Week of Nov. 18 Cable News Ratings: Post-Election News Fatigue Continues

This is TVNewser’s basic cable network ranker and cable news report for the week of Nov. 18, 2024.

All three cable news networks continued to see week-to-week declines in both total viewers and the Adults 25-54 demo in the period following the 2024 presidential election.

However, Fox News remained the most-watched of the three major cable news networks, stomping over its rivals as it continued to command a 72% share of the primetime audience and 67% of the total day share.

MSNBC and CNN received below 20% of the share across both dayparts, a trend that has remained constant since Election Night.

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Nielsen live plus same-day data for the week of Nov. 18 saw FNC average 2.692 million total viewers and 323,000 A25-54 viewers during primetime. The network was down a respective -9% and -10% in both measured categories relative to the week prior.

Across total day, Fox News averaged 1.699 million total viewers and 206,000 A25-54 viewers for week-to-week declines of -9% and -13%, respectively.

Among all basic cable networks, Fox News was the No. 1 cable network in total primetime viewers, and finished second in the primetime demo. In total day, it led in total viewers and stayed at No. 2 position in the demo.

MSNBC’s primetime lineup averaged 658,000 total viewers and 60,000 A25-54 viewers for respective declines of -4% and -8% compared to the week prior. 

During total day, MSNBC averaged 484,000 total viewers and 42,000 A25-54 viewers for week-to-week declines of -1% and -7%, respectively.

MSNBC’s numbers appeared to stabilize compared to the previous week as it only experienced low single-digit drops in both measured categories. Outside of the primetime lineup, Morning Joe saw a drop in viewers after co-hosts Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski disclosed their meeting with President-elect Donald Trump. The morning program saw its worst non-holiday week since 2015.

Among all basic cable networks, MSNBC stayed in fifth place in primetime total viewers and dropped from 28th to 29th in the demo. During total day, it remained the No. 4 network in total viewers and fell from No. 21 to No. 23 in the demo. 

CNN averaged 415,000 total viewers and 79,000 A25-54 viewers in the demo during primetime for declines of -11% and -10%, respectively.

In total day, the network saw 335,000 total viewers and 53,000 viewers in the demo for week-to-week dips of -1% in the former category and -9% in the latter. CNN continued to finish ahead of MSNBC in the demo during both primetime and total day.

On the basic cable charts, CNN ranked at No. 16 among total viewers in primetime, and No. 22 in the primetime demo. During total day, CNN ranked at No. 5 with total viewers and slide to the No. 16 spot in the demo, tied with Freeform.