Fox News Channel has record ratings

Posted Jul 1, 2009 by Walt Belcher

Updated Jul 29, 2009 at 11:29 AM

Fox News Channel (FNC) continues to have a banner year in the ratings, according to the network.

Viewing of the all-news network was up again in the second quarter of 2009. FNC topped CNN and MSNBC combined in viewership, according to Nielsen Media Research.

Audience gains during the first two quarters of 2009 have put FNC on track to have the highest rated year in the network’s nearly 13-year history. 

FNC was the only cable news network of the three to post audience gains in total viewers and the key 25-54 demographic in both total day and primetime when compared with the same quarter last year.

Among basic cable networks, FNC ranked third for the quarter in total primetime viewership behind only USA Network and TNT, with CNN and MSNBC lagging behind at 23rd and 25th, respectively. 

All the news networks tend to skew older, and the bulk of the news viewers are over age 50.

But in the key 25-54 demographic, FNC made gains, expanding on its lead over its rival, averaging 513,000 viewers while CNN—with 240,000 viewers—was down 19 percent and MSNBC—with 264,000—was down 1 percent.

MSNBC is now ahead of CNN and is on track to finish its year in second place behind Fox.

FNC also logged all 10 of the top 10 rated programs in cable news for the month based on total viewership.

“The O’Reilly Factor” continued its reign as the top cable news program for 103 consecutive months in June, up 31 percent over the same quarter last year.

Rounding out the top five programs were Hannity (up 33 percent), Glenn Beck (up 110 percent), On the Record with Greta Van Susteren (up 45 percent), Special Report with Bret Baier (up 41 percent) and The FOX Report with Shepard Smith (up 38 percent).