Fox News leaves rivals in the dust with historic Q2 ratings, posts viewership wins over ABC, NBC, CBS
Fox News Channel crushed cable news competitors and continued to close in on the broadcast competition, surpassing ABC and NBC among viewers during the second quarter and topping CBS among both total viewers and the demo for the month of June.
Last week, Fox News' breaking news coverage of the U.S. strike on Iran's nuclear facilities led all television, including ABC, NBC and CBS. Fox News was also the ratings leader during breaking news of the death of Pope Francis the Army 250th birthday parade and other major events during the jam-packed quarter.
Along the way, Fox News Channel averaged 1.6 million total day viewers to lead all basic cable options during the second quarter, while topping MSNBC's average audience of 596,000 and CNN's 406,000 combined. Fox News has now been No. 1 in all cable among total day viewers for 17 straight quarters.
During primetime, Fox News crushed all competitors with an average audience of 2.6 million. TNT finished second with 1.7 million, followed by MSNBC's one million. CNN averaged only 538,000 to finish outside the top five cable networks.
It was the sixth straight quarter that saw Fox News finish No. 1 among both total day and primetime viewers.
Fox News crushed CNN and MSNBC among the advertiser-coveted demographic of adults age 25-54, too, averaging 202,000 total day viewers among the critical group, compared to 71,000 for CNN and only 57,000 for MSNBC.
It was much of the same during primetime, as Fox News commanded 304,000 average demo viewers while CNN managed only 105,000 and MSNBC settled for 91,000.
The quarter marked Fox News' second highest-rated second quarter in network history among weekday total day viewers, behind only 2020's coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Fox News continued to occupy more than half the cable news share with 62% of the audience among total day and 63% in primetime.
"The Five," with Dana Perino, Greg Gutfeld, Jesse Watters, Jessica Tarlov and Harold Ford Jr., averaged 3.9 million total viewers and 410,000 among the demo to lead cable news across the board. "The Five" made history as the first non-primetime program to ever finish as the most-watched cable news offering for 15 consecutive quarters. It also outdrew key broadcast programs, including "CBS Evening News."
"Jesse Watters Primetime" averaged 3.4 million total viewers and 396,000 in the demo to finish second in both categories.
"Special Report with Bret Baier" dominated its timeslot, averaging nearly three million viewers for the quarter. Baier's exclusive interview with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last month reached an audience of 30 million across linear, streaming and social media platforms, including 5.5 million video views across YouTube, according to Emplifi.
"The Ingraham Angle", "Hannity" and "FOX News @ Night" also had stellar quarters as Fox News delivered 14 of the top 15 shows in cable news.
"Gutfeld!" topped all broadcast and late-night television, including CBS' "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert," ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live," NBC's "The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon," "Late Night with Seth Meyers," CBS' "After Midnight" and Comedy Central's "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart."
"FOX & Friends" and "FOX & Friends First" remained cable news' most-watched morning shows throughout the quarter, while "America's Newsroom" with Dana Perino and Bill Hemmer, "The Faulkner Focus," "Outnumbered," "America Reports with John Roberts and Sandra Smith," "The Story with Martha MacCallum" and "The Will Cain Show" all dominated their timeslots among cable news competition and surpassed a variety of broadcast offerings, including "CBS Mornings" and NBC's "Today Third Hour."
Fox News also continued to thump the competition throughout the weekend for the quarter, outpacing CNN and MSNBC combined across both total day and primetime viewers. "The Big Weekend Show" was the most-watched show on Saturdays, while Maria Bartiromo's "Sunday Morning Futures" took the Sunday crown.
Fox News finished the quarter strong, topping cable news during June among total viewers for the 52nd consecutive month. Fox News averaged 1.8 million total viewers during June compared to 593,000 for MSNBC and only 446,000 for CNN.
It was also the 53rd straight month that Fox News outdrew CNN and MSNBC during primetime. Fox News averaged 2.8 million primetime viewers to lead all of cable, while MSNBC managed 955,000 and CNN settled for 642,000.
Fox News continued its dominance among the advertiser-coveted demo, averaging 220,000 total viewers ages 25-54, compared to 83,000 for CNN and a dismal 60,000 for MSNBC.
HGTV, Food Network, Comedy Central, USA, TBS, TNT and ESPN all also outdrew MSNBC in the critical category.
"Hannity" finished June as the No. 1 program among the key demo. It was Fox News' second highest-rated June ever among both total viewers and the demo, behind only June 2020.
