Fox News Channel is riding a wave of unprecedented viewership under President Donald Trump’s historic second term, cementing its dominance by outpacing the three major broadcast networks in primetime for the week of March 3. According to Nielsen Media Research, Fox News averaged a staggering 4.8 million total viewers from 8 to 11 p.m. ET, leaving CBS (4.2 million), NBC (3.4 million), and ABC (2.6 million) in its dust. The numbers mark a new high for the cable giant, which has seen its audience swell amid Trump’s return to the White House.
Leading the charge was Jesse Watters Primetime, which snagged the title of most-watched primetime show with 4.4 million viewers and 554,000 in the advertiser-prized 25-54 age demo at 8 p.m. ET. Sean Hannity’s Hannity kept its grip on the 9 p.m. slot, pulling in 3.7 million viewers and 503,000 in the key demo. Meanwhile, Greg Gutfeld’s late-night romp, Gutfeld!, crushed its broadcast rivals at 10 p.m., averaging 3.7 million viewers and 488,000 in the demo—numbers that dwarfed CBS’s The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (1.8 million, 272,000 demo), ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live! (1.5 million, 246,000 demo), and NBC’s The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon (1.04 million, 235,000 demo). Gutfeld’s irreverent take is clearly resonating, leaving liberal late-night hosts scrambling for relevance.
The daytime juggernaut The Five held firm as cable news’s top dog, raking in 4.7 million viewers and 523,000 in the demo at 5 p.m. ET—outdrawing even the latest Saturday Night Live hosted by Lady Gaga. Earlier in the evening, Special Report with Bret Baier led at 6 p.m. with 3.6 million viewers (413,000 demo), while The Ingraham Angle dominated 7 p.m. with 3.4 million (423,000 demo). Even post-primetime, FOX News @ Night with Trace Gallagher held strong at 11 p.m., pulling 2 million viewers and 321,000 in the demo. Fox News COO John Nallen called the growth “sustainable,” crediting Trump’s polarizing presence for keeping viewers glued.
Last week’s coverage of Trump’s joint address to Congress further showcased Fox’s muscle. A whopping 10.7 million tuned in from 9:15 to 11 p.m. ET—including 1.9 million in the 25-54 demo—for the longest congressional address in history. Anchored by Bret Baier and Martha MacCallum, with assists from Dana Perino, Harold Ford Jr., Brit Hume, and Larry Kudlow, Fox trounced ABC (6.3 million), CBS (4 million), and NBC (3.9 million). CNN and MSNBC barely scraped by with 1.9 million each, though CNN edged out MSNBC in the demo (585,000 vs. 237,000). Fox’s 74% share of the cable news audience—and 70% in the demo—left no doubt who’s king of the hill.
This comes as MSNBC has been making changes to its lineup and staff to try and boost ratings. CNN has also been making changes to its lineup to help boost its ratings.
This primetime triumph builds on Fox’s record-breaking February, its best in network history, and a 10-million-viewer inauguration night that crushed rivals. Analysts point to Trump’s second term as rocket fuel, with his policies and persona driving water-cooler chatter straight to Fox’s lineup. For smaller cable networks or ad-reliant streamers like Sling Freestream, it’s a stark reminder: big audiences still flock to big voices. As Trump’s term rolls on, Fox News isn’t just reporting the story—it’s becoming it.
Please follow us on Facebook and X for more news, tips, and reviews. Need cord cutting tech support? Join our Cord Cutting Tech Support Facebook Group for help. You can follow Luke on X HERE.