FOX News Channel (FNC) continued its historic run throughout August finishing as the top network in all of primetime television from the start of summer through Labor Day. Since June 20th, FNC has averaged 2,432,000 viewers in Monday-Sunday primetime, making it the highest-rated network in all of television leading ABC (2,376,000 viewers), NBC (2,208,000 viewers) and CBS (2,028,000 viewers).
For the month of August, FNC delivered 2.3 million primetime viewers (8-11 PM/ET) and 237,000 in the 25-54 demographic, making it the most-watched television network for the second consecutive month. Across total day, FNC drew 1.4 million viewers and 160,000 in the 25-54 demo. FNC commanded 63% of the cable news share with viewers across total day and 65% in primetime, completely dismantling CNN and MSNBC who both lost half of their audience across both primetime and total day compared to August 2024.
- This month marked CNN’s second lowest-rated month ever with total day 25-54 demo, slumping to just 53,000 viewers.
- MSNBC had its lowest-rated August in the 25-54 demo across total day (46,000 viewers) and primetime (72,000 viewers) since 1997.
FNC nabbed the top 163 cable news telecasts throughout the month and has now commanded the top 1,532 cable news telecasts post-election. FNC was also number one in cable news with Asians, Hispanics and upscale viewers throughout total day during August.
As the number one show on television at 5 PM/ET, The Five secured a staggering 3.5 million viewers and 345,000 in 25-54 demo in August, surpassing CBS’ Big Brother (3.2 million viewers) and the debut of ESPN’s College Gameday (3,477,000 viewers). At 8 PM/ET Jesse Watters Primetime led all of primetime commanding 3.1 million viewers and 302,000 in the 25-54 demo, outpacing broadcast shows including NBC’s American Ninja Warrior (2.7 million viewers).
FNC’s hit late-night program Gutfeld! continued to dominate all of late-night television, securing 2.8 million viewers, 327,000 in the 25-54 demo and 204,000 in the 18-49 demo during August. Gutfeld! once again surpassed CBS’ The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (2.2 million viewers), NBC’s The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon (1.1 million viewers), ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live! (989,000 viewers), NBC’s Late Night with Seth Meyers (710,000 viewers), and Comedy Central’s The Daily Show (479,000 viewers).
FNC’s Hannity remained dominant at 9 PM/ET with 2.6 million viewers and 271,000 in the 25-54 demo, leading key broadcast shows including ABC’s Good Morning America (2.6 million viewers) and Match Game (2.5 million viewers). Additionally, The Ingraham Angle (weeknights, 7 PM/ET) posted 2.5 million viewers and 236,000 in the 25-54 demo, with Laura Ingraham continuing her reign as the highest rated woman in cable news. At 11 PM/ET, FOX News @ Night led its timeslot with 1.5 million viewers and 201,000 in the 25-54 demo.
The network’s nightly newscast Special Report with Bret Baier (weeknights, 6 PM/ET) averaged over 2.6 million viewers and 249,000 in the 25-54 demo, continuing to close the gap with the broadcast competition. In August, Special Report led CBS Evening News in 23 top markets across the country including Chicago, Atlanta, Philadelphia, Dallas and Washington D.C. The show also beat ABC’s World News Tonight in eight markets including New Orleans, Tampa Bay, Florida, and St. Louis and outrates NBC’s Nightly News in Tampa Bay, Florida, Boston and Tulsa, Oklahoma.
FNC’s signature morning show FOX & Friends (weekdays, 6-9 AM/ET) finished the month with 1.3 million viewers and 148,000 in the demo and remained the number one cable news program in the mornings with both categories for 54 consecutive months in 25-54 demo, beating CNN and MSNBC combined in viewers per usual.
FOX & Friends led CBS Mornings in 21 major markets throughout August including New York, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Boston, Detroit, Dallas and Cleveland. FOX & Friends also topped ABC’s Good Morning America in 15 markets including Orlando, Baltimore and New Orleans and defeated NBC’s The Today Show in six markets including New York, Atlanta and Boston during August.
FNC’s daytime lineup continued to crush the competition, led by two-hour morning news program America’s Newsroom with Bill Hemmer and Dana Perino (weekdays, 9-11 AM/ET), which saw 1.8 million viewers and 171,000 in the 25-54 demo. The Faulkner Focus at 11 AM/ET, anchored by Harris Faulkner, notched 1.8 million viewers and 177,000 in the 25-54 demo with Outnumbered at 12PM/ET earning 1.9 million viewers and 202,000 in the demo. America Reports with John Roberts and Sandra Smith garnered 1.7 million viewers and 185,000 in the 25-54 demo from 1-3 PM/ET. Martha MacCallum’s The Story (weekdays, 3 PM/ET) averaged 1.7 million viewers and 171,000 in the 25-54 demo. Additionally, The Will Cain Show continued to grow the timeslot at 4 PM/ET seeing 2 million viewers and 199,000 in the 25-54 demo.
