Independence Day in America, a holiday meant for celebration, was overshadowed this year by the horrific mass shooting at a Fourth of July parade in Highland Park, Ill, a suburb just outside Chicago. Seven were killed and 46 others were wounded or injured.
With coverage of the July 4th shooting from 1-6 p.m. ET, Fox News Channel led the major cable news networks averaging 1.63 million total viewers. 250,000 of them were within the key 25-54 demographic, according to Nielsen Media Research. CNN was a distant runner-up in total viewers (975,000) but a closer margin in adults 25-54 (194,000). MSNBC delivered 807,000 total viewers and 102,000 adults 25-54.
CNN’s “4th in America” celebration special, the news outlet’s most recent holiday tradition to feature music and festivities, averaged 846,000 total viewers and 212,000 adults 25-54 from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. Eastern — off 35 percent (in total audience) and off 29 percent (in demo), respectively, from one year earlier.
Meanwhile, Fox News showed year-to-year growth with its two-hour Independence Day special. From 8-10 p.m., FNC drew 1.575 million total viewers and 196,000 adults 25-54 — up 27 percent (in total audience) and up 17 percent (in demo). These increases were not enough for Fox News to top CNN within the key 25-54 demo; from 8-10 p.m. ET, CNN delivered 250,000 in 25-54.
MSNBC, which still focused coverage of Highland Park in prime time, was on the competitive ratings map on the night of July 4. It posted 930,000 viewers and 107,000 adults 25-54 from 8-9 p.m. ET.
Cable news averages for July 4-10, 2022:
Total Day (July 4-10 @ 6 a.m.-5:59 a.m.)
- Fox News Channel: 1.312 million viewers; 198,000 adults 25-54
- MSNBC: 0.666 million viewers; 73,000 adults 25-54
- CNN: 0.538 million viewers; 111,000 adults 25-54
- HLN: 0.171 million viewers; 46,000 adults 25-54
- CNBC: 0.120 million viewers; 28,000 adults 25-54
- Newsmax: 0.115 million viewers; 15,000 adults 25-54
- Fox Business Network: 0.107 million viewers; 13,000 adults 25-54
- The Weather Channel: 0.098 million viewers; 18,000 adults 25-54
Prime Time (July 4-9 @ 8-11 p.m.; July 10 @ 7-11 p.m.)
- Fox News Channel: 1.954 million viewers; 288,000 adults 25-54
- MSNBC: 0.982 million viewers; 92,000 adults 25-54
- CNN: 0.705 million viewers; 152,000 adults 25-54
- Newsmax: 0.222 million viewers; 24,000 adults 25-54
- CNBC: 0.176 million viewers; 52,000 adults 25-54
- HLN: 0.174 million viewers; 53,000 adults 25-54
- The Weather Channel: 0.122 million viewers; 20,000 adults 25-54
- Fox Business Network: 0.069 million viewers; 10,000 adults 25-54
- NewsNation: 0.043 million viewers; 6,000 adults 25-54
Top 10 most-watched cable news programs (and the top programs of other outlets with their respective associated ranks) in total viewers:
1. The Five (FOXNC, Tue. 7/5/2022 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.303 million viewers
2. The Five (FOXNC, Wed. 7/6/2022 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.254 million viewers
3. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Thu. 7/7/2022 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.233 million viewers
4. The Five (FOXNC, Fri. 7/8/2022 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.183 million viewers
5. The Five (FOXNC, Thu. 7/7/2022 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.178 million viewers
6. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Wed. 7/6/2022 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.156 million viewers
7. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Tue. 7/5/2022 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.987 million viewers
8. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Fri. 7/8/2022 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.876 million viewers
9. Jesse Watters Primetime (FOXNC, Tue. 7/5/2022 7:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.670 million viewers
10. Jesse Watters Primetime (FOXNC, Thu. 7/7/2022 7:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.557 million viewers
51. MSNBC Prime (MSNBC, Wed. 7/6/2022 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 1.515 million viewers
113. CNN’s 4th In America “2022” (CNN, Mon. 7/4/2022 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 1.197 million viewers
358. Kudlow (FBN, Fri. 7/8/2022 4:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.422 million viewers
372. Very Scary People “The Cross Country Killer Pt2” (HLN, Sun. 7/10/2022 10:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.385 million viewers
393. Full Frontal with Samantha Bee “Episode 7203” (TBS, Thu. 7/7/2022 10:00 PM, 30 min.) 0.333 million viewers
408. Shark Tank “Shark Tank 1220” (CNBC, Mon. 7/4/2022 10:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.314 million viewers
581. America’s Morning Headquarters (TWC, Thu. 7/7/2022 9:00 AM, 60 min.) 0.205 million viewers
729. Newsnation: Rush Hour (NWSN, Mon. 7/4/2022 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.146 million viewers
Top 10 cable news programs (and the top programs of other outlets with their respective associated ranks) among adults 25-54
1. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Thu. 7/7/2022 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.524 million adults 25-54
2. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Wed. 7/6/2022 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.507 million adults 25-54
3. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Fri. 7/8/2022 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.501 million adults 25-54
4. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Tue. 7/5/2022 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.488 million adults 25-54
5. The Five (FOXNC, Wed. 7/6/2022 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.425 million adults 25-54
6. The Five (FOXNC, Thu. 7/7/2022 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.422 million adults 25-54
7. The Five (FOXNC, Tue. 7/5/2022 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.420 million adults 25-54
8. The Five (FOXNC, Fri. 7/8/2022 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.406 million adults 25-54
9. Gutfeld! (FOXNC, Thu. 7/7/2022 11:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.398 million adults 25-54
10. The Ingraham Angle (FOXNC, Thu. 7/7/2022 10:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.390 million adults 25-54
29. CNN’s 4th In America “2022” (CNN, Mon. 7/4/2022 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.279 million adults 25-54
106. Very Scary People “The Cross Country Killer Pt2” (HLN, Sun. 7/10/2022 10:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.182 million adults 25-54
122. The Beat with Ari Melber (MSNBC, Wed. 7/6/2022 6:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.168 million adults 25-54
220. Full Frontal with Samantha Bee “Episode 7203” (TBS, Thu. 7/7/2022 10:00 PM, 30 min.) 0.122 million adults 25-54
275. Shark Tank (CNBC, Tue. 7/5/2022 10:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.101 million adults 25-54
508. Pattrn (TWC, Wed. 7/6/2022 4:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.051 million adults 25-54
558. Varney & Company (FBN, Thu. 7/7/2022 10:00 AM, 60 min.) 0.044 million adults 25-54
644. Newsnation: Rush Hour (NWSN, Mon. 7/4/2022 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.036 million adults 25-54
Source: Live+Same Day data, Nielsen Media Research
