Fox News recently received great news as 2024 comes to a close, continuing to lead the cable news market while competitors such as CNN and MSNBC have fallen behind. Driving Fox News’ success in cable news, the channel’s programming has dominated television with the top 12 shows. In particular, FNC’s top show, “The Five,” just earned its third consecutive year as the number one program on cable news.
According to the latest data, Fox News has concluded 2024 as the top cable news network in both total viewers and the key 25-54 advertising demographic. MSNBC came in second place with total viewers, but CNN was second in the highly sought-after advertising demographic. Notably, both Fox News and MSNBC saw year-over-year ratings increases.
Furthermore, Fox News took over 55 percent of the total cable viewership in prime time and 49% of total day viewers this year. Following the presidential election, FNC saw a notable spike in viewership, garnering 72 percent of the cable news audience, while MSNBC had just 15 percent and CNN 11 percent. Moreover, MSNBC and CNN saw a massive ratings collapse post-election, experiencing declines of 61 percent and 52 percent respectively.
Shortly after the election, The American Tribune reported on commentary regarding the mainstream media’s massive ratings drop off. During pane, conservative commentator Sean Spicer said, “This is out just a little while ago, the ratings for MSNBC. Morning Joe down 39.6, Andrea Mitchell down 39.7, Ari Melber down 49.6, Joy Reid down 54.6, all in the last week. Lawrence O’Donnell down 60.6, Stephanie Ruhle, the big winner, down 67 percent in ratings.” He deduced, “They lost the trust of the American people.”
Spicer continued, “I mean, Chris Wallace, this morning announced that he’s leaving CNN to go to a platform. The thing is, you know, my view, I get, I’ve been asked, probably by about 10 to 12 reporters in the last 48 to 72 hours, how did we miss this again?” He called out, “And I said we didn’t. You did. And I mean, and I say this respectfully, but I was just like, look, here are the guests that we’ve had on.”
Furthermore, Spicer praised independent media for being more accurate than legacy media outlets regarding the election. “We didn’t miss this. You did. And the idea that you’re still thinking that we missed it, you know, seven days out for an election, shows you how bad they are, what they do. And so I think that you’re, there’s a lack of trust that exists,” he said.
Journalist Mark Halperin expounded on the notion that the mainstream media had lost the trust of the American people. “The very same executives and producers, anchors and correspondence and writers who covered and participated in the cover-up of the Biden decline, and then after the decline had to be exposed and acknowledged, never acknowledged their role in it,” he said.
“All those people are covering the Trump administration, they also covered the campaign. I don’t understand how they think that they can cover the Trump campaign fairly, or Trump administration fairly, or be seen as covering the Trump administration fairly.” Halperin added, “If they don’t acknowledge their role in the conspiracy and their failure to acknowledge it…. just doesn’t make any sense to me.”
Watch the panel below:
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