FOX News Channel (FNC) continued to overtake the broadcast competition, surging ahead of ABC and CBS during the third quarter of 2025 with weekday primetime viewership, according to Nielsen. Year to date, FNC (3.3 million) remains leader in all of television with weekday primetime viewers, finishing ahead of CBS (3.1 million), ABC (3.1 million) and NBC (3 million).
During weekday 3Q’2025, FNC drew 2,934,000 viewers and 299,000 in the 25-54 demo in primetime, ahead of ABC (2.751 million viewers) and CBS (2.097 million viewers) and only slightly trailing NBC’s 2,990,000 viewers.
This quarter is the third highest 3Q in network history, behind 2020 and 2024, and marks 95 consecutive quarters as number one in cable news with primetime viewership. In contrast, CNN and MSNBC declined double digits across all key demographics and hit record lows in the 25-54 demo. CNN saw its lowest-rated demo quarter in network history with total day (61,000) and primetime (87,000) while MSNBC had a demo low in total day (41,000) and primetime (66,000) dating back to 1997 and 1998, respectively.
FNC remains the second fastest growing cable network among total viewers during primetime and number one in cable news among Hispanic and Asian viewers with total day in 3Q and September.
For The Week: FOX News Channel (FNC) averaged 3 million viewers in primetime during the week of September 22 leading CBS (2.2 million viewers) according to Nielsen Big Data + Panel. In Monday - Sunday total day (6 AM-6 AM/ET), FNC posted 1.6 million viewers and 159,000 in the 25-54 demo. The network commanded 64% of the primetime and 63% of the total day cable news audience. FNC commanded 98 of the top 100 cable telecasts for the week.
The Five averaged 3.7 million viewers and 332,000 in the 25-54 demo, leading cable with viewers. At 6 PM/ET, Special Report with Bret Baier drew 2.8 million viewers and 270,000 in the 25-54 demo. The Ingraham Angle saw 2.7 million viewers and 259,000 in the 25-54 demo at 7 PM/ET. Jesse Watters Primetime commanded 3.3 million viewers and 313,000 in the 25-54 demo at 8 PM/ET. At 9 PM/ET, Hannity posted 2.7 million viewers and 269,000 with A25-54. At 11 PM/ET, FOX News @ Night secured 1.5 million viewers and 193,000 in the 25-54 demo.
FNC’s late-night hit Gutfeld! (weekdays, 10 PM/ET) averaged 3 million viewers and continued to outpace the broadcast competition including CBS’ The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (1.9 million viewers; 283,000 A25-54) and NBC’s The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon (1.2 million viewers; 240,000 A25-54).
Notably, Gutfeld! continued its reign as late night’s most-watched program on Wednesday, September 24th as ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live! lost 70% of its audience following Kimmel’s return to the show after being benched by the network. Gutfeld! drew an audience of 3,233,000 in viewers, outpacing Jimmy Kimmel Live! (2,414,000 P2+), CBS’ The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (1,988,000 P2+) and NBC’s The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon (1,244,000 P2+).
For The Week: FOX News Channel (FNC) averaged 3 million viewers in primetime during the week of September 22 leading CBS (2.2 million viewers) according to Nielsen Big Data + Panel. In Monday - Sunday total day (6 AM-6 AM/ET), FNC posted 1.6 million viewers and 159,000 in the 25-54 demo. The network commanded 64% of the primetime and 63% of the total day cable news audience. FNC commanded 98 of the top 100 cable telecasts for the week.
The Five averaged 3.7 million viewers and 332,000 in the 25-54 demo, leading cable with viewers. At 6 PM/ET, Special Report with Bret Baier drew 2.8 million viewers and 270,000 in the 25-54 demo. The Ingraham Angle saw 2.7 million viewers and 259,000 in the 25-54 demo at 7 PM/ET. Jesse Watters Primetime commanded 3.3 million viewers and 313,000 in the 25-54 demo at 8 PM/ET. At 9 PM/ET, Hannity posted 2.7 million viewers and 269,000 with A25-54. At 11 PM/ET, FOX News @ Night secured 1.5 million viewers and 193,000 in the 25-54 demo.
