Fox News Channel was the top cable news channel in 2012, its 11th-straight winning year over its chief competitors, MSNBC and CNN, according to recently released data from Nielsen Media Research.
FNC trumped CNN and MSNBC in both major categories: total viewers, and the key 25-54 demographic.
The cable juggernaut improved in nearly every time period and demo from its 2011 tally, and dominated with the top 11 shows in total viewers and the top seven shows in the 25-54 demo.
2012 to Date Cable News P2+ Thru 12-11
One bright spot for MSNBC was that its audience also grew in 2012. MSNBC’s “The Rachel Maddow Show” was the lone non-Fox News Channel programming to make the top 10 in the 25-54 demo. It finished 12th in overall viewers.
2012 to Date Cable News A25-54 Thru 12-11
When considered along with its basic-cable competition, FNC earned third place in prime time viewership, behind both the USA Network and ESPN. Its cable competitors, MSNBC and CNN, ranked 19th and 29th, respectively, in that same category.
And in the “Total Day” category, Fox News was fourth among all cable networks, with MSNBC ranked 24th and CNN 31st.
CNN, which recently announced Jeff Zucker as its new president, is having its 2nd-worst prime time since 1992, in both overall viewers and the coveted 25-54 demographic, in addition to having its lowest rated total day ratings since 1992 with the 25-54 demo.
