Data from Nielsen Media Research showed that the network’s programming for the inauguration was the highest-rated “in all of television,” according to a press release. This included multiple programs on Fox News Channel throughout the day. 

The Inauguration of Donald Trump, which was co-anchored by Bret Baier and Martha MacCallum, reached 10.3 million viewers, including 2 million in the coveted age 25-54 demographic, read the release. This total outpaced Fox News Channel’s competition, including legacy networks ABC, CBS, and NBC and “all cable networks across the board. Viewership peaked during the 12 p.m. hour, with the data showing that 10.9 million viewers tuned in, including 2.1 million in the age 25-54 demographic.  

The press release highlighted that it was the second-highest-rated Inauguration Day programming in the cable news channel’s history. It received “80% of the cable news audience share” for special programming coverage of the inauguration. Also, Fox News was the only network to gain viewers compared to President Joe Biden’s inauguration in January 2021, earning “triple-digit increases.” 

Moreover, ratings for Fox News soared while its competition floundered. Cable networks MSNBC and CNN suffered some of their worst ratings in history. MSNBC had its lowest numbers in the network’s history for Inauguration Day coverage, while CNN notched the second-smallest total viewership for a presidential inauguration in the network’s history. MSNBC has been on the air since July 1996, and CNN since June 1980. 

Fox News continued its ratings dominance into the evening on Inauguration Day. The Five had 8.5 million viewers and Special Report with Bret Baier, which aired at 6 p.m., had nearly eight million people tune in and was the highest-rated program in its timeslot, noted the press release. Fox News Channel closed out the historic day with 6.2 million viewers watching the shows in its prime-time slots.