FNC’s late-night hit Gutfeld! (weekdays, 10 PM/ET) averaged 3 million viewers and continued to outpace the broadcast competition including CBS’ The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (1.9 million viewers; 283,000 A25-54) and NBC’s The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon (1.2 million viewers; 240,000 A25-54).
Notably, Gutfeld! continued its reign as late night’s most-watched program on Wednesday, September 24th as ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live! lost 70% of its audience following Kimmel’s return to the show after being benched by the network. Gutfeld! drew an audience of 3,233,000 in viewers, outpacing Jimmy Kimmel Live! (2,414,000 P2+), CBS’ The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (1,988,000 P2+) and NBC’s The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon (1,244,000 P2+).
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| ➤Ratings Graphics Courtesy of RoadMN |
FNC saw its daytime programs continue to outpace the broadcast competition. The Will Cain Show (weekdays, 4 PM/ET; 2.3 million viewers), The Faulkner Focus (weekdays, 11 AM/ET; 2.1 million viewers), Outnumbered (weekdays, 12 PM/ET; 2 million viewers), America’s Newsroom (weekdays, 9-11 AM/ET; 2 million viewers), The Story (weekdays, 3 PM/ET; 1.9 million viewers) and America Reports (weekdays, 1-3 PM/ET; 1.8 million viewers) all led ABC’s GMA3 (1.4 million viewers), NBC’s Today with Jenna and Friends (1.4 million viewers) and NBC News Daily (1.3 million viewers).
On Saturday: Kayleigh McEnany’s Saturday in America (Saturday, 10 AM-12 PM/ET) drew 1.3 million viewers (106,000 A25-54) leading cable news, while FOX News Saturday Night with Jimmy Failla (Saturday, 10 PM/ET) was the top show in the demo with 126,000 A25-54 (1.1 million viewers).
On Sunday: Maria Bartiromo’s Sunday Morning Futures (Sunday,10 AM/ET) was the top show of the day with 1.6 million viewers (125,000 in the 25-54 demo). Jacqui Heinrich’s debut as rotating co-anchor of The Sunday Briefing (Sunday, 11 AM/ET) nabbed 1.3 million viewers and 120,000 A25-54. Sunday Night in America (Sunday, 9 PM/ET) was the second most-watched show of the day with 1.3 million viewers.
Source: Nielsen. Big Data + Panel. Week of 9-22-25 ratings data. Average audience for cable news networks Monday-Sunday based on Total Day and Prime (6a-6a, 8P-11P), P2+, P25-54. Cable News/Broadcast Program averages exclude repeats and include the corresponding program name.
“World News Tonight with David Muir” opened the 2025-2026 season as America’s No. 1 evening newscast in all of broadcast and cable in Total Viewers (7.181 million), Adults 25-54 (856,000) and Adults 18-49 (587,000) during the week of Sept. 22, 2025, based on Live+Same Day Big Data Plus Panel Program Ratings from Nielsen Media Research. 
NBC Nightly News Ranks Second, CBS Evening News Sees Declines
On Saturday: Kayleigh McEnany’s Saturday in America (Saturday, 10 AM-12 PM/ET) drew 1.3 million viewers (106,000 A25-54) leading cable news, while FOX News Saturday Night with Jimmy Failla (Saturday, 10 PM/ET) was the top show in the demo with 126,000 A25-54 (1.1 million viewers).
On Sunday: Maria Bartiromo’s Sunday Morning Futures (Sunday,10 AM/ET) was the top show of the day with 1.6 million viewers (125,000 in the 25-54 demo). Jacqui Heinrich’s debut as rotating co-anchor of The Sunday Briefing (Sunday, 11 AM/ET) nabbed 1.3 million viewers and 120,000 A25-54. Sunday Night in America (Sunday, 9 PM/ET) was the second most-watched show of the day with 1.3 million viewers.
Source: Nielsen. Big Data + Panel. Week of 9-22-25 ratings data. Average audience for cable news networks Monday-Sunday based on Total Day and Prime (6a-6a, 8P-11P), P2+, P25-54. Cable News/Broadcast Program averages exclude repeats and include the corresponding program name.
