This Is the Q4 2025 Cable News Report

The last three months of the year belonged to MS NOW (formerly MSNBC), as it was the only cable news network to experience across-the-board growth in primetime and total day.

The network, which changed its name in November, led the quarter with double-digit growth in total viewers and the advertiser-coveted Adults 25-54 demo.

Fox News still finished as the most-watched cable news network, but it was the only network not to grow in the quarter in both measured categories across the two featured dayparts.

Fox News Channel

According to Nielsen big data + panel, Fox News averaged 2.070 million total primetime viewers and 190,000 Adults 25-54 viewers in Q4 2025. During total day, Fox News had 1.382 million total viewers and 126,000 demo viewers.

Compared to the third quarter, Fox News was down -17% in total viewers and -22% in the demo during primetime. When looking at total day, it was down by -12% and -21% in total viewers and the demo, respectively—the only cable news network to record double-digit declines.

Fox News finished the quarter in second place among all cable networks during primetime in total viewers and ranked No. 3 in the demo. However, during total day, Fox News was again on top in total viewers and finished in second place in the demo.

MSNBC

During Q4 2025, MS NOW averaged 883,000 total primetime viewers and 78,000 primetime demo viewers. During total day, MS NOW had 560,000 total viewers and 49,000 A25-54 viewers.

When looking at MS NOW’s performance vs. the third quarter in 2025, it was up in total viewers and the demo by +10% and +18%, respectively, during primetime. During total day, the network was also up +14% in total viewers and +20% in the demo.

MS NOW remained in third place in total viewers and climbed to No. 19 from No. 20 in the demo. During total day, MS NOW continued to be in third place in total viewers and dropped to 16th from 14th in the demo.

CNN

CNN averaged 519,000 total primetime viewers and 83,000 primetime demo viewers in Q4 2025. During total day, the network had 406,000 total viewers and 61,000 A25-54 viewers.

Compared with the third quarter, CNN was down -4% in total viewers and -5% in the demo in primetime. However, when looking at how it performed during total day, it was up +3% in total viewers and flat in the demo.

CNN dropped to seventh place from fifth place during primetime with total viewers and tied for 15th in the demo with Bravo and Comedy Central. During total day, CNN remained in the No. 4 spot in total viewers and dropped two places to eighth place in the demo, tied with the Food Network.

PROGRAMMING

Fox News ‘The Five was the network’s most-watched program, averaging 3.614 million total viewers at 5 p.m. ET. Gutfeld! at 10 p.m. ET also took top honors in the demo, with 289,000 viewers.
MS NOW – The Rachel Maddow Show at 9 p.m. ET was the network’s most-watched program in total viewers and the demo, averaging 1.75 million viewers and 162,000 viewers, respectively.
CNN – The Arena with Kasie Hunt at 4 p.m. ET was the most-watched program, averaging 664,000 total viewers. Erin Burnett Outfront at 7 p.m. ET was the network’s most-watched show in the demo, with 97,000 viewers.
Newsmax – Rob Schmitt Tonight was the net’s top show in total viewers with 341,000 and in the A25-54 demo with 28,000 viewers. For the quarter, Newsmax was down -18% in total viewers and -22% in the demo during primetime. It was also down -16% in total viewers and -18% in the demo during total day.
NewsNation – Cuomo was the net’s top show in total viewers and A25-54. It had 174,000 and 19,000 viewers, respectively. The network was down -10% in total viewers and -8% in the demo during primetime during Q4 2025. It was also down -10% in total viewers and -14% in the demo during total day.
Fox Business – Varney and Company was the net’s top show in total viewers, with 277,000 viewers. Making Money with Charles Payne took the top spot in the demo with 13,000 viewers. FBN was down -17% in total viewers and the demo during primetime, while it was down -4% and -22% in total viewers and the demo, respectively, during total day.
CNBC – Fast Money Halftime Report was the net’s top show in total viewers, with 206,000. In the A25-54 demo, Squawk on the Street was the No. 1 show with 45,000 viewers. The business net was down -6% in total viewers but up +5% in the demo during primetime. While in total day, it was up +11% in total viewers and +19% in the demo.

Among Total Viewers

The Five – Fox News (3,614,000)
Jesse Watters Primetime – Fox News – (2,938,000)
Special Report with Bret Baier – Fox News – (2,682,000)
Gutfeld! – Fox News – (2,634,000)
The Ingraham Angle – Fox News – (2,467,000)
Hannity – Fox News – (2,448,000)
The Will Cain Show – Fox News – (2,121,000)
America’s Newsroom – Fox News – (1,846,000)
Outnumbered – Fox News – (1,842,000)
The Faulkner Focus – Fox News – (1,826,000)
The Story with Martha MacCallum – Fox News – (1,783,000)
The Rachel Maddow Show – MS NOW – (1,750,000)
America Reports – Fox News – (1,744,000)
Fox News at Night – Fox News – (1,407,000)
Fox and Friends – Fox – (1,243,000)

Among Adults 25-54

Gutfeld! – Fox News – (289,000)
The Five – Fox News – (288,000)
Jesse Watters Primetime – Fox News – (267,000)
Special Report with Bret Baier – Fox News – (235,000)
Hannity – Fox News – (224,000)
The Ingraham Angle – Fox News – (218,000)
The Will Cain Show – Fox News – (176,000)
Outnumbered – Fox News – (175,000)
The Faulkner Focus – Fox News – (165,000)
America Reports – Fox News – (164,000)
The Rachel Maddow Show – MSNBC – (162,000)
America’s Newsroom & Fox News at Night – Fox News – (158,000)
The Story – Fox News – (156,000)
Fox and Friends – Fox – (124,000)

2025 Q4 Cable News Ratings (Nielsen Big Data + Panel):

	Fox News	MS NOW	CNN
• Total Viewers:	2,070,000	883,000	519,000
• A25-54:	190,000	78,000	83,000

Total Day

	Fox News	MS NOW	CNN
• Total Viewers:	1,382,000	560,000	406,000
• A25-54:	126,000	49,000	61,000

4Q’25 Cable Ranker P25-54 BDP by Adweek