“The Kelly File,” hosted by Megyn Kelly, attracted 546,000 viewers ages 25 to 54 in November, more than any other cable news program in the demographic coveted by advertisers. It’s the first time Kelly has topped the nightly cable news rankings since her show began last year, and the first time any Fox host has beaten O’Reilly in two years.
O’Reilly, who has hosted “The O’Reilly Factor” since 1996, drew 521,000 viewers in the 25-to-54 age group. He had the larger overall audience, with more than 3 million people tuned in nightly, while 2.73 million watched “The Kelly File.”
Both shows prospered in a month where Fox News, owned by 21st Century Fox Inc. (FOXA), outdrew every cable channel in prime time except for ESPN. Fox attracted more than 2 million viewers a night between 8 p.m. and 11 p.m. in November, which included Congressional elections and protests in Ferguson, Missouri.
Fox News’ prime-time ratings have increased 12 percent this season in the 25-to-54 age group from last year, while total prime-time viewership has climbed 3 percent.
This was inevitable. While O’Reilly appeals to an extremely devoted and, for now, larger demographic, Kelly probably has broader longterm potential with the money demo. Of course, Roger Ailes knew this when he moved her from daytime into her current slot. Roger Ailes knows everything about cable news, remember?
Kelly is also dispelling the myth that FNC prime time viewers are all octogenarians who still tell “Ike” stories. The liberal media would have us believe that all Republicans fit that description even as they champion a grandmother for the presidency in 2016.
Megyn Kelly’s growing audience is younger and most definitely not ready for Hillary.
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