TV Ratings: Fox News Channel Scores Win Over Playoffs

During the week of May 12-18, FOX News Channel averaged 3 million viewers in weekday primetime leading broadcast network ABC (2.9 million viewers) and TNT (2.5 million viewers) during its coverage of the NBA and NHL playoffs. 

In Monday - Sunday total day (6 AM-6 AM/ET), FNC posted 1.6 million viewers and 184,000 in the 25-54 demo leading all of cable. In Monday-Sunday primetime (8-11 PM/ET), FNC averaged 2.5 million viewers and 282,000 in the 25-54 demo. 

CNN saw its worst week of the year across primetime and total day, shrinking to 405,000 viewers in primetime and 341,000 viewers in total day. MSNBC had its worst week post-inauguration with only 811,000 primetime viewers and 532,000 total day viewers. 

In fact, FNC posted 99 of the top 100 cable news telecasts for the week. 

According to Nielsen’s April Gauge, The Five made up nine of the top ten monthly telecasts in all of cable behind only the NFL Draft.For the week, The Five averaged 3.8 million viewers and 380,000 in the 25-54 demo, leading cable news in all categories. 

At 6 PM/ET, Special Report with Bret Baier, which broadcast live from President Trump’s trip to the Middle East throughout the week, drew 2.9 million viewers and 278,000 in the 25-54 demo. The Ingraham Angle saw 2.7 million viewers and 284,000 in the 25-54 demo at 7 PM/ET. At 8 PM/ET, Jesse Watters Primetime delivered 3.3 million viewers and 371,000 in the 25-54 demo. At 9 PM/ET, Hannity, which also traveled to the Middle East during President Trump’s trip to the region, posted 2.8 million viewers and 299,000 with A25-54. At 11 PM/ET, FOX News @ Night secured 1.4 million viewers and 196,000 in the 25-54 demo.

At 10 PM/ET, FNC’s late-night offering Gutfeld! secured 2.9 million viewers and 345,000 with A25-54. Gutfeld! once again topped the broadcast competition including CBS’ The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (1,962,000 viewers; 280,000 A25-54) and NBC’s The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon (1,149,000 viewers; 283,000 A25-54).

 

FNC continued to see its daytime programs outpace the broadcast competition. The Will Cain Show (weekdays, 4 PM/ET; 2,106,000 viewers), Outnumbered (weekdays, 12 PM/ET; 1,995,000 viewers), Harris Faulkner’s The Faulkner Focus (weekdays, 11 AM/ET; 1,971,000 viewers), America’s Newsroom (weekdays, 9-11 AM/ET; 1,958,000 viewers), The Story with Martha MacCallum (weekdays, 3 PM/ET; 1,836,000 viewers) and America Reports (weekdays, 1-3 PM/ET; 1,804,000 viewers) all led NBC’s Today Third Hour (1,673,000 viewers), ABC’s GMA3 (1,184,000 viewers), NBC’s Today with Jenna & Friends (1,114,00 viewers) and NBC News Daily (1,063,000 viewers) with viewers.

 
On Saturday:  FOX News Saturday Night with Jimmy Failla (Saturday, 10 PM/ET) was the most-watched show of the day with over 1.4 million viewers and 169,000 in the 25-54 demo. My View with Lara Trump (Saturday, 9 PM/ET) following closely behind with just under 1.4 million viewers and 163,000 in the 25-54 demo. At 8 PM/ET, Life, Liberty & Levin commanded 1.3 million viewers.

On Sunday:  Maria Bartiromo’s Sunday Morning Futures (Sunday, 10 AM/ET) was the top show of the weekend with 1.9 million viewers. One Nation with Brian Kilmeade (Sunday, 10 PM/ET) was the number one show of the weekend in the 25-54 demo with 187,000 viewers. At 9 PM/ET, Sunday Night in America with Trey Gowdy secured 1.4 million viewers and 164,000 in the 25-54 demo.

Source: Nielsen. Live+SD. Week of 5-12-25 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 with David Muir” stood as the No. 1 program of the week in Total Viewers (6.966 million) on all of broadcast and cable during the week of May 12, 2025, based on Live+Same Day Data from Nielsen Media Research.“World News Tonight” ranked as the No. 1 newscast across the board in Total Viewers (6.966 million), Adults 25-54 (891,000) and Adults 18-49 (625,000).

