FOX News Channel Beats CNN and MSNBC Combined During Hurricane Katrina Coverage; Katrina Marks FNC's Highest Total Day Viewership of 2005

Business Wire, August 30, 2005

NEW YORK -- As America braced for the strongest storm to hit the Gulf Coast in nearly 40 years, FOX News Channel (FNC) overwhelmed the cable news field during Sunday's coverage of Hurricane Katrina, beating CNN and MSNBC combined in both total day and primetime. Gripping reports from Shepard Smith and Steve Harrigan, among others, helped propel the network to its highest total day viewership in 2005. Sunday also marked the network's highest 25-54 viewership in total day and primetime for the year.

FNC averaged 2,341,000 viewers in total day, up 247% over the same day last year, the highest percentage jump among the cable news networks. CNN averaged just 1,086,000 viewers and MSNBC clocked in at only 497,000 viewers.

FNC continued its domination in primetime with a whopping 4,073,000 viewers, again beating CNN's 2,279,000 viewers and MSNBC's 1,021,000 viewers combined, making the night FNC's second highest rated primetime of 2005. FNC again was up the most among the news networks, with a jump of 376% over the same day last year.

FNC also beat CNN and MSNBC combined in the advertiser-friendly 25-54 demo, attracting 909,000 viewers in total day to CNN's 464,000 and MSNBC's 260,000. In primetime, FNC averaged 1,644,000 viewers to CNN's 933,000 and MSNBC's 536,000. Both showings marked FNC's highest 25-54 viewership of 2005.

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 three years, FNC has been the most watched cable news channel in the nation and currently presents eleven out of the top twelve programs in cable news. Owned by News Corp., FNC is available in more than 85 million homes.