In the aftermath of the 2024 U.S. presidential election, Fox News experienced significant gains in viewership. The network captured 62 percent of the overall cable news audience, marking its highest cable news share to date. On Election Night and during Vice President Kamala Harris’s concession, Fox News was the most-watched network.
Fox saw growth across crucial metrics, with 3.181 million total viewers in primetime and 476,000 in the Adults 25-54 demographic. Compared to October 2024, primetime total viewers increased by 16 percent, and the demo surged by 33 percent. Over a year-to-year comparison, Fox News experienced an 84 percent rise in total viewers and a 139 percent jump in the demographic during primetime.
In contrast, MSNBC and CNN faced massive declines post-election. MSNBC’s primetime viewership decreased by 22 percent month-to-month, its total day viewership dropped by 20 percent, and the demographic decreased by six percent.
CNN also reported declines, with a 13 percent drop in primetime total viewers from the previous month, despite a 12 percent uptick in the demographic. Across the total day, CNN saw a nine percent decrease in viewership, although the demographic increased by eight percent.
Fox News led in November as the top cable network in total-day viewership, while CNN and MSNBC trailed behind. The networks collectively experienced better performance in the Adults 25-54 demographic during primetime than the prior month, with MSNBC uniquely losing in this category for the total-day timeframe.
