CNN Ratings Plummet to Historic Lows in July

In July 2025, CNN experienced a dramatic collapse in viewership, hitting an all-time low in primetime ratings and falling significantly behind competitors MSNBC and Fox News, despite a month packed with major news events, including political developments and global crises. 

The network’s primetime lineup (8–11 p.m.) averaged just 497,000 total viewers, a catastrophic 42% drop from July 2024, according to Nielsen data. 

Former CNN host Chris Cillizza described the numbers as “disastrously bad,” underscoring the severity of the network’s decline in a post on X.

For context, MSNBC drew 865,000 primetime viewers, nearly doubling CNN’s audience, while Fox News dominated with a commanding 2.41 million viewers, nearly five times CNN’s total. This gap highlights CNN’s struggle to retain relevance in a fiercely competitive cable news landscape.

The ratings crisis extended beyond primetime to the entire broadcast day (6 a.m.–6 a.m.). CNN averaged only 370,000 total viewers, a stark contrast to MSNBC’s 530,000 and Fox News’s 1.5 million daily viewers. This marks a 38% decline from the previous year, reflecting a broader erosion of CNN’s audience across all time slots.

The most alarming figures come from the advertiser-coveted 25–54 demographic, where CNN’s primetime viewership plummeted to just 92,000 viewers, a staggering 55% drop from July 2024. While CNN edged out MSNBC’s 81,000 viewers in this demographic, it lagged far behind Fox News, which attracted 257,000 viewers, nearly triple CNN’s figure. 

This steep decline in the key demo signals potential long-term challenges for CNN’s advertising revenue, as brands prioritize platforms with stronger appeal to younger viewers.

CNN’s viewership freefall coincides with significant financial and operational difficulties. Financial disclosures from a January 2025 trial revealed that CNN’s revenue has plummeted by approximately $400 million over the past three years, driven by shrinking cable carriage fees and advertising income.

The network, owned by Warner Bros. Discovery, has faced cost-cutting measures, including layoffs and reduced programming budgets, which have impacted its ability to compete with better-resourced rivals.

CNN’s struggles are compounded by broader industry trends. Cable news viewership is declining as audiences shift to streaming platforms and social media for news. Nielsen reported in 2025 that streaming services surpassed traditional TV consumption, with platforms like YouTube and X becoming primary news sources for younger viewers.