Chalk it up to the benefits of exposure or the unpredictable nature of cable news, but Fox News Channel's The Kelly File more than doubled its demo haul on its second night.
STORY: Why Fox News Shuffled Its Anchors
Megyn Kelly's new primetime show jumped 38 percent with total viewers to 2.8 million and a whopping 116 percent among adults 25-54 to 623,000. The numbers not only best combined competition from CNN's Piers Morgan and MSNBC's Rachel Maddow, Kelly also scored the rare distinction of topping lead-in and reigning cable news champ Bill O'Reilly in the key demographic -- by about 45,000 viewers.
For the night, Fox News averaged 2.43 million viewers and 508,949 adults 25-54. Closest competition MSNBC, which scored key demo wins on Monday in all hours but 8 p.m., averaged 958,420 viewers and 264,277 adults 25-54. Third place CNN posted 577,591 viewers and 173,321 adults.
The shuffled Sean Hannity also fared considerably better in his second night at 10 p.m. The pundit averaged 2.17 million viewers and 517,047 demo viewers, also topping CNN and MSNBC competition combined. At 7 p.m. Greta Van Susteren was also up from the night before, edging out Chris Matthews in the demo with 317,401 adults 25-54 and topping the hour with 1.81 million viewers.
As the significant fluctuation from Monday to Tuesday's ratings illustrates, these initial numbers are not necessarily indicative the new lineup's performance. The initial success of FNC's new primetime block will be better determined over the coming weeks.
