Fox News dominates cable news with 73% of the audience post-election
- In the four weeks following the election, Fox News secured 73% of prime-time cable news viewers and 72% of the 25-54 demographic.
- Both CNN and MSNBC saw significant declines in their viewership numbers, with CNN losing nearly half of its audience.
- This shift indicates a major change in cable news consumption patterns and could have long-term consequences for the networks involved.
In the United States, between November 6 and December 4, Fox News achieved significant viewership gains following the recent election, securing 73% of the prime-time cable news audience. This surge is notable as Fox News increased its viewership by 16% overall, bringing in nearly 2.8 million viewers. Additionally, the network garnered 72% of viewers aged 25 to 54, which is often a key demographic for advertisers. During the same period, competing networks such as CNN and MSNBC experienced dramatic losses in viewership, with CNN's prime-time numbers dropping almost half, leaving it with only 410,000 viewers. In the younger demographic, CNN attracted a mere 81,000 viewers, highlighting a stark contrast to Fox News's performance. MSNBC also suffered a decline, dropping 53% overall to 621,000 viewers and a concerning 61% loss in the 25 to 54 age group, which accounted for only 57,000 viewers. Among the MSNBC programs losing traction was 'Morning Joe,' which experienced an 18% decline in viewership after its co-hosts, Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski, met with President-elect Donald Trump at his Mar-a-Lago club. This meeting sparked controversy and backlash, leading to a drop in ratings, with an overall decrease of 49% following this revelation. Scarborough addressed the criticism and justified the meeting by stating that they wanted to be transparent with their audience. These developments suggest a significant shift in viewership trends in cable news, where audiences seem to be gravitating towards Fox News in the aftermath of the election, while CNN and MSNBC are losing their audience base. The reasons for this shift could be associated with how viewers relate to the content and personalities of the networks, changing political attitudes post-election, or the way networks have covered political events leading to the electoral results. This shift is important not only for advertising revenue but also for the overall landscape of political discourse in the U.S. media. In conclusion, the election period has evidently influenced audience behavior dramatically, with Fox News positioning itself as the clear leader in cable news viewership. The implications for CNN and MSNBC could be severe if these trends continue, as viewer loyalty may shift permanently, affecting their business strategies and political coverage in the future.