Today’s Nielsen ratings for Sunday will cement Fox News Channel’s 10th-straight year as the most-watched cable news network, reports New York Daily News.
FNC in 2011 averaged 1.86 million viewers in prime time; rival MSNBC averaged 775,000 and CNN, 689,000. For January 2012 prime time, FNC has averaged 1.98 million, CNN 875,000 and MSNBC 817,000. Finally, FNC is posting 1.11 million on a total-day basis, versus 454,000 for MSNBC and 449,000 for CNN.
The figures are even more impressive, surrounding GOP Primary Coverage. As Multichannel News reported, FNC averaged 2.63 million viewers between 7 p.m. and 11 p.m. on Jan. 22, covering the South Carolina Primary. That is more than double the viewership of CNN (1.21 million watchers) and MSNBC (985,000). Further, it took an average 703,000 viewers 25-54, versus 417,000 for CNN and 240,000 for MSNBC, respectively.
FNC launched 15 years ago, and quickly took heat for its “bend to the right.” No matter, Fordham University Professor of Communication and Media Paul Levinson told the News. “What’s often overlooked when people talk about Fox News is they…focus on the politically conservative commentary (but) miss how it’s been as an overall news organization.” Fox News chairman Roger Ailes banked on vivid commentary, said Levinson, and a commitment to round-the-clock news.