Fox News has been on top of the cable news game almost exclusively for quite a long time now, and 2018 was no exception. New figures for the network's ratings in 2018 prove that Fox News not only dominated cable news, but also cable television as a whole. In fact, Fox News had its best year in its whole 22-year history in 2018 in one particular area, and the network's growth may not slow down any time soon. Let's start with the record Fox News broke last year.
2018 was Fox News' highest-rated year ever in primetime. Figures released for 2018 reveal that Fox News experienced its highest-rated year in the primetime hours in 2018, with 2.4 million viewers. That is a bump of 1% from the ratings of 2017. Although Fox News wasn't the only cable news network to experience growth in 2018, its closest competitor was nowhere close to hitting Fox News' numbers. MSNBC was several hundred thousand viewers behind, with CNN not even breaking a million, according to Nielsen cable news ratings.
Fox News' dominance with the 2.4 million makes it the most-watched cable network for the third consecutive year. The network was on top in more than just primetime viewers. With 1.4 million total viewers in total day measurement -- a.k.a., taking into account more than just primetime -- Fox News remains on top of the competition in total day. Fans clearly haven't tired of Fox News in the last few years.
The network dominated a valuable demographic*.* Fox News can boast a ranking as the top network for Monday through Friday on a 24-hour basis in the 25-54 age demographic (as well as the 35-64 demo), coming in second only in the 18-49 demographic. Its second-place ranking has Fox News behind ESPN, and only slightly. No cable news competitor achieved higher numbers in 18-49.
Fox News also landed eight of the top 15 slots in the list of cable news programs in the 25-54 demo. In fact, Hannity even received a boost of 9% in the 25-54 demo with a 2018 boost of 632,000 viewers. 25-54 continues to be a valuable demographic for Fox News, which is interesting given that ratings focus is often more on 18-49 rather than the slightly older demo.
The highest-rated cable news program airs on Fox News. Sean Hannity's Hannity was the top program in cable news for the second year in a row with 3.2 million total viewers, which isn't altogether surprising given how many people tuned in for Hannity's interview with Donald Trump back in June 2018.
Hannity is also one of the top four shows in the 18-49 demographic, along with two other Fox News shows: Tucker Carlson Tonight and The Ingraham Angle. Furthermore, Hannity grew in two demographics. On top of the 9% boost in 25-54, Hannity jumped by 16% in total viewers. Whatever Sean Hannity did during 2018, viewers responded to it.
2019 has only just begun, so it will likely be a while before we get a look at this year's numbers for Fox News as well as its closest competitors on cable TV. Stay tuned to CinemaBlend for the latest and greatest TV news, and be sure to check out our midseason TV premiere schedule for upcoming viewing options.
