2014: Fox News Channel the Most Watched Cable News Network For the 13th Year in a Row

THE WINNER AND STILL CHAMPION …

For the 13th year in a row, the FOX News channel is the most watched cable news network for 2014 outdistancing the competition by a long shot. It is pretty bad when all three competitors CNN, MSNBC and HLN do not combined add up to FOX’s numbers.

As 2014 draws to a close, FNC celebrates its 13th consecutive year as the most-watched cable news network, though it too had its disappointments. In total day, FNC is down 4% in total viewers (1.05 million) and same percent in news demo viewers, though it finished laps ahead of its competition in both metrics.

FNC rings out the year ranked No. 4 among ad-supported basic cable networks in overall primetime audience, behind only ESPN, USA Network and TNT; it also ranks No. 4 in total. CNN and MSNBC are way back in the 20s and 30s.

“We’re going to keep opening up our aperture, while investing in original reporting on the broad range of stories that move and inspire Americans,” Griffin said in that memo to staff and LAT.

TV Newser – 2014 Ratings: Fox News Channel Wins 13th Straight Year:

Fox News remained on top in 2014, capping off its 13th consecutive year as the most-watched cable news network among both total viewers and the A25-54 demo. FNC averaged 1.05 million total viewers and 213,000 in the demo. FNC beat CNN and MSNBC combined in both total day and in primetime in viewers

The ratings for 2014 (Nielsen Live + Same Day data):

• Primetime (Mon-Sun): 1,748,000 total viewers / 300,000 A25-54
• Total Day Mon-Sun): 1,050,000 total viewers / 213,000 A25-54

MSLSD MSNBS MSNBC had a terrible 2014.

2014 not only saw MSNBC’s ratings drop more than any other cable news network, but it was also the year it finally started to trail CNN in most major metrics.

In the primetime demo, MSNBC was down 17% to 169K, putting it solidly in third place. In primetime total viewers, MSNBC held on to second place but still fell 8% to 589K. The network’s total day numbers are even worse, dropping 18% in the demo to just 108K and 12% in total viewers 347K.

Despite being MSNBC’s highest-rated hour, The Rachel Maddow Show at 9 p.m. still hit all-time lows since its 2008 debut with 843K total viewers (down 2% compared to 2013) and 196K viewers in the demo (down 18%). Those drops were nothing compared to Morning Joe, which had its lowest-rated full year on record with 347K total viewers (down 15%) and just 100K viewers in the demo (down 26%).