Ratings data courtesy of Nielsen Media Research.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CNBC
38 minutes ago
- CNBC
What the Senate Republican tax-and-spending bill means for your money
Senate Republicans on Tuesday approved their version of President Donald Trump 's multitrillion-dollar tax-and-spending package, which could broadly impact millions of Americans' wallets. Similar to the House's One Big Beautiful Bill Act advanced in May, the Senate legislation aims to make permanent Trump's 2017 tax cuts, while adding new tax breaks for tip income, overtime pay and auto loans, among other provisions. If enacted, the bill could also slash spending on social safety net programs such as Medicaid and SNAP, end tax credits tied to clean energy and overhaul student loans. The spending package could still see changes as it returns to the lower chamber for approval. But a House floor vote could come this week to meet Trump's July 4 deadline. Here are some of the key provisions to watch — and how those measures could affect household finances. How to read this guide Follow along from start to finish, or use the table of contents to jump to the section(s) you want to learn more about. 'SALT' deduction Since 2018, the $10,000 cap on the state and local tax deduction, known as SALT, has been a critical issue for certain lawmakers in high-tax states such as New York, New Jersey and California. The SALT deduction — which lets taxpayers who itemize deduct all or some of their state and local income and property taxes — was unlimited for filers before 2018. But the alternative minimum tax reduced the benefit for some wealthier Americans. A sticking point for some House lawmakers, the lower chamber approved a permanent $40,000 SALT limit starting in 2025. That benefit begins to phaseout, or decrease, for consumers who have more than $500,000 of income. The Senate version of the bill would also lift the cap to $40,000 starting in 2025. It also begins to phaseout at $500,000. Both figures would increase by 1% yearly through 2029, and the $40,000 limit would revert to $10,000 in 2030. If you raise the cap, the people who benefit the most are going to be upper middle-income. "If you raise the cap, the people who benefit the most are going to be upper middle-income," since lower earners typically don't itemize tax deductions, Howard Gleckman, senior fellow at the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center, previously told CNBC. The Senate bill also preserves a SALT cap workaround for pass-through businesses, which allows owners to avoid the $10,000 SALT limit. By contrast, the House bill would eliminate the strategy for certain white-collar professionals. — Kate Dore The child tax credit gives families with qualifying dependent children a tax break. It's a credit, so it reduces their tax liability dollar-for-dollar. Trump's 2017 tax cuts temporarily boosted the maximum child tax credit to $2,000 from $1,000, an increase that will sunset after 2025 without an extension from Congress. If enacted, the Senate bill would permanently bump the biggest credit to $2,200 starting in 2025 and index this figure for inflation starting in 2026. Momo Productions | Getty Meanwhile, the House version of the bill lifts the top child tax credit to $2,500 from 2025 through 2028. After 2028, the credit's highest value would revert to $2,000 and be indexed for inflation. However, the proposed bills wouldn't help 17 million children from low-income families who don't earn enough to claim the full credit, according to Elaine Maag, senior fellow in the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center. — Kate Dore Older Americans may receive an extra tax deduction under the legislation. Both the House and Senate called for a temporary enhanced deduction for Americans ages 65 and over, dubbed a "bonus," in their respective versions of the "big beautiful" bill. The Senate proposed raising the deduction to $6,000 per qualifying individual, up from $4,000 proposed by the House. The full deduction would be available to individuals with up to $75,000 in modified adjusted gross income, and $150,000 if married and filing jointly. Notably, the Senate version would phase out at a faster rate for taxpayers who are above those thresholds. Ultimately, middle-income taxpayers may benefit most from the enhanced deduction, Howard Gleckman, senior fellow at the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center, recently told CNBC. The senior bonus is in lieu of eliminating taxes on Social Security benefits, which had been touted by the Trump administration, since changes to Social Security are generally prohibited in reconciliation legislation. — Lorie Konish As Republicans seek to slash federal spending, Medicaid, which provides health coverage for more than 71 million people, has been a target for those cuts in both House and Senate versions of the bill. The Senate version would cut more than $1 trillion from Medicaid, compared with more than $800 billion in cuts in the House version, according to Congressional Budget Office estimates. New federal work rules would require beneficiaries ages 19 to 64 who apply for coverage or who are enrolled through an Affordable Care Act expansion group to work at least 80 hours per month. Adults may be exempt if they have dependent children or other qualifying circumstances such as a medical condition. Notably, the Senate version of the bill proposed stricter limits on exemptions for parents, limiting it to those with dependent children ages 14 and under. The proposed Medicaid changes would also require states to conduct eligibility redeterminations for coverage every six months, rather than every 12 months based on current policy. About 7.8 million people could become uninsured by 2034 due to Medicaid cuts, the CBO has projected, based on the House bill. — Lorie Konish Both Senate and House versions of the "big beautiful" bill propose cuts to food assistance through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, formerly known as food stamps. The cuts in the Senate bill