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Fox News Sets New Primetime Record for 2018

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Fox News Channel beat all comers in 2018, ranking, once again, as the most-watched basic cable network for the third year in a row.

FNC also enjoyed its highest primetime ratings since its launch in 1996.

According to Nielsen Media Research, Fox News averaged 1.4 million total day viewers, while during primetime an average of 2.4 million tuned in.

The 2.4 million figure represents FNC’s highest primetime rating in its 22-year history.

By way of comparison, no other basic cable network averaged over 2 million primetime viewers during 2018.

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The next closest was ESPN with 1.9 million, followed by MSNBC (1.8 million), HGTV (1.3 million) and USA Network (1.2 million) rounding out the top five, according to Multichannel News.

“Hannity” finished the year as the most-watched cable news program, averaging 3.3 million viewers per night, with “The Rachel Maddow Show” coming in second at 2.9 million.

Seven of the top 10 highest rated programs in cable news are on Fox.

In addition to “Hannity,” they include: “Tucker Carlson Tonight,” “The Ingraham Angle,” “The Five,” “Special Report with Bret Baier,” “The Story with Martha MacCallum,” and “America’s Newsroom,” with anchors Bill Hemmer and Sandra Smith.

“The Five” co-host Greg Gutfeld quipped on Twitter regarding his program’s 2018 final ranking, “The Five at number five. Of course, we did that on purpose: could have been higher up, but said, ‘no, it would far more poetic if we settle for number five.'”

Fox News also made the top five most watched networks in all of primetime television — broadcast and basic cable — for 2018.

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NBC came in first with 6.4 million total viewers, trailed by CBS (5.7 million), ABC (4.2 million), FOX (3.3 million), and FNC at 2.4 million total viewers.

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In a joint statement on the network’s record ratings, FNC’s CEO Suzanne Scott and president Jay Wallace said, “FOX News continues to outperform other basic cable networks, proving once again that our news coverage and premiere team of journalists and opinion hosts are the best in the business.”

They added, “With the recent launch of FOX Nation, an increased focus on digital and the strong ratings momentum we have built, we are confident that 2019 will offer our loyal viewers even more ways to engage with FOX News.”

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Randy DeSoto has written more than 2,000 articles for The Western Journal since he joined the company in 2015. He is a graduate of West Point and Regent University School of Law. He is the author of the book "We Hold These Truths" and screenwriter of the political documentary "I Want Your Money."
Randy DeSoto is the senior staff writer for The Western Journal. He wrote and was the assistant producer of the documentary film "I Want Your Money" about the perils of Big Government, comparing the presidencies of Ronald Reagan and Barack Obama. Randy is the author of the book "We Hold These Truths," which addresses how leaders have appealed to beliefs found in the Declaration of Independence at defining moments in our nation's history. He has been published in several political sites and newspapers.

Randy graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point with a BS in political science and Regent University School of Law with a juris doctorate.
Birthplace
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Nationality
American
Honors/Awards
Graduated dean's list from West Point
Education
United States Military Academy at West Point, Regent University School of Law
Books Written
We Hold These Truths
Professional Memberships
Virginia and Pennsylvania state bars
Location
Phoenix, Arizona
Languages Spoken
English
Topics of Expertise
Politics, Entertainment, Faith




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