Fact check: Average age of fox news viewer

1. Summary of the results

Based on the analyses provided, the median age of Fox News viewers is approximately 68-70 years old. Multiple sources consistently report this demographic trend across cable news networks ^{[1] [2]}.

The most specific data comes from a Los Angeles Times report cited in the analyses, which states that Fox News has a median age of 68, while CNN's median age is 67 and MSNBC's is 71 ^[2]. Another source confirms that the median age for Fox, CNN, and MSNBC viewers is around 70 years old ^[1].

Key demographic patterns emerge from the data:

• 47% of Americans aged 65 and older regularly get news from Fox News ^[3]
• 45% of those aged 50-64 regularly consume Fox News ^[3]
• Adults aged above 45 are most likely to say they never watched Fox News, suggesting the core viewership skews older ^[4]
• There's a notable decline in cable TV news consumption among younger adults, with traditional TV preferred by adults aged 60 or above ^[1]

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The original query asks for "average age" but the available data primarily provides median age figures rather than mean averages. This distinction is important because median age represents the middle point where half the viewers are older and half are younger, while average age could be skewed by extreme values.

The analyses reveal broader industry trends that provide crucial context:

• This aging demographic is not unique to Fox News - all major cable news networks (CNN, MSNBC, Fox) have similar median ages in the 67-71 range ^[2]
• The data suggests a generational shift in news consumption patterns, with younger demographics moving away from traditional cable news entirely ^[1]
• Cable news as a medium is experiencing an aging audience problem across all networks, not just Fox News ^[5]

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original statement itself is simply a factual query asking for demographic information, so there's no inherent misinformation or bias present. However, the framing could potentially be misleading if used selectively:

• Using "average" instead of "median" could be technically imprecise, as the available data specifically refers to median ages ^{[1] [2]}
• Isolating Fox News demographics without industry context could create a misleading impression that this aging viewership is unique to Fox News, when in fact it's an industry-wide phenomenon affecting all major cable news networks ^[2]
• The question doesn't acknowledge the broader trend of younger demographics abandoning cable news entirely, which is crucial context for understanding why all cable news audiences skew older ^[1]

The data consistently shows that Fox News, like its cable news competitors, has successfully captured and retained an older demographic while struggling to attract younger viewers who increasingly consume news through digital platforms.