may ultimately affect more than 40 million people, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. That includes about 16 million children, 8 million seniors and 4 million non-elderly adults with disabilities, among others, according to CBPP, a nonpartisan research and policy institute. Many states would be required to pay a percentage for food benefits to make up for the federal funding cuts. If they cannot make up for the funding losses, that could result in cuts to SNAP benefits or states opting out of the program altogether, according to CBPP. The Senate proposal also seeks to expand existing work requirements to include adults ages 55 to 64 and parents with children 14 and over. Based on current rules, most individuals cannot receive benefits for more than three months out of every three years unless they work at least 20 hours per week or qualify for an exemption. For about 600,000 low-income households, food benefits could be cut by an average of $100 per month, according to CBPP. — Lorie Konish The Senate's version of Trump's budget bill also included a new savings account for children with a one-time deposit of $1,000 from the federal government for those born in 2024 through 2028. Starting in 2026, so-called " Trump accounts," a type of tax-advantaged savings account, would be available to all children under the age of 8 who are U.S. citizens, largely in line with the House plan advanced in May. To be eligible to receive the initial seed money, both parents must have Social Security numbers. Parents would then be able to contribute up to $5,000 a year and the balance will be invested in a diversified fund that tracks a U.S. stock index. Earnings grow tax-deferred, and qualified withdrawals are taxed as long-term capital gains. Republican lawmakers have said these accounts will introduce more Americans to wealth-building opportunities and the benefits of compound growth. But some experts say a 529 college savings plan is a better alternative because of the higher contribution limits and tax advantages. — Jessica Dickler Lower student loan limits, fewer benefits Key changes may be in store for student loan borrowers. For starters, Republicans would limit how much money people can borrow from the federal government to pay for their education. Among other measures, the Senate plan would: Cap unsubsidized student loans at $20,500 per year and $100,000 lifetime, for graduate students; Cap borrowing for professional degrees, such as those for doctors and lawyers, at $50,000 per year and $200,000 lifetime; Add a lifetime borrowing limit for all federal student loans of $257,500; Cap parent borrowing through the federal Parent PLUS loan program at $20,000 per year per student and $65,000 lifetime; Eliminate grad PLUS loans. These allow grad students to borrow up to their entire cost of attendance minus any federal aid. Going forward, there would be just two repayment plan choices for new borrowers: Student loan borrowers could enroll in either a standard repayment plan with fixed payments or an income-based repayment plan known as the Repayment Assistance Plan, or RAP. The bill would also nix the unemployment deferment and economic hardship deferment, both of which student loan borrowers use to pause their payments during periods of financial difficulty. — Jessica Dickler and Annie Nova The Senate bill creates a tax deduction for car loan interest, similar to a provision in the House bill. Certain households would be able to deduct up to $10,000 of annual interest on new auto loans from their taxable income. The tax break would be temporary, lasting from 2025 through 2028. There are some eligibility restrictions. For example, the deduction's value would start to fall for individuals whose annual income exceeds $100,000; the threshold is $200,000 for married couples filing a joint tax return. Cars must also be assembled in the U.S. In practice, the tax benefit is likely to be relatively small, experts said. "The math basically says you're talking about [financial] benefit of $500 or less in year one," based on the average new loan, Jonathan Smoke, chief economist at Cox Automotive, an auto market research firm, recently told CNBC. — Greg Iacurci The Senate passed the No Tax on Tips Act in late May, a standalone legislation that would create a federal income tax deduction of up to $25,000 per year on tip income, with some limitations. The tax break would apply to workers who typically receive cash tips reported to their employer for payroll tax withholdings, according to the summary of the bill. The Senate version of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act includes a similar provision: qualifying individuals would be able to claim a deduction of up to $25,000 for qualified tips. However, the Senate version would not apply to taxpayers whose income exceeds $150,000, or $300,000 for joint filers. Should the bill go into effect as drafted, the Secretary of the Treasury will publish a list of occupations that typically received tips on or before Dec. 31, 2024. The provision would apply to taxable years between Dec. 31, 2024, and Dec. 31, 2028. — Ana Teresa Solá The House and Senate bills would provide a temporary tax break for overtime pay, a campaign promise from Trump. The House-approved bill would create a deduction for "qualified overtime compensation" of $160,000 or less from 2025 to 2028. The deduction is "above the line," meaning the tax break is available regardless of whether you itemize deductions. By contrast, the Senate bill offers a maximum $12,500 above-the-line deduction for overtime pay, and $25,000 for married couples filing jointly, from 2025 to 2028. The tax break begins to phase out once earnings exceed $150,000, and $300,000 for joint filers. — Kate Dore EV, clean energy tax credits The Senate bill, like its House counterpart, would end consumer tax credits tied to clean energy. It would end a $7,500 tax credit for households that buy or lease a new electric vehicle, and a $4,000 tax credit for buyers of used EVs. These tax credits would disappear after Sept. 