Every single FNC daytime show between 9 AM - 5 PM/ET led NBC’s Today Third Hour (1,661,000 viewers), ABC’s GMA3 (1,152,000 viewers) and NBC’s Today with Jenna & Friends (1,122,000 viewers).
On Saturdays: FNC also continued to excel against the competition throughout the weekend for the month, winning every hour with total viewers and 25-54 demo, defeating CNN and MSNBC by double to triple-digits among both categories on both days. On Saturdays, My View with Lara Trump (weekends, 9 PM/ET) was the most watched show in total viewers, drawing 1.3 million viewers. FOX & Friends Weekend (weekends, 6-10 AM/ET) was most-watched in the 25-54 demo with 132,000 viewers. Life, Liberty & Levin (weekends, 8 PM/ET) averaged 1.2 million viewers. FOX News Saturday Night with Jimmy Failla (Saturday, 10 PM/ET) attracted 1.1 million viewers and 113,000 in the 25-54 demo.
On Sundays: FNC’s Sunday Morning Futures earned the top-rated show of the weekend, garnering 1.6 million viewers and 151,000 with 25-54 demo. Sunday Night in America with Trey Gowdy was the top show in primetime with 1.5 million viewers and 121,000 in the 25-54 demo. At 11 AM/ET, MediaBuzz, hosted by Howard Kurtz, delivered 1.2 million viewers and 126,000 in the 25-54 demo. The Big Weekend Show nabbed 1.2 million viewers and 120,000 in the 25-54 demo. FOX & Friends Weekend took 1.2 million viewers and 127,000 in the 25-54 demo. One Nation with Brian Kilmeade (Sunday, 10 PM/ET) nabbed 1.3 million viewers and 118,000 in the 25-54 demo.
📺AUGUST 2025 VIEWERSHIP & 25-54 DEMO (Monday-Sunday, Live + Same Day):
TOTAL DAY
On Saturdays: FNC also continued to excel against the competition throughout the weekend for the month, winning every hour with total viewers and 25-54 demo, defeating CNN and MSNBC by double to triple-digits among both categories on both days. On Saturdays, My View with Lara Trump (weekends, 9 PM/ET) was the most watched show in total viewers, drawing 1.3 million viewers. FOX & Friends Weekend (weekends, 6-10 AM/ET) was most-watched in the 25-54 demo with 132,000 viewers. Life, Liberty & Levin (weekends, 8 PM/ET) averaged 1.2 million viewers. FOX News Saturday Night with Jimmy Failla (Saturday, 10 PM/ET) attracted 1.1 million viewers and 113,000 in the 25-54 demo.
On Sundays: FNC’s Sunday Morning Futures earned the top-rated show of the weekend, garnering 1.6 million viewers and 151,000 with 25-54 demo. Sunday Night in America with Trey Gowdy was the top show in primetime with 1.5 million viewers and 121,000 in the 25-54 demo. At 11 AM/ET, MediaBuzz, hosted by Howard Kurtz, delivered 1.2 million viewers and 126,000 in the 25-54 demo. The Big Weekend Show nabbed 1.2 million viewers and 120,000 in the 25-54 demo. FOX & Friends Weekend took 1.2 million viewers and 127,000 in the 25-54 demo. One Nation with Brian Kilmeade (Sunday, 10 PM/ET) nabbed 1.3 million viewers and 118,000 in the 25-54 demo.
📺AUGUST 2025 VIEWERSHIP & 25-54 DEMO (Monday-Sunday, Live + Same Day):
TOTAL DAY
- FNC: 1,448,000 total viewers and 160,000 A25-54 (up 2% with viewers and down 15% with A25-54 vs. August 2024)
- CNN: 333,000 total viewers and 53,000 A25-54 (down 46% with viewers and 57% with A25-54 vs. August 2024)
- MSNBC: 502,000 total viewers and 46,000 A25-54 (down 51% with viewers and 62% with A25-54 vs. August 2024)
- FNC: 2,304,000 total viewers and 237,000 A25-54 (up 1% with viewers and down 18% with A25-54 vs. August 2024)
- CNN: 444,000 total viewers and 78,000 A25-54 (down 59% with viewers and 68% with A25-54 vs. August 2024)
- MSNBC: 783,000 total viewers and 72,000 A25-54 (down 57% with viewers and 71% with A25-54 vs. August 2024)
- Total Viewers: The Five (3,479,000), Jesse Watters Primetime (3,062,000), Gutfeld! (2,848,000), Hannity (2,612,000), Special Report (2,550,000)
- Adults 25-54: The Five (345,000), Gutfeld! (327,000), Jesse Watters Primetime (302,000), Hannity (271,000), Special Report (249,000)
For the week, The Five averaged 3.4 million viewers and 311,000 in the 25-54 demo, leading cable news at 5 PM/ET in all categories. At 6 PM/ET, Special Report with Bret Baier drew 2.5 million viewers and 222,000 in the 25-54 demo. The Ingraham Angle saw 2.5 million viewers and 231,000 in the 25-54 demo at 7 PM/ET. At 9 PM/ET, Hannity posted 2.5 million viewers and 260,000 with A25-54. At 10 PM/ET, Gutfeld! commanded 2.7 million viewers and 296,000 in the 25-4 demo, while the broadcast late-night competition was off for the week. At 11 PM/ET, FOX News @ Night secured 1.4 million viewers and 186,000 in the 25-54 demo.
