Fox News dominated cable news ratings in 2025, achieving its highest-rated non-election year ever, while CNN and MS NOW (the rebranded MSNBC) experienced significant post-election declines.
Fox News averaged approximately 2.72 million primetime viewers (8-11 p.m. ET), marking a 14% increase from 2024 and often rivaling or surpassing major broadcast networks like NBC. It also posted gains in the key Adults 25-54 demographic (around 287,000 in primetime, up 18%). The network captured the top 12 (and often 14 of the top 15) most-watched cable news programs, led by The Five (averaging 4.046 million viewers), followed by shows like Jesse Watters Primetime, Gutfeld!, and Hannity.
In contrast, MS NOW (formerly MSNBC) averaged about 923,000 primetime viewers (down 25% from 2024) and 81,000 in the 25-54 demo (down 39%), marking historic lows in the demo since its 1997 launch.
CNN trailed with around 580,000 primetime viewers (down 15%) and 105,000 in the demo (down 29%), also hitting record lows in key categories.
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| Ratings Graphics Courtesy of RoadMM |
These trends reflect the typical post-election drop-off after 2024's high-viewership year, but Fox News bucked the pattern with year-over-year growth in total viewers across primetime and total day, while its competitors saw double-digit declines—especially in the advertiser-coveted 25-54 demo.
Fox News programs occupied nearly all top spots in cable news viewership, underscoring its commanding lead (often 60-70% of the cable news audience share). The rebranding of MSNBC to MS NOW late in 2025 did not reverse the downward trajectory for the network.
Overall, 2025 highlighted a widening gap in the cable news landscape.