Fox News Channel maintained its position as the dominant cable news network throughout this period, consistently outperforming MSNBC and CNN combined in most months. However, ratings followed a clear trend tied to the 2024 presidential election cycle:
- Peak in late 2024: Viewership surged during the election buildup and November 2024, driven by intense political coverage.
- Post-election decline in 2025: A typical "cooldown" occurred after the election, with month-to-month and year-over-year drops across the industry. Fox News experienced declines but retained the largest audience share (often 60-65%), benefiting from audience shifts away from competitors.
- Stabilization and strength in non-election year: By mid-to-late 2025, ratings leveled off at high levels for a non-election period, with Fox posting its best-ever non-election year averages in many metrics.
Key focus: Primetime (8-11 PM ET) total viewers (in millions, Nielsen data via Adweek and other sources). Adults 25-54 demo followed similar patterns but with steeper percentage drops industry-wide.
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| Rating Graphics Courtesy of RoadMN |
Overall 2025 Trend: Full-year primetime average:
- ~2.72 million (up ~14% from 2024 in some reports, reflecting strong retention despite post-election dips).
- Fox often beat broadcast networks (e.g., topping NBC/CBS in weekday primetime) and commanded 63-65% cable news share in many months.
- Top shows like The Five (frequently 3.5-4+ million), Jesse Watters Primetime, and Gutfeld! drove gains.
This pattern reflects broader cable news dynamics: election years boost viewership, followed by normalization. Fox News mitigated losses better than rivals, solidifying its lead. Data sourced from Nielsen via Adweek, Fox press releases, and trade reports.