Fox News dominates with 5.3 million viewers during historic astronaut return

In the United States, Fox News Channel achieved significant viewership during the live broadcast of astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore's return to Earth. This event marked the culmination of a SpaceX mission in which both astronauts had spent nine months in space, far exceeding their initial eight-day mission plan. The breaking news coverage was led by 'Special Report with Bret Baier,' attracting an average of 5.3 million viewers during the 6 p.m. ET timeslot. Nielsen Media Research reported a peak viewership of 5.6 million total viewers, positioning Fox News ahead of its broadcasting competitors. CBS garnered 2.9 million viewers, while ABC and NBC had even lower numbers, with 1.8 million and 1.1 million respectively. In the competitive field of cable news, Fox News outperformed both liberal networks CNN and MSNBC. CNN and MSNBC had less than 1.2 million viewers, and notably low numbers in the target demographic of ages 25-54, with CNN recording 181,000 and MSNBC just 90,000, far behind Fox News' 606,000 average. This clearly exemplifies Fox News Channel's influence and audience preference when it comes to live coverage of significant events. Following the landing, Laura Ingraham's program, 'The Ingraham Angle,' attracted 4.4 million viewers for her interview with President Trump. Meanwhile, both CNN and MSNBC remained far behind, averaging around 820,000 total viewers. Sean Hannity then interviewed Elon Musk, maintaining Fox News' upward momentum with 3.9 million viewers. MSNBC received 2.3 million viewers for the same slot, while CNN's numbers fell below 600,000. This consistent viewer engagement underscores Fox News Channel's reputation as a premier outlet for breaking news, particularly during high-stakes events. The success of Fox News during such events is not an isolated incident; earlier this month, they were also the most-watched network for Trump’s joint address to Congress, showcasing that the network has established itself as a leading source for both breaking news and political events. Viewership numbers of more than 10.7 million during that broadcast illustrate the reach and power of Fox News in shaping public discourse and providing extensive coverage. Overall, Fox News Channel continues to solidify its status as America's go-to news network, especially for extraordinary stories such as the return of astronauts from a challenging mission.