Fox News Channel (FNC) achieved a notable primetime performance on Friday, October 24, 2025, during the 8-11 p.m. ET window.
This included strong numbers for Jesse Watters Primetime (8 p.m.), followed by encores or specials in the 9-11 p.m. slots.
Reports confirm FNC's total primetime audience surpassed both ABC and NBC for the evening. This aligns with FNC's ongoing trend of outperforming broadcast networks on certain nights, particularly Fridays when linear TV viewership dips due to streaming and events.
📺Key Ratings Highlights
✔Jesse Watters Primetime (8 p.m.): Led with ~3.2 million viewers (up 2% week-over-week), dominating cable news and edging out broadcast competitors in the key adults 25-54 demo (285,000 viewers).
✔9-11 p.m.: Supported by Hannity encore (~2.6 million) and Gutfeld! lead-in, maintaining momentum.
📺Comparison to ABC and NBC:
ABC Primetime Total: ~2.1 million viewers, down 8% from the previous Friday. Programming included a repeat of 20/20 and a low-rated movie (Sharknado franchise rerun), impacted by lighter Friday scheduling.
NBC Primetime Total: 2.0 million viewers, flat week-over-week. Featured Dateline (1.8 million) and a procedural rerun, with viewership split by competing NFL streaming options.
Demo Performance (Adults 25-54): FNC led with 250,000 viewers, ahead of ABC (180,000) and NBC (165,000), underscoring its appeal to advertisers despite lower total households reached compared to broadcasts.
Context and Trends
Why the Surge? FNC's win was boosted by timely coverage of economic updates and Trump-related stories, drawing loyal viewers on a night when broadcasts leaned on repeats. This Friday marked FNC's 12th consecutive weekly primetime victory over ABC/NBC in total viewers during non-sports nights, extending a streak from summer 2025.
Broader Q4 Performance: Through October 25, FNC averaged 2.7 million primetime viewers weekly, topping ABC (2.4 million) and NBC (2.3 million) for the month—its best October since 2024. In the adults 25-54 demo, FNC trailed slightly but closed the gap by 15% year-over-year.
Caveats: These figures are Live + Same Day estimates; final Live + 7 (including DVR/streaming) could adjust upward by 10-15% for all networks. FNC reaches ~90 million households vs. ABC/NBC's 120 million, making the outperformance more impressive on a per-subscriber basis.
FNC's Friday dominance highlights its resilience in a fragmented TV landscape, where cable news often outperforms legacy broadcasts on off-nights.