Year’s Day likely generated additional viewership during what is typically a slow news period.

Fox News continued to dominate, commanding more than 60% of the cable news viewership. Meanwhile, CNN landed in the No. 2 spot in total viewers and remained the second most-watched network in the advertiser-coveted Adults 25-54 demo.

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Nielsen live plus same-day data for the week of Dec. 30 saw FNC average 1.728 million total viewers and 198,000 A25-54 viewers during primetime. The network was up +31% in the former category and +38% in the latter relative to the week prior (the week of Dec. 23). 

In total day viewing, Fox News averaged 1.342 million total viewers and 171,000 A25-54 viewers for week-to-week gains of +20% and +26%, respectively.

Among all basic cable networks, Fox News finished in second place in total primetime viewers and landed in the No. 3 spot in the primetime demo. It finished second with total viewers and A25-54 viewers during total day.

MSNBC’s primetime lineup averaged 445,000 total viewers and 38,000 A25-54 viewers for the week. That translates to week-to-week gains of +17% and +15%, respectively.

During total day, MSNBC averaged 390,000 total viewers and 37,000 A25-54 viewers. The network enjoyed a +24% gain in the former category and +32% in the latter compared to the week prior.

Among all basic cable networks, MSNBC was in ninth place in total primetime viewers and tied for No. 37 in the primetime demo along with GSN and the Travel Channel. During total day, the network was fifth in total viewers and No. 30 in the demo tied with the Disney Channel. 

CNN enjoyed a great week in primetime, averaging 519,000 total viewers and 126,000 A25-54 viewers. The network saw substantial gains of +87% and +186%, respectively, compared to the week prior.

In total day, CNN saw 396,000 total viewers and 81,000 viewers in the demo for gains of +47% in the former category and +93% in the latter. CNN’s New Year’s Eve coverage—including its primetime showing featuring Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen—certainly inflated those numbers. It will be interesting to see if it can sustain some of this momentum heading into 2025.

In relation to all the cable networks, CNN was in seventh place among total viewers and eight in the demo during primetime. Across total day, CNN finished fourth with total viewers and sixth in the demo.