FOX News Media's Simulcast of CNN Presidential Debate Dominates Television with 13.4 Million Viewers
On June 28, 2024, FOX News Media’s simulcast of the CNN presidential debate emerged as the highest-rated program on television, capturing a substantial audience across various platforms. According to Nielsen Media Research, the simulcast, broadcast on FOX News Channel (FNC), FOX Business Network (FBN), FOX Network, FOXNews.com, and FOX Nation, attracted an impressive 13,421,000 viewers and 3,342,000 in the 25-54 age demographic, making it the top-rated show of the night. This significant viewership translated into FOX News Media and FOX Network securing a commanding 26% share of the audience for the debate, outpacing NBC’s 21%, CNN’s 20%, ABC’s 18%, and CBS’s 10%.
During the 9-10:39 PM/ET time slot, FNC led the way with 9,276,000 viewers and 1,769,000 in the 25-54 demographic, outperforming all other broadcast channels. The FOX Network contributed 3,677,000 viewers and 1,489,000 in the same demographic, while FBN added 397,000 viewers and 84,000 in A25-54. Streaming platforms also played a significant role, with FNC’s digital platforms drawing nearly 100,000 viewers. The 10 PM/ET hour saw FNC further solidify its lead, attracting 9,116,000 viewers and 1,780,000 in A25-54, making it the most-watched network in that time slot.
Throughout the entire special coverage period from 7 PM to 1 AM/ET, FNC continued to dominate cable news viewership with 5,739,000 viewers and 1,045,000 in the 25-54 demographic. Notably, Jesse Watters Primetime, which kicked off the special coverage at 7 PM/ET, outperformed competitors with 2,810,000 viewers and 324,000 in A25-54. Hannity’s post-debate coverage from 10:39-11 PM/ET also achieved remarkable numbers, averaging 5,820,000 viewers and 1,111,000 in A25-54, ranking as the top-rated slot in cable news for that hour. FOX News @ Night, anchored by Trace Gallagher, maintained strong viewership from 12-1 AM/ET with 2,899,000 viewers and 594,000 in A25-54.
Digital engagement on FOX News Media’s properties was robust, with FOX News Digital reporting 2.2 million livestream views between 9-11 PM/ET and an average minute audience of 71,000. Additionally, FOX News Go saw a significant increase in unique viewing devices and media initiates compared to average weekdays. Social media interactions were also high, with FOX News Media properties leading in total social engagement among the competitive set, achieving 669,000 interactions across Facebook, X, and Instagram according to Emplifi.
The detailed Nielsen Media Research data highlights FNC’s leadership across multiple time slots and platforms. For instance, during the 9-10:39 PM/ET slot, FNC secured 9,276,000 P2+ viewers and 1,769,000 A25-54, outperforming competitors such as CNN, MSNBC, ABC, NBC, and CBS. In the post-debate segment from 10:39-11 PM/ET, FNC garnered 8,714,000 P2+ and 1,731,000 A25-54, again leading the pack.
FOX News Media’s suite of platforms includes the FOX News Channel, FOX Business Network, FOX News Digital, FOX News Audio, FOX News Books, and streaming services FOX Nation and FOX News International, as well as the free ad-supported television service FOX Weather. As the number one network in cable, FNC has maintained its position as the most-watched television news channel for over 22 years. FOX News Media, owned by Fox Corporation, reaches nearly 200 million people monthly.