Fox News has been making waves in 2025, closing the gap with traditional broadcast networks—ABC, CBS, and NBC—in primetime viewership, a feat that underscores its growing dominance in the television landscape. Reports indicate that Fox News is not just leading cable news but is chasing down, and in some cases surpassing, the Big Three broadcast networks in key ratings metrics, particularly during weekday primetime slots.
Since the start of 2025, Fox News has consistently outperformed at least two of the major broadcast networks in Monday-through-Friday primetime viewership, averaging millions of viewers nightly.
For the week of March 3, 2025, Nielsen Media Research data shows Fox News pulling in 4.8 million total viewers in primetime, topping CBS (4.2 million), NBC (3.4 million), and ABC (2.6 million). This is a remarkable achievement considering Fox News reaches 63.6 million households via cable, far fewer than the 111 to 120 million homes the broadcast networks access over the air for free.
The network’s momentum kicked off earlier in the year, with February 2025 marking its highest-rated February ever at 3.1 million primetime viewers, and January setting records as well, fueled by coverage of President Trump’s second term inauguration, which drew over 10 million viewers.
What’s driving this ratings chase? Fox News has capitalized on a mix of compelling content and strategic timing.
High-profile events like Trump’s joint address to Congress on March 4, 2025, delivered a staggering 10.7 million viewers to Fox News—outpacing ABC (6.3 million), CBS (4 million), and NBC (3.9 million), and dwarfing cable rivals CNN and MSNBC (both under 2 million). Shows like The Five (4.7 million viewers), Jesse Watters Primetime (4.2 million), and Hannity (3.6 million) have posted all-time highs, blending news with opinion in a way that resonates with a broad audience—Democrats, Independents, and Republicans alike, per Nielsen MRI Fusion data.
Fox Corporation CEO Lachlan Murdoch has leaned into this success, arguing that Fox News should be seen as “the fifth broadcast network,” a claim bolstered by its 65% share of the cable news market. As the analyst Rich Greenfield noted, Fox News now counts Liberty Mutual, Procter & Gamble, Expedia, Nestlé, Allstate, JPMorgan Chase, Intuit, Verizon, and UBS among its more than 100-plus blue chip advertisers.
According to The Wrap, the broadcast networks aren’t taking this lying down. An NBC source pointed out that their focus is on seven-day delayed viewing (including streaming), which significantly boosts their totals beyond live numbers—something Fox News doesn’t rely on as heavily.
CBS, meanwhile, anticipates a ratings surge from March Madness starting the week after March 14, 2025. Still, Fox News’ live, same-day primetime edge is undeniable, especially given its smaller distribution footprint. Posts on X echo this sentiment, with users marveling at Fox News’ “staggering” numbers and its ability to outdraw free TV options, suggesting a public shift away from traditional broadcasters perceived as less trustworthy.
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