Fox News Channel pulled 1.4 million viewers during the premiere of The ½ Hour News Hour Sunday at 10 p.m. (EST), according to Nielsen Media Research data.
The satirical news program -- described by TV critics as a more conservative take on The Daily Showwith Jon Stewart on Comedy Central -- attracted 442,000 viewers in the adults 25-54 demo -- the core target of Fox News and rivals CNN and MSNBC.
Fox News said The ½ Hour News Hour -- which is produced by Joel Surnow, co-creator of Fox Broadcasting’s popular 24 series -- gave the network a 69% increase in viewership and a 94% increase in the 25-54 demo compared with what ran in its time slot previously.
The program had a strong lead-in, with Hannity’s America drawing 1.2 million viewers and 319,000 in the 25-54 demographic, at 9 p.m.
