As the European Championship and Copa America finals draw near, Fox is celebrating a significant increase in viewership across its entertainment programming this summer. The network has seen viewing minutes spike by 57% compared to last year, amounting to a total of 18.5 billion minutes across various platforms. The surge in viewership has been predominantly driven by Fox’s extensive coverage of soccer, with sports programming alone witnessing a remarkable 66% growth to reach a staggering 12.4 billion minutes. On the other hand, entertainment content has contributed 6.1 billion minutes, marking a substantial 42% increase from the previous summer.
Throughout the Euros and Copa America tournaments, Fox has set records for viewership, as highlighted in reports by Deadline. Notably, all four semifinal matches garnered impressive viewership figures for soccer on U.S. English-language television, despite the absence of the USMNT. This heightened interest in soccer has not only elevated viewership for sports programming but has also spilled over to benefit Fox’s overall network audience, encompassing its entertainment lineup. The success of the network can be attributed to popular series like the new game shows, “The Quiz with Balls” and “The 1% Club,” along with a compelling lineup from Fox Sports.
In the initial five weeks of summer, Fox has emerged as a frontrunner in entertainment programming, securing the top spot in adults 18-49 with a 0.38 rating and adults 25-54 with a 0.54 rating after seven days of viewing. The network has experienced a significant surge in primetime viewership, with a remarkable 43% increase in adults 18-49 compared to the previous year. Furthermore, Fox’s total viewership has soared by 40% year-over-year. Notably, the network’s new game shows, “The 1% Club” and “The Quiz with Balls,” are performing well, each garnering a 0.3 rating in the 18-49 demographic after seven days of viewing. Additionally, other unscripted programs such as WWE’s Smackdown, Masterchef: Generations, and Beat Shazam have also played a crucial role in bolstering Fox’s summer ratings.
As the Copa America and Euros finals loom on the horizon, Fox may experience a temporary dip in its sports programming viewership. However, with the highly anticipated Paris Olympics coverage by NBC set to dominate the sports programming landscape, Fox is expected to maintain a strong audience throughout the summer months. The upcoming WWE’s SummerSlam event in August is poised to further bolster Fox’s viewership, particularly with the consistent performance of Smackdown. Looking ahead, the network will need to carefully monitor the performance of its game shows and unscripted content to sustain its momentum leading up to the fall broadcast season and football season kickoff.