In a media landscape increasingly fractured by streaming and shifting viewer habits, Fox News has reportedly managed what was once unthinkable for a cable network: it has beaten the nation’s major broadcast networks in weekday primetime ratings — not just once, but for three straight weeks.
From July 7 to July 13, Fox News averaged 2.4 million primetime viewers, outpacing legacy broadcast giants NBC (2.2 million), CBS (2 million), and ABC (2 million). The latest numbers mark a continued trend that began over Memorial Day, with Fox leading all of television — not just cable news — with an average of 2.98 million weekday primetime viewers. ABC, its nearest competitor, trailed slightly behind at 2.87 million.
The feat is no small one. The last time Fox News accomplished this level of dominance over all broadcast television was during the tumultuous and news-heavy year of 2020, a period defined by the pandemic and a hotly contested presidential election.
The current streak — now firmly three weeks long — is being seen by some as a sign of where American viewers are placing their trust as the 2024 campaign cycle heats up and traditional outlets struggle to maintain relevance.
Fox’s rise comes as traditional broadcast television reaches historic lows in overall viewership. According to Nielsen’s Gauge rankings, broadcast TV’s share of total television viewing in June dipped below 20% for the first time, sliding to 18.5% from 20.1% in May.
As Americans continue to cut the cord and migrate toward streaming platforms, it’s the networks with focused content and loyal audiences — like Fox News — that are capturing the remaining live viewers.
Anchoring Fox’s success are powerhouse programs that continue to outperform both their cable and broadcast counterparts. The Five led the way last week with 3.5 million average viewers, making it the most-watched show in all of cable news.
Meanwhile, Jesse Watters Primetime pulled in 3.4 million viewers — strong enough to beat CBS’s Big Brother on Thursday night, which garnered 3.2 million.
In a particularly telling metric, Fox News claimed 97 of the top 100 most-watched telecasts on cable television last week — despite stiff competition from Wimbledon coverage and the typical summer ratings slump.
The network’s continued growth comes amid a challenging environment for traditional media. With viewership for broadcast networks steadily declining and audiences seeking content that reflects their values and priorities, Fox’s ratings streak suggests not just a temporary bump, but a sustained shift in where Americans are tuning in for news and commentary.
Whether this trend will continue into the fall remains to be seen, but for now, Fox News appears to be the rare media institution thriving in an era of fragmentation and political polarization — a sign that for many viewers, it remains a dominant and trusted voice.
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