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The Fox News Channel, the largest conservative media outlet, suffered its worst month since 2001 in January among the most coveted viewer demographic, according to the latest ratings figures. A press release from the NBC Media Center reported that Nielsen ratings for the month of January showed Fox News viewership at a 12-year low, while rival MSNBC gained ground in all categories in 2012.

The right-leaning news juggernaut continues to dominates most cable news categories, hosting 9 of the top 10 programs, but it has lost considerable ground among the 25 to 54 demographic, turning in the worst ratings since the terror attacks of September 11, 2001 and its lowest total day ratings since 2008.

"The Rachel Maddow Show" made a surprisingly strong showing, up from the 14th most popular show in cable news to the 10th, the only non-Fox show in the top 10. According to NBC, "'The Rachel Maddow Show' at 9:00 p.m. ranked Number 2 topping CNN's 'Piers Morgan Tonight' by 84 percent among viewers ages 25-54 (308,000 vs. 167,000) and by 70 percent among total viewers (1.09 million vs. 639,000). 'Maddow' was also ranked #1 among the younger demographic of ages 18-34. 'Maddow' is up 32 percent in ages 25-54, more growth than all cable news programs in the hour combined, and up 11 percent in total viewers compared to January 2012."