30, 2025. Additionally, it would scrap tax breaks for consumers who make their homes more energy-efficient, perhaps by installing rooftop solar, electric heat pumps, or efficient windows and doors. These credits would end after Dec. 31, 2025. An aerial view shows solar panels atop the roofs of homes on February 25, 2025 in Pasadena, California. Mario Tama | Getty Images Many tax breaks on the chopping block were created, extended or enhanced by the Inflation Reduction Act, a 2022 law signed by former President Joe Biden that provided a historic U.S. investment to fight climate change. The tax breaks are currently slated to be in effect for another seven or so years, through at least 2032. — Greg Iacurci Section 199A pass-through business deduction Another key provision in the House and Senate bills could offer a bigger deduction for so-called pass-through businesses, which includes contractors, freelancers and gig economy workers. Enacted via Trump's 2017 tax cuts, the Section 199A deduction for qualified business income is currently worth up to 20% of eligible revenue, with some limits. This will expire after 2025 without action from Congress. The House-approved bill would make the provision permanent and expand the maximum tax break to 23% starting in 2026. Meanwhile, the Senate measure would make the deduction permanent but keep it at 20%. — Kate Dore
Miami Herald
an hour ago
- Miami Herald
Jean Chatzky reveals major 401(k) changes happening now
Many American workers recognize that achieving financial stability in retirement requires dedication, thoughtful preparation, and a solid grasp of 401(k) plans and other investing tools. Jean Chatzky, former financial editor for NBC's "Today Show" and founder of HerMoney, reflects candidly on how she might have approached the challenge with greater strategic insight. She also reveals how some 401(k) plans are rapidly changing by adding some surprising features and greater levels of complication. Don't miss the move: Subscribe to TheStreet's free daily newsletter In a recent conversation with TheStreet, Chatzky urged Americans to recognize the importance of taking ownership of their retirement planning. She highlighted how, unlike previous generations, many Gen Xers no longer have widespread access to pensions, making 401(k)s and other personal retirement savings the cornerstone of their financial future. Reflecting on her own experience, Chatzky noted that the most common advice she and others wish they had followed sooner is to start investing earlier. Early in her career, Chatzky received a 401(k) at a time when the concept was still new to many, and she admits she didn't fully understand how to leverage it. Related: Jean Chatzky sends strong message on buying vs. leasing a car At one point, she withdrew the funds from her first retirement account and spent them on purchases such as expensive clothes for her new job - an impulse she now sees as a costly error. Chatzky acknowledged that she didn't become an engaged investor until she began working more deeply in the personal finance field in her 30s. Her reflections serve as a candid reminder of how crucial it is to build financial literacy early and make thoughtful decisions with long-term goals in mind. Chatzky also explains how many current 401(k) plans are undergoing significant changes now - and why it's wise to take some time to understand the new retirement savings landscape. "More 401(k) plans are adding annuities or 'guaranteed income lifetime income options,'" Chatzky wrote in a July 1 newsletter sent by email to TheStreet. "Others are preparing to add private investments, like private equity or private credit." "Some are even dabbling in crypto," she added. Chatzky also pointed to upcoming changes in retirement savings rules that could significantly impact those approaching retirement age. More on retirement: Dave Ramsey offers urgent thoughts about MedicareJean Chatzky shares major statement on Social SecurityTony Robbins has blunt words on IRAs,401(k)s She highlighted a new provision allowing individuals between the ages of 60 and 63 to make so-called "super catch-up" contributions - up to $34,750 in a single year - to their 401(k) plans, provided their income is high enough to permit it. Chatzky noted that starting next year, higher-income individuals aged 50 and older will also face a shift in how they make catch-up contributions. Rather than adding to traditional 401(k)s, they'll be required to deposit those additional funds into Roth accounts, which are taxed upfront but can grow and be withdrawn tax-free later. According to Chatzky, these changes underscore how essential it is to stay informed and proactive about evolving retirement policies, particularly for those in their peak earning years. Related: Dave Ramsey has blunt words for Americans buying a car Chatzky warns Americans about an important consideration to know about 401(k) plans. "More plan features don't automatically mean better planning," she wrote in the newsletter. Chatzky pointed to a HerMoney story written by Pam Krueger, CEO of Wealthramp. "All of that might all sound like a 'win' for retirement savers and in some ways, it is," Krueger wrote. "But it also means you're being asked to make bigger decisions, with higher stakes and not nearly enough guidance." The inclusion of unconventional assets such as cryptocurrency in retirement plans is becoming more common, stirring both interest and concern, Krueger explained. While private equity and private credit are increasingly showing up in 401(k)s, they tend to be costly, complex, and less transparent than traditional investments. Cryptocurrency carries similar risks, particularly following high-profile scandals and evolving regulatory pressures. "The Department of Labor's earlier warnings against putting crypto into 401(k)s have been pulled back, leaving it up to each employer to decide whether to allow it," Krueger wrote. Related: Tony Robbins sends strong message to Americans on 401(k)s The Arena Media Brands, LLC THESTREET is a registered trademark of TheStreet, Inc.