• “World News Tonight” outperformed “NBC Nightly News” (5.465 million, 776,000 and 496,000, respectively) by 1.501 million Total Viewers, by 115,000 Adults 25-54 and by 129,000 Adults 18-49.
• “World News Tonight” ranked as the No. 1 telecast of the day on Monday (7.416 million), Tuesday (7.127 million), Wednesday (6.992 million), Thursday (6.909) and Friday (6.387 million).
• “World News Tonight” increased its Total Viewer margin over “NBC Nightly News” year to year by 7% (1.501 million vs. 1.398 million).
• “World News Tonight” (6.966 million, 891,000 and 625,000, respectively) defeated “CBS Evening News” (3.766 million, 503,000 and 368,000, respectively) by 3.200 million Total Viewers, by 388,000 Adults 25-54 and by 257,000 Adults 18-49.

• For the 10th week in a row, “World News Tonight” increased its lead over “CBS Evening News” compared to the same week last year in Total Viewers (+10% – 3.200 million vs. 2.911 million), Adults 25-54 (+3% – 388,000 vs. 376,000) and Adults 18-49 (+4% – 257,000 vs. 248,000).

Other Key Ratings:

• NBC Nightly News closes key competitive gaps vs. ABC in year-over-year measurements, including by 43% in A25-54 and 12% in A18-49
• In week-over-week measurements, Nightly News shrinks across-the-board gaps vs. ABC, by 8% in total vieers,37% in A25-54 and 34% in A18-49
• Nightly News is the #6 most-watched show of the week with 5.465 million total viewers, excluding specials, sports & syndication

📺BROADCAST MORNING SHOWS

GMA, Today, and CBS Mornings were all down relative to the week prior

Good Morning America ranked as the No. 1 morning newscast in Total Viewers (2.578 million) during the week of May 12, 2025, based on Live+Same Day Data from Nielsen Media Research. “GMA” beat NBC’s “Today” (2.499 million) by 79,000 to take the top spot for the 11th week running.For the 3rd consecutive week, “GMA” increased its lead over “Today” year to year by triple digits (+139% – 79,000 vs. 33,000).

• “GMA” narrowed its margins with “Today” versus the previous week in Adults 25-54 (-8% – 154,000 vs. 167,000) and Adults 18-49 (-26% – 89,000 vs. 120,000).
• “GMA” (2.578 million, 425,000 and 273,000, respectively) beat “CBS Mornings” (1.904 million, 310,000 and 193,000, respectively) in Total Viewers (+674,000), Adults 25-54 (+115,000) and Adults 18-49 (+80,000). “GMA” led “CBS Mornings” in Total Viewers and Adults 25-54 for the last 1,374 weeks overall — since w/o 1/18/99.
• Season to date, “GMA” (2.694 million) is ranking as the No. 1 morning newscast in Total Viewers for the 13th consecutive year — since the 2012-2013 season. “GMA” is leading NBC’s “Today” (2.680 million) and “CBS Mornings” (2.015 million).

NBC News’ TODAY was the number-one morning show last week, topping ABC’s “Good Morning America” in the key demo A25-54, marking its 92nd consecutive weekly demo win. TODAY narrowed the total viewer gap with GMA by 40% week over week and also grew its demo lead by 21% versus the prior year.

Season to date, TODAY has closed the total viewer gap with GMA by 86% and is the top-rated morning show in the key demo with a 52% higher advantage versus GMA compared to the prior year. This is TODAY’s best key demo start to a season versus GMA in 8 seasons.

📺THE SUNDAY SHOWS

Meet the Press with Kristen Welker was the #1 Sunday public affairs show in the key demo this past Sunday, May 18, according to Nielsen. This marks the ninth key A25-54 demo win for Meet the Press in the last 14 weeks.

• Meet the Press averaged 409,000 key A25-54 demo viewers, leading ABC by +53,000 (+15%) and CBS by +102,000 (+33%).
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• The Welker-led program ranks #1 for the current broadcast season among key A25-54 demo viewers. Meet the Press is the program up the most versus the same point last season.
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• Meet the Press also averaged 2.244 million total viewers this past Sunday. Meet the Press has never lost a month in the Washington, D.C. market among total viewers.
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• Meet the Press continues to lead in digital viewership for Sunday public affairs programs, with viewers consuming hundreds of thousands of hours of content.

Sunday's broadcast featured interviews with former Vice President Mike Pence, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.).

📺TV SHOW RATINGS RANKER

Ranking is based on ratings data as of Friday, May 16, 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.