Fox News viewership plunges in October as conservative audience appears to cool, according to Nielsen data
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Nielsen ratings show Fox News' October audience fell 27% overall and 32% among 25-54-year-olds, hitting its weakest month since December 2023 and suggesting waning right-wing enthusiasm.
Nielsen data obtained by analytics firm Status indicate that Fox News recorded its lowest October audience since December 2023, with an average of 1.1 million total day viewers. The network’s key 25-54 demographic fell to about 98,000 viewers, a 32 percent decline from the same month a year earlier. The drop stands in stark contrast to other major cable news outlets, which reported year-over-year gains ahead of the upcoming midterm elections.
Reporter Oliver Darcy noted that while networks such as CNN and MSNBC typically see viewership increases before major elections, Fox News is on pace to post a “staggering” decline. A Semafor media editor quoted the Status report, saying that Fox’s ratings have historically tracked conservative voter enthusiasm and that the current trend could signal reduced engagement among Republican voters.
The report also highlighted that, despite the overall decline, Fox News still leads cable news in total viewership, outperforming competitors such as ESPN even with the return of football programming. Analysts linked the ratings slide to President Donald Trump's low approval ratings, suggesting a potential impact on Republican performance in the upcoming midterms.