New York Post
an hour ago
- New York Post
The Democratic party we knew died the same way it lived – with fear and hate
Zohran Mamdani's primary win marks the end of the Democratic Party as we once knew it. Truth is, it was already dead. Democrats spent 10 years going to war on Donald Trump while also using him to scare their voters to the polls with endless crises. Advertisement With the media behind them, they didn't have to offer the people much of anything — they would vote blue no matter who, as long as Trump was on the other side. Now, as Trump rounds the bases of an extraordinary couple of weeks, with major wins at home and abroad, it should be starting to sink in that the Democrats have lost this war. Trump defeated them in the courts, on the border, in schools and in the minds and hearts of Americans. But Trump didn't destroy the Democratic Party. They did it all on their own by never offering voters something better, or anything at all but Trump hate. No apology Advertisement Mamdani stood apart by doing the unthinkable: He ran as an unapologetic Democratic Socialist. He seemed to arrive almost magically to sell Gen Z the dream. A showbiz nepo baby and former rapper, he was a whole lotta charisma waiting for his ticket to ride. Has the Democratic Party found its new leader? It's not really his policies that brought him victory so much as his revolutionary spirit — he's the living embodiment of the Summer of 2020. Advertisement The demographic he appeals to might herald a real revolution, considering it's the same one that backed Obama in 2008: upper-middle-class white college kids. Like Obama, Mamdani is cut from their same cloth. He hung out with them. He went to college with them. He was indoctrinated alongside them. He speaks their language. He knows their world. They'll follow him anywhere. Note the viral songs already hitting TikTok, where young women shake that groove thing as they chant his name. Advertisement Mamdani tapped into Indoctrination Nation, the Evergreen generation that believes America is a corrupt, 'white supremacist' empire crippled by capitalism — but could you please hand me my iPhone so I can make a TikTok? This generation came of age in a convenience culture that gave them everything they wanted when they wanted it — Uber, Netflix, abortion, DoorDash, Tinder, TikTok, ChatGPT. Why can't they have democratic socialism if they want it? No more playing it safe Because they don't really know what it means, and they don't care. This is a generation ready for the big moves, no more playing it safe. The Democrats should have listened to David Hogg, a harbinger of things to come. But Democrats old enough to know the history must be in a panic. They know why Hillary had to crush the Bernie Sanders movement like a bug. Party elders recall the bad old days, when they were undone by the Eugene McCarthy faction of the party, perceived as too extreme for the silent majority. They remember the catastrophic loss of George McGovern. They recall Jimmy Carter's malaise and how Uncle Teddy primaried him, ushering in 12 years of Reagan and Bush. Advertisement Playing it safe worked until it didn't. Now they'll have to play it bold with an army at the ready, the same army they funded and praised all through the Summer of 2020 to tank Trump. The Democratic Party has fallen, but not because it's been overrun by Islamic extremism. Republicans who take that easy bait will only help make Mamdani an even bigger star. No, it's because of all of us, a generation of helicopter moms who coddled the American mind and raised our kids to be overly fragile. We've given them high self-esteem on the oppressor/oppressed Girl Boss scale. We've allowed them to believe not in hard work or long hours or merit, but that we should be ranked on our race or our gender identity. Created a monster Advertisement What did we think that filling their heads with critical race and gender theory would do to their perceptions of themselves and their country? They've been raised to be intolerant, judgmental and totalitarian toward anyone who isn't fully on board with their fundamentalism. The Democrats will realize all too late what they helped build. They were only watching Trump and it's cost them everything — even their own survival. Sasha Stone is a writer, publisher and former Democrat. Adapted from the Sasha Stone Substack.