📺BROADCAST EVENING NEWS
- “World News Tonight” stood as the most-watched evening newscast during the opening week of the season for the 10th year in a row and led in all key target demos during premiere week for the 6th consecutive year in a row — since premiere weeks of the 2016-2017 and the 2020-2021 seasons, respectively.“World News Tonight” outdelivered “NBC Nightly News” (5.701 million, 808,000 and 553,000, respectively) by 1.480 million Total Viewers, by 48,000 Adults 25-54 and by 34,000 Adults 18-49. “World News Tonight” increased its overall viewer lead week to week by 5% (vs. +1.415 million).
- “World News Tonight” improved on the previous week in Total Viewers (+2%/+109,000 – 7.181 million vs. 7.072 million), Adults 25-54 (+9%/+70,000 – 856,000 vs. 786,000) and Adults 18-49 (+10%/+51,000 – 587,000 vs. 536,000), standing as the only evening newscast to grow week to week across the board.
- “World News Tonight” (7.181 million, 856,000 and 587,000, respectively) defeated “CBS Evening News” (3.731 million, 419,000 and 291,000, respectively), nearly doubling its lead in Total Viewers (+92%/+3.450 million), while more than doubling in Adults 25-54 (+104%/+437,000) and Adults 18-49 (+102%/+296,000). In fact, “World News Tonight” delivered its largest Total Viewer lead over the CBS program during premiere week in at least 34 years — since at least the week of 9/16/1991, the Nielsen electronic database started in September 1991.
- NBC Nightly News, anchored by Tom Llamas, secured second place in both total viewers and the A25-54 demographic, averaging 5.701 million total viewers and 808,000 in the demo. The broadcast saw a +3% increase in total viewers and a +2% uptick in the demo compared to the prior week. It also led the demo among broadcasts on Friday, September 26, 2025, with 786,000 viewers. However, compared to the same week in 2024, Nightly News dropped by -5% in total viewers and -13% in the demo.
- CBS Evening News drew 3.731 million total viewers and 419,000 in the A25-54 demo. It was the only morning show to decline week-over-week, falling -1% in total viewers and -21% in the demo. Year-over-year, the broadcast saw steeper declines, down -20% in total viewers and -38% in the demo compared to the same week in 2024.
📺BROADCAST MORNING NEWS
“Good Morning America” opened the 2025-2026 season s the only morning newscast to grow year to year in Adults 25-54 (+7% – 501,000 vs. 469,000) and Adults 18-49 (+10% – 318,000 vs. 288,000). ‘GMA’ averaged 2.579 million Total Viewers, 501,000 Adults and 318,000 Adults 18-49 for the week of Sept. 22, 2025, based on Live+Same Day Big Data Plus Panel Program Ratings from Nielsen Media Research.
- “GMA” posted increases week to week in Adults 25-54 (+7% – 501,000 vs. 468,000) and Adults 18-49 (+3% – 318,000 vs. 309,000), posting its strongest performance in both key Adult demos in nearly 6 months — since w/o 3/31/25.
- “GMA” narrowed its margins from the previous week with “Today” in Adults 25-54 (-18% – 71,000 vs. 87,000).
- “GMA” slashed its margins with “Today” versus the season premiere week last year by more than half in Adults 25-54 (-67% – 71,000 vs. 213,000) and Adults 18-49 (-80% – 31,000 vs. 152,000).
- “GMA” (2.579 million, 501,000 and 318,000, respectively) beat “CBS Mornings” (1.853 million, 295,000 and 190,000, respectively) in Total Viewers (+726,000), Adults 25-54 (+206,000) and Adults 18-49 (+128,000). “GMA” led “CBS Mornings” in Total Viewers and Adults 25-54 for the last 1,393 weeks overall — since w/o 1/18/99.
📺TELEVISION SHOW RATINGS RANKER
Ranking is based on ratings data as of Thursday, September 25, 2025. The audience figures are derived from the latest Nielsen daily, weekly, or monthly P2+ program audience averages, whichever is the most recently available within the past seven-day window. Please note that some shows may not appear in the ranking probably because there are no ratings data for them within the stipulated period.