This is TVNewser’s basic cable network ranker and cable news report for the week of Feb. 24, 2025.
A busy news week from a political and global standpoint fueled growth for all three cable networks. Fox News achieved a rare feat as it averaged 3.6 million total viewers during weekday primetime, performing better than two of the broadcast networks. NBC saw 3.5 million total viewers, while ABC averaged 2.2 million total viewers.
This milestone caused Fox Corporation’s CEO Lachlan Murdoch to quip on Monday during Morgan Stanley’s Technology Media & Technology Conference that Fox News should be considered “the fifth broadcast network.”
FOX Corp. CEO Lachlan Murdoch says FOX News is now so dominant — with roughly 65% of the cable news market — that it should be considered the fifth broadcast network alongside ABC, CBS, Fox, and NBC. He credits the network’s success to great content, strong journalism, and… pic.twitter.com/VI8PLqxGMz
— Fox News (@FoxNews) March 4, 2025
Despite Fox News’ success, it was also the only network not to see any total viewer gains during primetime and total day.
Meanwhile, MSNBC, Joy Reid’s final night hosting The ReidOut—as well as the surrounding programming changes announced by the network—may have fueled its double-digit gains during primetime.
MSNBC had its most-watched day since election week on Feb. 28, the same day that President Donald Trump’s and Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy had a charged meeting at the White House.
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Nielsen live plus same-day data for the week of Feb. 24 saw FNC average 3.091 million total viewers and 393,000 A25-54 viewers during primetime. The network was down -2% in the former category, but up +4% in the latter relative to the week prior. Fox News also averaged 1.981 million total viewers and 254,000 A25-54 viewers in total day viewing. Week-to-week, FNC was flat in total viewers and up +4% in the demo.
Fox News repeated at first in total primetime viewers and remained second in the demo among all basic cable networks. It also remained at No. 1 in total viewers across total day and reclaimed the top spot in the total day demo.
MSNBC’s primetime lineup averaged 1.220 million total viewers and 114,000 viewers in the A25-54 demo for week-to-week gains of +12% and +23%, respectively. During the total day, MSNBC averaged 659,000 total viewers and 66,000 A25-54 viewers for respective gains of +8% and +16% compared to the week before.
Among all basic cable networks, MSNBC climbed one spot to second place in total primetime viewers and jumped from No. 19 to No. 10 in the demo. During total day, the network captured second place in total viewers and rose to the No. 10 position in the total day demo.