Fox News Posts Record Ratings Amid Viewer Decline for CNN and MSNBC
Fox News Channel achieved its highest-ever share of the cable news audience last week, marking a historic milestone as its competitors, CNN and MSNBC, continued to suffer significant viewer losses.
During the week of November 11-17, Fox News dominated the cable news landscape, averaging 1.9 million total viewers, the network’s best performance in its 28-year history. The network also claimed a commanding 69% share of the total day cable news audience. In contrast, MSNBC, which posted its lowest-rated week in over 25 years, only attracted 487,000 viewers, while CNN lagged further behind with just 337,000 average viewers.
Fox News led across all categories, including primetime hours (8-11 p.m. ET), where it pulled in an average of 3 million viewers—more than ESPN (2.5 million) and Hallmark Channel (503,000). MSNBC and CNN trailed significantly, with MSNBC drawing just 684,000 viewers and CNN scraping by with 464,000. Fox News captured 72% of the cable news audience during primetime.
The network also outperformed its competitors in the key demographic of adults aged 25-54, averaging 236,000 viewers for total day and 360,000 during primetime. Fox News has now surpassed MSNBC and CNN for 194 consecutive weeks in total viewers and 185 weeks in the 25-54 demo.
Meanwhile, MSNBC faced a sharp decline, losing 50% of its total audience compared to 2024 averages and 43% in the crucial demo. The network also saw many of its programs post their lowest ratings ever. Fox News outperformed MSNBC during every time slot, including its flagship show The Rachel Maddow Show.
CNN, which also struggled, saw its ratings plummet to an all-time low, particularly among adults aged 25-54, where it averaged only 58,000 viewers. The network suffered double-digit percentage drops across all key metrics, including a 33% loss in total viewers and a 36% drop in primetime.
Fox News swept the competition in both total viewers and the 25-54 demo across every hour of the day. Notable shows such as Outnumbered, The Story with Martha MacCallum, and The Faulkner Focus all performed strongly, outperforming CBS Mornings in total viewers.
The Five, led by Greg Gutfeld, Jesse Watters, and others, topped all of television with an average of 4.4 million viewers and 480,000 in the demo, even surpassing NBC’s Saturday Night Live.
Other Fox News programs, including Special Report with Bret Baier, The Ingraham Angle, Jesse Watters Primetime, Hannity, Gutfeld!, and FOX News @ Night, also saw significant viewership. Over the weekend, Life, Liberty & Levin and Sunday Morning Futures with Maria Bartiromo helped Fox News maintain its dominance, winning every hour among both total viewers and the 25-54 demographic.