Here Are the Cable News Ratings for September 2025

The killing of Charlie Kirk and its aftermath became the top news story in September.

Coverage surrounding Kirk’s death and the ensuing political fallout led to increased interest in news for the three cable news networks in total viewers during primetime and total day.

In the Adults 25-54 demo, MSNBC was the only network that saw declines during both dayparts for the month. September also offered a historical footnote for MSNBC, as it was the final month in which the network and CNBC would operate fully as part of the NBCUniversal News Group family.

 Fox News

According to Nielsen Media Research, Fox News in September had 2.541 million total viewers in primetime and 280,000 viewers in the adults 25-54 demo. During total day, it had 1.606 million total viewers and 178,000 viewers in the demo.

Compared to its performance in August 2025, Fox News grew by +10% in total viewers and +18% in the A25-54 demo during primetime viewing hours. During total day, it rose by +11% in total viewers and the demo when compared to the previous month. 

Looking at Fox News’ performance against the same month in 2024, it was up by +1% in total viewers but down by -14% in the demo during primetime. In total day, it was also up by +12% in total viewers, but it was down by -8% in the demo. Fox News was the only network to record any year-over-year improvements in either of the observed dayparts.

The network finished September as the No. 1 cable network in total viewers and in second place in the demo during primetime. During total day, it was in first place in total viewers and was the No. 2 network in the demo. 

MSNBC

MSNBC finished in second place among the most-watched cable news networks in primetime and total day in total viewers in September, with 810,000 and 507,000 viewers, respectively. The network in the A25-54 demo had 69,000 viewers in primetime and 45,000 viewers during total day. 

Compared to August, MSNBC was up +3% in total viewers but down -4% in A25-54 during primetime. It also had a gain of +1% in total viewers but slipped by -2% in the demo during total day.

Looking at its performance in June 2024, MSNBC was down -43% in total viewers and -58% in the demo during primetime. It was down -45% in total viewers and -55% in the demo during total day.

MSNBC was in third place during primetime and was also the No. 3 news network in total viewers during total day. It finished in the No. 13 position in the demo, tied with MTV and Nick at Nite during primetime, and was in 12th place in the demo during total day.

CNN

During primetime in September, CNN had 543,000 total viewers and 87,000 A25-54 viewers. When looking at total day, the network had 399,000 total viewers and 62,000 demo viewers.

Compared to its performance in the previous month, CNN saw gains of +22% in total viewers and +12% in the demo during primetime. It was up by +20% in total viewers and +17% in the demo during total day. 

When looking at its performance to the same month in 2024 during primetime, it was down -36% in total viewers and -52% in the demo. In total day, CNN was down -26% and -37% in total viewers and the demo, respectively. 

CNN finished in the No. 4 position during primetime, and it remained in fourth place in total day in total viewers. Its position in the demo was No. 10 in primetime, and it finished in seventh place during total day.

Looking at the September performance of the other news nets:

  • NewsNation – It posted double-digit year-over-year growth in both total day and primetime across both measured categories. Cuomo remains the top program in total viewers and A25-54 with 192,000 and 18,000 viewers, respectively. 
  • Fox Business – The network’s simulcast of Fox Weather First led it to beat CNBC’s Worldwide Exchange in the demo for the first time ever. Varney & Co. was the top show in total viewers with 262,000 viewers, while The Big Money Show took the top spot in the demo, with 13,000 viewers. 
  • CNBC – Squawk on the Street was the most-watched program in total viewers with 172,000 and finished in first place in the A25-54 demo with 39,000 viewers.  
  • Newsmax – Rob Schmitt Tonight was the net’s top show in total viewers, with 393,000 total viewers, while Finnerty was in the pole position in the demo with 32,000 viewers, respectively.

PROGRAMMING

  • Fox News – The Five was the most-watched program in Total Viewers (3.897 million at 5 p.m. ET). Hannity was in first place in the advertiser-coveted demo of A25-54, with 391,000 viewers.
  • MSNBC – Its most-watched show in total viewers and the demo continues to be The Rachel Maddow Show (1.865 million and 178,000 viewers, respectively, at 9 p.m. ET). 
  • CNN – The Arena with Kasie Hunt at 4 p.m. ET was the network’s top performer in total viewers, with 662,000. In the A25-54 demo, The Source with Kaitlan Collins at 10 p.m. ET remained in first place with 111,000 viewers. 

Among Total Viewers 

  1. The Five – Fox News (3,897,000)
  2. Jesse Watters Primetime – Fox News -(3,472,000)
  3. Hannity – Fox News – (3,079,000) 
  4. Special Report with Bret Baier – Fox News – (3,042,000)
  5. Gutfeld! – Fox News – (2,901,000)
  6. The Ingraham Angle – Fox News – (2,883,000)
  7. The Will Cain Show – Fox News – (2,393,000)
  8. America’s Newsroom – Fox News – (2,066,000)
  9. The Story with Martha MacCallum – Fox News (2,014,000)
  10. The Faulkner Focus – Fox News – (1,996,000)
  11. Outnumbered – Fox News – (1,962,000)
  12. America Reports – Fox News – (1,882,000)
  13. The Rachel Maddow Show – MSNBC – (1,865,000)
  14. Fox News @Night – Fox News – (1,532,000)
  15. Fox & Friends – Fox News – (1,304,000)

Among Adults 25-54 

  1. Hannity – Fox News – (391,000)
  2. The Five – Fox News – (380,000)
  3. Jesse Watters Primetime – Fox News – (376,000)
  4. Gutfeld! – Fox News – (339,000)
  5. Special Report with Bret Baier – Fox News – (322,000)
  6. The Ingraham Angle – Fox News – (310,000)
  7. The Will Cain Show – Fox News – (260,000)
  8. Fox News @Night – Fox News – (235,000)
  9. America’s Newsroom – Fox News – (231,000)
  10. America Reports – Fox News – (213,000)
  11. The Story with Martha MacCallum – Fox News – (212,000)
  12. Outnumbered  – Fox News – (207,000)
  13.  The Faulkner Focus – Fox News – (205,000)
  14. The Rachel Maddow Show – MSNBC – (178,000)
  15. Fox and Friends – Fox News – (151,000)

August 2025 Cable News Ratings  (Nielsen Live+SD data):

PRIMETIME Fox News MSNBC CNN
• Total Viewers: 2,541,000 810,000 543,000
• A25-54: 280,000 69,000 87,000
TOTAL DAY Fox News MSNBC CNN
• Total Viewers: 1,606,000 507,000 399,000
• A25-54: 178,000 45,000 62,000

Sept P25-54 Cable Ranker BDP by Adweek

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