This is TVNewser’s basic cable network ranker and cable news report for the week of August 4, 2025.
A week after being the only network with declines in total viewers and the Adults 25-54 demo during primetime and total day, MSNBC rebounded to begin the first week of August as the only cable news network with gains in both categories across the board.
Though Fox News and CNN had declines in the measured categories, Fox News continues its trend of outperforming the cable and broadcast news networks in total viewers during primetime. Looking at Monday through Friday (not the full week), the network averaged 2.7 million total primetime viewers, outperforming NBC, with 2.3 million total viewers; ABC, with 2 million total viewers; and CBS, with 1.9 million total viewers.
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According to Nielsen’s live plus same-day data for the week of August 4 (Mon-Sun), Fox News averaged 2.290 million total viewers and 217,000 A25-54 viewers during primetime. The network was down -4% in total viewers and -16% in the demo compared to the week prior (the week beginning July 28).
Fox News averaged 1.436 million total viewers and 153,000 A25-54 viewers in total day viewing. Based on its average in those measurements from the previous week, it was down -3% in total viewers and -8% in the demo.
Fox News remained in first place in total primetime viewers and fell to the No. 3 spot in the demo among all basic cable networks. In total day, it remained in first place in total viewers and finished as the No. 2 network in the total day demo.
MSNBC, in primetime, averaged 821,000 total viewers and 73,000 viewers in the A25-54 demo for the week that just concluded. The network grew by +9% in total viewers and +7% in the demo compared to its average the week prior during primetime.
During total day, MSNBC averaged 523,000 total viewers and 48,000 demo viewers. This represented an increase of +3% in total viewers and +4% in the demo compared to the network’s average the week prior. It was the only cable news net with across-the-board growth.
Among all basic cable networks, MSNBC finished in second place in total primetime viewers and moved to No. 19 from No. 20 in the demo. It remained in second place in total viewers and in 13th place in the total day demo.
CNN averaged 450,000 total primetime viewers and 78,000 A25-54 viewers in the demo during primetime for the week of August 4. It was down -10% in total viewers and -8% in the demo compared to the previous week. The network had several fill-in anchors during the week.
In total day, the network had 320,000 total viewers and 49,000 viewers in the demo. This resulted in a -9% loss in total viewers and -17% in the demo during this daypart.