The story so far
- Fox News Ratings Fall 27% in OctoberYou are here
- Murdoch Says Viewer Fatigue Is Hitting Fox News Ratings7 sourcesLatest
Fox News is set for its lowest-rated month since December 2023. It averaged 1.1 million total-day viewers in October, down 27% from last year.
Why it matters: Networks typically gain viewers before midterms, which makes Fox's decline unusual. Fox still draws more viewers than any other cable network, including ESPN.
Where they split: Coverage divides over whether the ratings drop reflects fading conservative enthusiasm for Trump or a routine audience shift in a strong-but-shrinking cable market.
Center coverage, 2 sources: The center sees a ratings story: Fox still dominates cable, while MS NOW and CNN gain as midterms approach.
Left coverage, 8 sources: The left sees Fox's slide as tied to Trump's falling approval and a sign that conservative voters are tuning out before the midterms.
What’s next: Nielsen's official October numbers follow the preliminary data reported by Status. The midterms come days later.