Fox dominates May’s top cable news shows

Fox News’s Sean Hannity and Tucker Carlson and MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow finished with the most-watched cable news shows of May, according to Nielsen Media Research.

In the total viewers category, “Hannity” captured the top spot, with 3.261 million tuning in on weeknights. “The Rachel Maddow Show” notched second, with 2.627 million viewers, and “Tucker Carlson Tonight” finished third, with 2.617 million.

Rounding out the top five were Fox News’s “The Ingraham Angle” with 2.589 million and “The Five” with 2.153 million.

Year-over-year, Fox News averaged 2.381 million viewers in prime time, marking a 6 percent increase. MSNBC averaged 1.654 million viewers in prime time, a 2 percent drop in viewership, while CNN was down 25 percent in total viewers, with an average of 835,000 viewers.

Fox took 15 of the spots among the top 25 cable news programs, while MSNBC snagged 10 spots.

CNN’s “Anderson Cooper 360” finished as the network’s highest-rated program and 26th overall, averaging 888,000 viewers.

In the 25- to 54-year-old demographic coveted most by advertisers, Hannity led the way with 650,000 viewers. Maddow took second, with 531,000, while Laura Ingraham finished third, with 523,000. Carlson was fourth, with 519,000, and MSNBC’s “Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell” was fifth, with 397,000.

In the demographic overall, Fox News had 10 programs place in the top 25, while MSNBC placed seven and CNN registered three.

In business news, Fox Business finished first for the 12th consecutive month in total viewers over rival CNBC, placing four programs in the top five in total viewers.

“Lou Dobbs Tonight” was the most-watched cable business program, with 319,000 total viewers. “Varney & Co.” with Staurt Varney was second, with 232,000, and “Countdown to the Closing Bell with Liz Claman” was third, with 178,000.

Rounding out the top five were “After the Bell” on Fox Business, with 176,000 viewers, and CNBC’s “Squawk on the Street/Squawk Alley,” with 172,000.

Overall in total viewers during Business Day hours of 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Fox Business averaged 187,000 viewers to CNBC’s 165,000.

CNBC, however, beat Fox Business in the 25–54 demographic, averaging 32,000 viewers during business day hours to CNBC’s 22,000 in the category.