Fact check: Which news network has the highest ratings for coverage of the 2024 election?

1. Summary of the results

Based on the comprehensive analyses provided, Fox News Channel definitively had the highest ratings for 2024 election coverage across multiple metrics and time periods.

The data shows Fox News dominated election night viewership with 9.8 million viewers ^[1], though another source reports an even higher figure of 13.6 million viewers for election night coverage ^[2]. For comparison, other major networks significantly trailed behind: ABC with 5.7 million, MSNBC with 5.5 million, NBC with 5.3 million, and CNN with 4.7 million viewers ^[1].

Fox News maintained its dominance throughout 2024, averaging 2.38 million viewers in primetime - representing a substantial 30% increase from the previous year ^[3]. The network captured an impressive 56% of the cable news audience in primetime and 53% in total day during 2024 ^[2]. During the election week specifically, Fox News achieved 5.4 million viewers in weekday primetime and 2.6 million in total day, making it the number one network across all television during that period ^[4].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The analyses reveal several important contextual elements not addressed in the original question:

• Total viewership scale: The 2024 presidential election drew an estimated 42.3 million viewers across 18 TV networks ^[5], providing perspective on Fox News's market share within the broader television landscape.
• Sustained dominance: Fox News's election success wasn't isolated - the network continued its ratings leadership into 2025, maintaining 2.41 million viewers in primetime and 1.53 million in total day by July 2025 ^[6].
• Competitive landscape: The significant gap between Fox News and its closest competitors (ABC, MSNBC, NBC, CNN) suggests a substantial audience preference rather than a narrow victory.
• Measurement variations: Different sources report varying viewership numbers for Fox News on election night (9.8 million vs. 13.6 million), indicating potential differences in measurement methodology or time periods analyzed.

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original question itself contains no apparent misinformation or bias - it simply asks for factual information about ratings performance. However, the question's neutrality contrasts with the highly competitive and politically charged nature of cable news ratings.

The analyses consistently support Fox News's dominance without contradiction, though the variation in reported viewership numbers (p1_s2 vs. p2_s2) suggests readers should be aware that different measurement periods or methodologies can produce different figures. The sources appear to be industry-standard Nielsen ratings and official network communications, lending credibility to the reported data.

The question notably doesn't specify whether it seeks cable news, broadcast networks, or all television coverage, though the analyses primarily focus on cable news performance with some broadcast network comparisons included.