Tucker Carlson Ends October With Highest Ratings in Cable News History, as All Networks Draw Record Numbers

Fox News

Tucker Carlson Tonight drew massive ratings in October. In fact, the prime time Fox News show ended the month as the highest rated program in cable news history. The success of Tucker Carlson, whose show has weathered controversy and ad-boycotts, propelled Fox to a dominant victory over its cable news network rivals in October’s ratings.

Before we get to the details, here are the network highlights:

Fox News averaged the highest rated prime time in cable history, and placed first in all categories.

MSNBC had its highest rated month in its 25-year history in total viewers, placing second overall.

CNN had its most watched prime time ever, and beat out MSNBC in the coveted 25-54 demographic for the month, in total day and prime time, placing second in those metrics behind Fox News.

And now for the numbers…

According to Nielsen Media Research, Tucker Carlson made history with the the highest-rated month in cable news history with 5,359,000 viewers total. Overall, Fox News pulled in an average of 2,278,000 total daily viewers this October, up 57 percent from last year, and 4,900,000 in the primetime slot, up 83 percent from last year. The network also brought in 428,000 in the coveted 25-54 age demo, up 76 percent from 2019, while 971,000 in the demo tuned in during the primetime slot — up an incredible 139 percent from last year.

Although unable to top Fox News, CNN broke its own prior records with its most-watched prime time ratings ever in both full week (Monday – Sunday) and weekday total viewers. CNN had a total daily viewership average of 1,378,000, up 78 percent, while MSNBC also saw impressive numbers with 1,467,000 total viewers — up 29 percent from last year. In the 25-54 demographic, an average of 361,000 a day watched CNN — up 90 percent from last year – easily topping MSNBC’s 243,000 viewers in that category, an increase of 36 percent from 2019.

For the month, CNN also surpassed MSNBC in prime time, total day, dayside and on weekends in the key 25-54 demo. CNN also saw a massive spike during their primetime hours, with 2,462,00 total viewers (709,000 in the 25-54 demo– up 116 percent from 2019). MSNBC earned a 38 percent boost with 2,700,000 total primetime viewers (243,000 in the 25-54 demo — up 45 percent from last year).

The across the board rise in year-over-year ratings comes with the obvious caveat that viewership historically has risen dramatically during election years.

Fox News made cable news history with its numbers — finishing the month of October as the most-watched cable network in both total day and primetime total viewers with its highest-rated October on record. October also marks the 52nd month that Fox News sits in the top spot across all cable in total day.

Tucker Carlson was obviously the headliner, but a number of other cable news personalities had a standout month. CNN’s Anderson Cooper 360, Carlson’s biggest timeslot competitor, beat MSNBC’s All in With Chris Hayes for the 10th consecutive month in the 25-54 demo – earning 547,000 viewers to Hayes’ 400,000. The numbers also mark Anderson Cooper’s best October ratings ever in total viewers, with 2,148,000 – earning him the highest growth in cable news during the 8 p.m. hour.

Sean Hannity’s 9 p.m. program garnered over 5 million total viewers in October, following his fellow Fox News host as the second most-watched program with 5,119,000 in that category. Fox News earned four of five top programs this month, with only MSNBC’s The Rachel Maddow Show coming in fifth place with 3,696,000 total viewers.

Although unable to beat Rachel Maddow and missing a spot in the top five, CNN’s Cuomo Prime Time had the network’s highest viewership this month in total viewers (2,368,000)and in the 25-54 demo (598,000). October represents Chris Cuomo’s second best total viewer and third best demo delivery on record.

Fox News’ The Five came in third place with 4,102,000 viewers while the network’s Ingraham Angle came in fourth with 4,065,000. Tucker and Hannity also came in first and second respectively in the 25- 54 demo — Tucker posted 1,003,000 in that subset, while Hannity had 982,000. Laura Ingraham’s program earned third place in the key demo with 760,000 viewers, while The Five came in fourth with 673,000. The Story with Martha MacCallum racked up 625,000 viewers ages 25-54 — earning her a spot in the top five for the demo this October.

Ingraham also broke a record, becoming the most-watched 10 p.m. program in cable news history, with the program securing its highest-rated month in both total viewers and the key demo.

CNN’s 10 p.m. program hosted by Don Lemon had a huge month too. The host of 10 p.m. show CNN Tonight — who has been an omnipresent force on CNN’s nighttime breaking news coverage — topped MSNBC’s The Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell in the demo with 562,000 viewers versus MSNBC’s 463,000. Lemon has also now outperformed O’Donnell for seven of the past eight months in the demo. In total viewers, Lemon pulled in a sizable 1.99 million total viewers.

On the weekends, meanwhile, The Greg Gutfeld Show was also the most-watched late-night program in all of television in total viewership — with 2.9 million total viewers and 470,000 in the key demo. Gutfeld surpassed all late-night programs on broadcast including CBS’ The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live!, and NBC’s The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.