FNC is noting its numbers for November and highlighting its viewer retention in the aftermath of the 2006 Midterms…

FOX NEWS CHANNEL RETAINS LARGEST SHARE OF AUDIENCE POST MIDTERM ELECTIONS

CNN and MSNBC Witness Most Severe Audience Erosion

FOX News Channel (FNC) continued its dominance throughout the month of November 2006, retaining the most viewers since the midterm elections, while MSNBC and CNN were unable to sustain their election gains, according to Nielsen Media Research.

Since November 7th, CNN and MSNBC’s audience have lost nearly two-thirds of their total day audience, down 61% and 60% respectively, while FNC retained 56% of its Election Day viewers. In Primetime, the drop off was more severe with CNN losing 75% of its audience and MSNBC hemorrhaging 77%, while FNC retained 40% of its viewers.

During the month of November, FNC averaged 775,000 viewers (down 13%) in Total Day to CNN’s 515,000 (up 15%) and MSNBC’s 320,000 (up 25%). In Primetime, FNC beat the competition combined, garnering 1,346,000 viewers (down 19%), to CNN’s 826,000 viewers (up 15%) and MSNBC’s 505,000. (up 29%)

In the 25-54 demo for the month of November, FNC again maintained its lead with a Primetime average of 380,000 and was up 10% over November 2005, while CNN (271,000/up 40%) and MSNBC (210,000/up 38%) were locked in a close battle for second place. In Total Day, FNC grew 13% in the key demo leading with an average of 257,000, while CNN garnered 186,000 (up 44%) and MSNBC attracted 139,000 (up 43%).

FNC also marked 256 consecutive weeks at number one while capturing ten of the top 12 shows in cable news during November. The O’Reilly Factor remained the most watched program in the genre with 2,066,000 viewers. Rounding out the top five were: Hannity & Colmes with 1,480,000 viewers; Special Report w/ Brit Hume with 1263,000 viewers, The Fox Report w/ Shepard Smith with 1,248,000 viewers; and On the Record w/ Greta Van Susteren with 1,149,000 viewers. Larry King clocked in at 1,144,000 and remained CNN’s only program with more than one million viewers for the month.

Two of CNN President Jon Klein’s signature programs, American Morning and Paula Zahn Now, saw losses over November 2005, each displaying significant vulnerability to third place MSNBC in their respective timeslots.

FOX News Channel (FNC) is a 24-hour general news service covering breaking news as well as political, entertainment and business news. For more than four years, FNC has been the most watched cable news channel in the nation and currently presents 10 out of the top 12 programs in cable news. Owned by News Corp., FNC is available in more than 85 million homes.