Fox News pulls 90% of cable news audience during Charlie Kirk memorial
The article reports that Fox News dominated cable news viewership on a Sunday afternoon during live coverage of the memorial service for Charlie Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA. Fox News attracted over 5 million viewers on average, peaking at 6.6 million during an emotional tribute by Kirk’s wife, Erika kirk. This accounted for nearly 90% of the total cable news audience and 91% of viewers in the key 25-54 demographic, far surpassing CNN and MSNBC.
The memorial service took place at State Farm Stadium in glendale, Arizona, drawing about 90,000 attendees, including former President Donald Trump and several high-profile conservative figures. Trump pledged to posthumously award Kirk the Presidential Medal of Freedom. The service also featured speakers like vice President JD Vance, tucker Carlson, and other prominent conservatives.
Fox News also saw strong viewership on digital platforms, with its YouTube livestream ranking as its third most-watched livestream of 2025. The extensive coverage and high ratings reinforced Fox News’s leading position in cable news, especially during major conservative events.
Fox News pulls 90% of cable news audience during Charlie Kirk memorial
Fox News Channel captured nearly the entire cable news audience on Sunday afternoon, drawing more than 5 million viewers during live coverage of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk’s memorial service and peaking at over 6.6 million during Erika Kirk’s remarks.
According to Nielsen Media Research’s Big Data Plus Panel, Fox News averaged 5.2 million total viewers and 755,000 in the key 25-54 demographic between 1:30 and 7:15 p.m. ET. That amounted to 89% of the overall cable news audience and 91% of viewers in the demo, leaving CNN (372,000 viewers, 46,000 demo) and MSNBC (260,000 viewers, 26,000 demo) far behind.
The audience reached its high point during the 6 p.m. ET hour, when Erika Kirk delivered an emotional tribute to her late husband. Fox News averaged 6.6 million total viewers and 1.1 million in the demo during that segment. By comparison, CNN managed 483,000 viewers, 68,000 in the demo, while MSNBC had 243,000 viewers and 23,000 in the demo.
The afternoon began with a four-hour special, Remembering Charlie Kirk, anchored by Kayleigh McEnany and Lawrence Jones. That broadcast averaged 4.9 million viewers and 679,000 in the key demo, outperforming CNN and MSNBC combined.
Fox also found success beyond cable. Its YouTube livestream of the service accumulated 2.2 million live views, ranking as the network’s third most-watched livestream of 2025.
The service, held at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, drew an estimated 90,000 attendees, according to TPUSA. Around 70,000 filled the stadium to capacity, while another 20,000 gathered in overflow venues and nearby watch areas.
President Donald Trump, who headlined the event alongside several Cabinet members, praised Kirk and pledged to posthumously award Kirk the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor.
In one of the service’s most emotional moments, Erika Kirk told the crowd she forgave her husband’s accused killer.
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Speakers included Vice President JD Vance, Tucker Carlson, and Hillsdale College President Larry Arnn. Others on the program were White House chief of staff Susie Wiles, Deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard.
The ratings underscored Fox News’s dominance in live-event coverage. Fox News has long been the most-watched cable news network, but Sunday’s near-total sweep — almost 90% of the audience — highlighted its unmatched reach during a high-profile conservative event.
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