Source: Nielsen. Live+SD. Week of 8-25-25 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 in Total Viewers (7.026 million) on all of broadcast and cable (excluding sports) during the week of Aug. 25, 2025, based on Live+Same Day Data from Nielsen Media Research. “World News Tonight” has been the No. 1 most-watched program on television for 16 straight weeks (with and without sports).
- “World News Tonight” ranked as the No. 1 newscast across broadcast and cable in Total Viewers (7.026 million), Adults 25-54 (872,000) and Adults 18-49 (590,000).
- “World News Tonight” outperformed “NBC Nightly News” (5.321 million, 681,000 and 418,000, respectively) by 1.705 million Total Viewers, by 191,000 Adults 25-54 and by 172,000 Adults 18-49.
- “World News Tonight” widened its lead over “NBC Nightly News” versus the previous week by double digits in Total Viewers (+36% – 1.705 million vs. 1.251 million) and by triple digits in Adults 25-54 (+315% – 191,000 vs. 46,000) and Adults 18-49 (+136% – 172,000 vs. 73,000).
- “World News Tonight” posted across-the-board increases week to week: Total Viewers (+2%/+110,000 – 7.026 million vs. 6.916 million), Adults 25-54 (+4%/+34,000 – 872,000 vs. 838,000) and Adults 18-49 (+4%/+21,000 – 590,000 vs. 569,000), drawing its largest overall audience in 4 weeks — since w/o 7/28/25.
- “World News Tonight” (7.026 million, 872,000 and 590,000, respectively) defeated “CBS Evening News” (3.896 million, 597,000 and 447,000, respectively) in Total Viewers (+80%/+3.130 million), Adults 25-54 (+46%/+275,000) and Adults 18-49 (+32%/+143,000).
NBC News’ TODAY was the number-one morning show in the key demo for the month of August, topping ABC’s “Good Morning America” for 24 consecutive months. Last week, TODAY was the number-one morning show, marking its 5th consecutive weekly demo win. Additionally, TODAY grew its demo lead versus prior week and narrowed its total viewer gap with GMA versus the prior week.
Season to date, TODAY is the top-rated morning show in the key demo. This is TODAY’s best key demo start to a season versus GMA in 8 seasons.
📺NETWORK MORNING SHOWS
“Good Morning America” ranked as the No. 1 morning newscast in Total Viewers (2.557 million) during the week of Aug. 25, 2025, based on Live+Same Day Data from Nielsen Media Research.
- “GMA” outdelivered NBC’s “Today” (2.458 million) by 99,000, taking the top spot in for the 26th straight week.“GMA” more than tripled its lead over NBC’s “Today” year to year (+281%; vs. 26,000).
- “GMA” saw gains on the previous week in Adults 25-54 (+4% – 465,000 vs. 446,000) and Adults 18-49 (+15% – 314,000 vs. 274,000), hitting a 4-week high in the key Adult news demo – since w/o 7/28/25.
- “GMA” improved on the same week last year in Adults 25-54 (+1% – 465,000 vs. 459,000) and Adults 18-49 (+10% – 314,000 vs. 286,000), standing as the only morning newscast to grow year to year in both Nielsen measures.
- “GMA” narrowed its margins year to year with “Today” by double digits in Adults 25-54 (-44% – 102,000 vs. 181,000) and Adults 18-49 (-67% – 45,000 vs. 137,000).
- “GMA” (2.557 million, 465,000 and 314,000, respectively) defeated “CBS Mornings” (1.721 million, 308,000 and 200,000, respectively) in Total Viewers (+836,000), Adults 25-54 (+157,000) and Adults 18-49 (+114,000). “GMA” led “CBS Mornings” in Total Viewers and Adults 25-54 for the last 1,389 weeks overall — since w/o 1/18/99.
- NBC News’ TODAY was the number-one morning show in the key demo for the month of August, topping ABC’s “Good Morning America” for 24 consecutive months. Last week, TODAY was the number-one morning show, marking its 5th consecutive weekly demo win. Additionally, TODAY grew its demo lead versus prior week and narrowed its total viewer gap with GMA versus the prior week. Season to date, TODAY is the top-rated morning show in the key demo. This is TODAY’s best key demo start to a season versus GMA in 8 seasons.
📺TELEVISION SHOWS RATINGS RANKER
