OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.
Tucker Carlson is the most-watched host on Fox News and it’s not even close.
Newly released data found that “Tucker Carlson Tonight” was the most-watched cable news show on Friday night.
AdWeek found that Carlson’s 8 p.m. show had 3.13 million total viewers and 485,000 views in the advertiser-coveted demo of 25-54 demographic.
In the same time slot, CNN’s Anderson Cooper pulled in 686,000 total viewers and just 131,000 in the 25-54 demo.
MSNBC’s Chris Hayes didn’t do much better as his show garnered just 1.43 million total viewers and 152,000 in the 25-54 demo.
Carlson’s show has been dominating for quite a long time.
Deadline published the viewership results for cable news shows and Carlson, as well as Fox News, smashed all of the competition.
Television viewership data found that Carlson’s show is the number one most-watched show among Democrats in the key demographic of 25-54 year-olds.
“The data showed that Carlson pulled in 101,000 viewers who self-identified as Democrats in the 25-54 demographic. MSNBC’s “The Rachel Maddow Show” and Fox’s “The Five” were tied for second place, each attracting 88,000 viewers in the key demo who self-identified as Democrats. The next two spots are occupied by Sean Hannity, who took in 81,000 young Democrat viewers, and Greg Gutfeld, who pulled 73,000,” the report found.
Deadline detailed how in May, Fox News dominated all cable news competition.
The network drew 2.27 million total viewers in primetime, up 4% from May 2021. MSNBC averaged 1.02 million, down 32%, while CNN averaged 660,000, down 28%. In the 25-54 demographic, Fox News topped with an average of 351,000 viewers, compared to 150,000 for CNN and 105,000 for MSNBC.
In total day, Fox News averaged 1.46 million, up 23%. MSNBC posted 634,000, down 24%, and CNN averaged 500,000, down 19%. Fox News was the top-rated cable network overall in total day viewers. In the 25-54 demo, Fox News topped with an average of 229,000, followed by 106,000 for CNN and 70,000 for MSNBC.
The Five was the top show in total viewers among cable news networks, averaging 3.28 million viewers, followed by Tucker Carlson Tonight with 3.2 million, Hannity with 2.7 million, Jesse Watters Primetime with 2.6 million, and Special Report with Bret Baier with 2.48 million.
“In the 25-54 demo, Tucker Carlson Tonight was on top with an average of 522,000 viewers, followed by The Five with 447,000, Hannity with 428,000, The Ingraham Angle with 382,000, and Jesse Watters Primetime at 362,000,” Deadline reported.
The hit show “The Five” once again led all cable news shows in total viewers and it wasn’t even close.
“Fox News Channel was the most-watched basic cable network in total day and the third-most-watched in primetime. The cable news powerhouse also averaged more total primetime viewers than CNN and MSNBC combined for the 45th consecutive week,” AdWeek reported.
AdWeek also noted how far-left networks CNN and MSNBC continue to struggle:
MSNBC finished last week No. 4 on cable in total primetime viewers, failing to crack a million (910,000) for the third consecutive week. Prior to the week of May 2, MSNBC hadn’t averaged fewer than 1 million primetime viewers in a week (outside of holiday weeks) since 2016. The 910,000 primetime viewer average is -7% from what the network averaged in the daypart the previous week. MSNBC also averaged 603,000 total day viewers last week, No. 4 on basic cable and -3% from the prior week. When it came to adults 25-54, MSNBC averaged 90,000 in primetime this past week—which is -6% from the prior week—and 66,000 adults 25-54 in total day, which is -3% from the prior week.
Elsewhere in cable news land, CNN averaged 597,000 total viewers in primetime last week, down -1% from the week prior. CNN’s A25-54 viewership in primetime was -8% from the prior week. Additionally, in total day, CNN lost -4% in total viewers (466,000) and -4% in the key demo (95,000).
Anchor Sean Hannity, who has been with Fox News since its launch in 1996, also recently became the longest-running prime-time cable news host.
