Here Are the 3rd Quarter of 2025 Cable News Ratings

Below are the cable news ratings for the third quarter of 2025.

Even with the constant news emanating from Donald Trump’s administration, that was not enough to fuel viewer interest across all three networks as they did not record any quarter-to-quarter growth in total viewers and the Adults 25-54 demo during primetime and total day.

However, CNN can take pride in being the only network not to lose any primetime total viewers during this quarter.

Meanwhile, Fox News, which won the summer ratings battle, stood tall when compared with the broadcast networks, finishing ahead of CBS and ABC in primetime total viewers.

Fox News Channel

Fox News averaged 2.483 million total primetime viewers and 243,000 Adults 25-54 viewers in Q3 2025. During total day, Fox News had 1.568 million total viewers and 159,000 demo viewers.  

Compared to the second quarter, Fox News was down -6% in total viewers and -20% in the demo during primetime. When looking at total day, it was down by -4% and -21% in total viewers and the demo, respectively.

When comparing its performance in the same quarter of 2024, it saw a dip of -9% in total viewers and a -34% decrease in the demo during primetime. Looking at total day, the network was flat in total viewers and down -26% in the demo.

Fox News’ domination at the top of cable news now grows to 95 consecutive quarters, according to Nielsen Media Research. 

Fox News was the most-watched cable network during primetime with total viewers and was the second most-watched network in the demo. During total day, Fox News was again on top in total viewers and finished in second place in the demo.

MSNBC

During Q3 2025, MSNBC averaged 802,000 total primetime viewers and 66,000 primetime demo viewers. During total day, MSNBC had 492,000 total viewers and 41,000 A25-54 viewers.  

When looking at MSNBC’s performance vs. the second quarter in 2025, it was down in total viewers and the demo by -20% and -27%, respectively, during primetime, which can largely be attributed to Rachel Maddow‘s shift to anchoring her show once a week. During total day, the network was down -17% in total viewers and -28% in the demo.

When compared to the third quarter of 2024, MSNBC was down -46% in total viewers and -64% in the A25-54 demo during primetime. It was also down -45% and -59% in the demo during total day.

MSNBC moved up to third place in total viewers and dropped from No. 15 to No. 20, tied with the Investigation Discovery channel, in the demo. During total day, MSNBC dropped to third from second place in total viewers and slipped three spots to 14th in the demo. 

CNN

CNN averaged 538,000 total primetime viewers and 87,000 primetime demo viewers in Q3 2025. During total day, the network had 396,000 total viewers and 61,000 A25-54 viewers. 

Compared to the second quarter, CNN was flat and down -17% in total viewers and the demo, respectively, in primetime. When looking at how it performed during total day, it was down -2% in total viewers and -14% in the demo. 

The network experienced a -42% decline in total viewers and a -58% decline in A25-54 during primetime compared to the third quarter of 2024. During total day, it had losses of -29% and -45% in total viewers and the demo, respectively.

CNN finished in 5th place during primetime with total viewers and tied for 10th in the demo with Discovery Channel and Nick at Nite. During total day, CNN moved up one spot to No. 4 in total viewers and remained in sixth place in the demo, tied with the Food Network. 

PROGRAMMING

  • Fox News – The Five was Fox News’ most-watched program, with an average of 3.7 million total viewers at 5 p.m. ET. The Five also took top honors in the demo, with 338,000 viewers.
  • MSNBC – The Rachel Maddow Show at 9 p.m. ET was the network’s most-watched program in total viewers and the demo, with an average of 1.842 million viewers and 176,000 viewers, respectively.
  • CNN – Anderson Cooper 360 at 8 p.m. ET was the most-watched program, averaging 616,000 total viewers. CNN NewsNight with Abby Phillip at 10 p.m. ET was the network’s most-watched show in the demo, with 111,000 viewers.
  • Newsmax – Rob Schmitt Tonight was the net’s top show in total viewers, with 367,000 total viewers, and Finnerty led the way in the A25-54 demo with 29,000 viewers. The network was down -15% in total viewers and -14% in the demo during primetime when compared to Q2. During total day, it was down -10% and -21% in total viewers and the demo, respectively.
  • NewsNation – Cuomo was the net’s top show in total viewers and A25-54. It had 184,000 and 17,000 viewers, respectively. Compared to the second quarter, NewsNation was up +8% and +18% in total viewers and the demo during primetime. When looking at total day, it was up +9% in total viewers, but down -13% in the demo.
  • Fox Business – Kudlow remained the net’s top show in total viewers with 261,000 viewers. Making Money with Charles Payne took the top spot in the demo with 13,000 viewers. Fox Business was down -8% and -20% in total viewers and the demo during primetime, while it was down -3% and -18% in total viewers and the demo, respectively, during total day when put against the second quarter.
  • CNBC – Squawk on the Street was the net’s top show in total viewers and A25-54. It had 176,000 and 37,000 viewers, respectively. Compared to Q2, It was down -11% in total viewers and -30% in the demo during primetime. While in total day, it was down -18% in total viewers and -33% in the demo.

Among Total Viewers 

  1. The Five – Fox News (3,700,000)
  2. Jesse Watters Primetime – Fox News -(3,336,000)
  3. Gutfeld!  – Fox News – (2,940,000)
  4. Hannity – Fox News – (2,891,000) 
  5. Special Report with Bret Baier – Fox News – (2,862,000)
  6. The Ingraham Angle – Fox News  – (2,719,000)
  7. The Will Cain Show – Fox News – (2,216,000)
  8. Outnumbered – Fox News – (1,980,000)
  9. The Faulkner Focus – Fox News – ( 1,972,000)
  10. America’s Newsroom – Fox News – (1,972,000)
  11. The Story with Martha MacCallum – Fox News – (1,920,00)
  12. America Reports – Fox News – (1,881,000)
  13. The Rachel Maddow Show – MSNBC – (1,842,000)
  14. Fox News at Night – Fox News – (1,582,000)
  15. Fox and Friends – Fox – (1,329,000)

Among Adults 25-54 

  1. The Five – Fox News – (338,000)
  2. Jesse Watters Primetime – Fox News –  (323,000)
  3. Gutfeld! – Fox News –  (320,000)
  4. Hannity – Fox News – (305,000)
  5. Special Report with Bret Baier – Fox News – (280,000)
  6. The Ingraham Angle – Fox News – (265,000)
  7. The Will Cain Show – Fox News – (219,000)
  8. Fox News at Night – Fox News – (201,000)
  9. Outnumbered  – Fox News – (200,000)
  10. America Reports – Fox News – (194,000)
  11. America’s Newsroom – Fox News – (194,000)
  12. The Faulkner Focus – Fox News – (190,000)
  13. The Story – Fox News – (187,000)
  14. The Rachel Maddow Show – MSNBC – (176,000)
  15. Fox and Friends – Fox – (141,000)
PRIMETIME Fox News MSNBC CNN
• Total Viewers: 2,483,000 802,000 538,000
• A25-54: 243,000 66,000 87,000
TOTAL DAY Fox News MSNBC CNN
• Total Viewers: 1,568,000 492,000 396,000
• A25-54: 159,000 41,000 61,000

Q3’25 P25-54 Cable Ranker BDP by Adweek

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