• by Wayne Friedman , July 3, 2018

Despite some mixed results, Fox News Channel still leads all cable networks for the second quarter of 2018, with second-place MSNBC making overall viewing gains.

Fox rose 4% in prime-time total viewers to 2.4 million from the same period the year before, as well as 2% more in the key 25-54 news viewers TV advertisers target to 480,000.

But it was down in total day viewers -- 4% to 1.4 million and 9% lower in 25-54 viewers to 286,000.

MSNBC remained in second place for all cable networks: 6% higher in total prime-time viewers 1.7 million and 5% more in total day viewers to 930,000. MSNBC was down in key 25-54 viewers in both dayparts -- 11% in prime time to 346,000 and 5% lower in total day to 196,000.

CNN was down double digits in both prime-time and total day viewers -- 12% (to 929,000) and 11% (to 658,000), respectively. It dropped more in key 25-54 viewers -- down 18% in prime time to 302,000 and losing 23% in total day to 202,000.

CNN landed in eighth place among all cable networks in total day viewing during the second three months of 2018; ninth place in prime time. Against its direct competitors, CNN touts a slightly younger median age viewer: 61 years old. Fox News is at 65 and MSNBC, 66.

Four of five of the highest-rated prime-time news shows belonged to Fox: Fox’s “Hannity” (3.4 million) at No. 1, followed by MSNBC’s “The Rachel Maddow Show” at 2.8 million; Fox’s “Tucker Carlson Tonight” (2.7 million);  Fox’s “The Ingraham Angle” (2.7 million); and Fox’s “The Five” (2.2 million).