Another Blow Delivered To Fox News As Ratings Continue Decline
When Fox News canceled top-rated host Tucker Carlson’s primetime show in April, the network experienced a sharp and immediate decline in viewership.
More than a month later, the latest ratings numbers show that much of its formerly loyal audience is not coming back. According to reports, the average primetime audience last month — 1.417 million — was only about two-thirds the size that it had been in April when it was well above 2 million.
Furthermore, the coveted 25-54 age demographic saw an even more precipitous drop, falling by a staggering 44% between April and May.
Fox News had become accustomed to handily beating its rival cable news networks, but last month MSNBC came within striking distance. In April, Fox News beat MSNBC in primetime viewership by more than 750,000. The next month, that lead had dwindled to roughly 257,000.
A number of smaller right-leaning news outlets are hoping to capitalize on the network’s misfortune, and former President Donald Trump seems willing to help.
In response to a segment by Fox News host and one-time ally Laura Ingraham, Trump urged his supporters to switch from her program to on airing at the same time on Newsmax TV.
“Laura Ingraham on Fox News just did a hit piece on me (there go her ratings!) showing some polls which indicate that Ron DeSanctimonious may do better against Biden than I would, when actually polls show that I do MUCH better against Biden than ‘Rob,’” he wrote on Truth Social, referring to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, his closest 2024 presidential primary rival.
Trump went on to cite another poll that shows him “doing far better against Crooked Joe,” adding: “I’m also leading DeSanctus by over 40 points in Primary Voting. Watch Greg Kelly on Newsmax at 10:00 P.M.”
Despite the huge loss in viewership, Fox News eked out its 27th straight month ahead of both MSNBC and CNN. But its 37% drop compared to May 2022 along with MSNBC’s 14% increase over the same period could indicate that the dynamic among cable news outlets is about to change.
Meanwhile, CNN remains mired in a distant third place with its primetime audience hovering below 500,000 for a roughly 25% decline in year-over-year viewership.
