Bret Baier, the host of "Special Report" on Fox News Channel, has been making significant strides in the television news landscape, closing the gap with his broadcast rivals this week.
Recent reports highlight that "Special Report," airing at 6 p.m. ET, has achieved notable ratings success, even surpassing some of the traditionally dominant evening newscasts on major broadcast networks like ABC, CBS, and NBC, according to The NYTimes.
On Tuesday, March 18, "Special Report" outperformed "CBS Evening News" in total viewership, and the margin was described as substantial. This victory is part of a broader trend where Baier's program has been gaining ground against the "Big Three" broadcast networks.
This ratings surge is attributed to several factors.
On Tuesday, March 18, "Special Report" outperformed "CBS Evening News" in total viewership, and the margin was described as substantial. This victory is part of a broader trend where Baier's program has been gaining ground against the "Big Three" broadcast networks.
For instance, it has beaten ABC’s "World News Tonight"—typically the highest-rated evening newscast—in nearly a dozen regional markets. Additionally, in several major East Coast metropolitan areas, "Special Report" has outdrawn "NBC Nightly News."
These achievements underscore a shift in viewer preferences, with Baier’s show averaging 3.5 million viewers in 2025 so far, up 63% from previous figures, alongside a 60% increase in the key 25-54 demographic coveted by advertisers.
Baier himself has suggested that a general loss of trust in traditional media has driven viewers to Fox News, where "Special Report" has built credibility over time. High-profile interviews, such as his sit-down with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on March 7, 2025, which drew a peak of 6.4 million viewers, have further boosted the show’s prominence. That particular broadcast not only led all cable and broadcast programs that night but also surpassed the viewership of "NBC Nightly News" (5.76 million) and "CBS Evening News" (3.9 million) during their respective time slots.
The Times reports such moments have positioned "Special Report" as a go-to destination for significant news events and exclusive interviews with world leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
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Baier’s success comes amid a broader narrative of Fox News Channel’s dominance in cable news, reinforced by its close ties to the Trump administration.
The network’s ability to secure these high-profile interviews and its appeal to a growing audience have led Fox Corp. CEO Lachlan Murdoch to argue that Fox News should be considered among the top broadcast networks in the U.S., despite its cable distribution.
This perspective is supported by the show’s consistent performance, with its February 2025 ratings placing it among Fox News’s top programs, trailing only behind primetime heavyweights like "Hannity" and "The Five."
Its recent victories over CBS and competitive showings against ABC and NBC signal that Baier’s program is not just a cable news contender but a significant player in the broader television news arena.
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