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# Fox News Channel Remained Most-Watched Basic Cable Network in 2018; MSNBC Posted Most Significant Year-Over-Year Audience Growth
- URL: https://capitolcommunicator.com/fox-news-channel-remained-most-watched-basic-cable-network-in-2018-msnbc-posted-most-significant-year-over-year-audience-growth/
- Published: 2019-01-04T14:16:20.000Z
- Updated: 2019-02-06T14:43:31.000Z
- Author: Capitol Communicator
- Tags: Media, Insights, #wp-top-center-sponsored, #Import 2026-10-08 18:50

**Fox News Channel, America’s most-watched basic cable network** remained at the top of the heap in 2018, reports TV Newser, which added that for the third consecutive year “Fox News Channel ranked No. 1 in total viewers, both in prime time and across the 24-hour day (6 a.m. – 6 a.m.)

“According to Nielsen live-plus-same-day data, FNC averaged 2.4 million total viewers in prime time during 2018, +26 percent more than the next closest finisher, ESPN, and 1.4 million total day viewers in 2018, +43 percent more than second place finisher MSNBC. In fact, Fox News was the sole basic cable network to average more than a million viewers across the 24-hour day.

“When compared to [2017](https://www.adweek.com/tvnewser/news-sports-stood-out-in-2017/353538?ref=capitolcommunicator.com), Fox News was +1 percent in total prime time viewers.

“The majority of the other top cable entertainment networks posted year-over year declines in 2018\. This is likely due to the increase in cord cutting, a trend TV news and other networks which broadcast live programming have seemingly proved immune to.

“MSNBC, as noted in previous reports this week, posted the most significant year-over-year audience growth of any top 25 basic cable network (+10 percent in prime time / +12 percent in total day).

More [here](https://www.adweek.com/tvnewser/the-2018-year-end-cable-ranker-fox-news-msnbc-hallmark-channel-are-among-the-top-networks-to-also-post-audience-growth/389422?ref=capitolcommunicator.com).