



Overall, Fox averaged 3.5 million total viewers from 8-11 p.m. , according to early Nielsen Media Research, with "Hannity" at 9 p.m. leading the way with 3.8 million total viewers.



MSNBC, led by Rachel Maddow at 9 p.m. ET , was second with an average of 3.153 million viewers. CNN was third with 2.764 million, led by Don Lemon's "CNN Tonight " at 10 p.m. after the race was called in that hour for Democrat Doug Jones over Republican Roy Moore, making him the first Democrat to win a senate seat in Alabama since 1992.



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Fox News finished second with 809,000 in the category, with MSNBC just slightly behind with 808,000.



For the year, Fox News is projected to finish as the most-watched channel in basic cable while attracting its most viewers for the year since its inception in 1996, according to a network press release. Fox News was the most-watched cable news network in total viewers on Tuesday night for coverage of the highly anticipated Alabama Senate race, while CNN captured the most viewers in the key 25-54 demographic.Overall, Fox averaged 3.5 million total viewers from, according to early Nielsen Media Research, with "Hannity" atleading the way with 3.8 million total viewers.MSNBC, led by Rachel Maddow at, was second with an average of 3.153 million viewers. CNN was third with 2.764 million, led by Don Lemon's "CNN" atafter the race was called in that hour for Democrat Doug Jones over Republican Roy Moore, making him the first Democrat to win a senate seat in Alabama since 1992.Among relatively younger viewers, CNN was the most watched network in the key 25-54 demographic that advertisers covet most, capturing 1.146 million viewers.Fox News finished second with 809,000 in the category, with MSNBC just slightly behind with 808,000.For the year, Fox News is projected to finish as the most-watched channel in basic cable while attracting its most viewers for the year since its inception in 1996, according to a network press release.

According to Nielsen, Fox averaged 2.4 million viewers in primetime and 1.5 million in the category of "Total Day," the 6 a.m. to 6 a.m. window marking viewership over an entire 24-hour period.



“Throughout this past year, FOX News has continued to prove its dominance in the television landscape despite many changes and one of the most intense news years on record," said Suzanne Scott, Fox News's president of programming.



"For a news channel to experience growth following an election year is unprecedented and we are grateful to our loyal viewers for once again making us the most-watched network in all of cable," she said.

MSNBC also surged in 2017 as the unpredictable Trump presidency often produces multiple breaking stories a day, keeping viewers tuned in.

The Comcast-owned network enjoyed its most-watched year in its 21-year history, led by Maddow's show at 9 p.m.