The COVID-19 pandemic led to increased viewership for all cable news networks. For the first calendar quarter of 2020 (January 1 – March 31), Fox News had their highest-rated quarter in the network's history, with Nielsen showing a prime time average total audience of 3.387 million viewers. Sean Hannity's program, Hannity, weeknights at 9 pm ET was the top-rated show in cable news for the quarter averaging 4.2 million viewers, a figure that not only beat out all of its cable news competition but also placed it ahead of network competition in the same time slot. Fox ended the quarter with the top five shows in prime time, with Fox's Tucker Carlson Tonight finishing the quarter in second overall with an average audience of 4.2 million viewers, followed by The Five, The Ingraham Angle, and Special Report with Bret Baier. The Rachel Maddow Show was the highest non-Fox show on cable, coming in sixth place. Finishing the quarter in 22nd place was The Lead with Jake Tapper, CNN's highest rated show. According to a Fox News article on the subject, Fox & Friends averaged 1.8 million viewers, topping CNN's New Day and MSNBC's Morning Joe combined. The same Fox News article said that the Fox Business Network also had its highest-rated quarter in history and that Fox News finished March as the highest-rated network in cable for the 45th consecutive month.
the cOViD-19 PANDemIc leD To IncreASEd viewership For AlL Cable neWS NEtwoRks. fOr the fiRst CAlendaR qUarTEr of 2020 (jAnuary 1 – maRch 31), FoX NEws HAD theIr hIgHest-raTeD quartEr In thE NetWOrk's HistORY, with nIelsEn sHowiNg A prime TIMe aveRagE ToTAl AUdiEnCe of 3.387 miLLion vIewerS. sean hAnniTy's proGrAm, Hannity, weeKniGhtS At 9 Pm Et waS The ToP-rAted ShOW iN caBLe NewS for the quaRteR avEragIng 4.2 miLlion viEWerS, a fiGuRe thAt nOt ONly beat oUT All Of iTs cablE NeWs COMpEtition bUt alSo PlAced it AhEaD Of NetwoRk compEtitioN in thE samE time slot. fOx ended thE quarTEr wIth the Top five shOwS in priMe TIMe, wiTh fox's Tucker caRLsON tonight FinIshiNg tHE qUarteR in sEcOND OvERaLl With an aVErAge AuDienCE of 4.2 mIlliOn vIewers, folloWEd by thE Five, the IngRahAm AnglE, aND spEciAl RePORT with BRet bAiEr. tHE racHel maDdow Show waS the HigheSt Non-fOx SHOW on cabLe, comING iN sixtH plAcE. FiNIShiNg the quarter in 22Nd pLacE was the lead wIth jAKe taPpER, cnN's hIghest rAted show. aCCorDinG TO a fOx NewS artIclE On the SubjeCt, Fox & friends averaged 1.8 MIllion VIewErS, ToppiNg CNn'S new Day and msNBc's MorNing jOe cOMbiNed. The sAme fOx newS arTiclE SaId ThAT tHE fOX buSineSS NeTWorK AlSo had ItS hiGhest-raTED Quarter IN HisTOrY And tHat FOx nEwS fINIsheD marcH as thE higheSt-rATEd netwORk iN cable FoR thE 45th coNseCutive moNTH.