This is TVNewser’s basic cable network ranker and cable news report for the week of Jan. 20, 2025.
Coverage of Donald Trump’s inauguration and the news that followed his return to the White House helped give the three news networks a double-digit boost in total viewers and the Adults 25-54 demo across primetime and total day.
Fox News continued to lead the way as it had its highest-rated week across total day since the week of the 2020 presidential election. Rachel Maddow’s return to a five-day-a-week schedule has blessed MSNBC, as her presence has lifted ratings for all the adjoining programs. As for CNN, it continues to enjoy a ratings resurgence in the advertiser-coveted demo, where it’s the No.2 cable news network across the observed dayparts, despite having a tumultuous week behind the scenes.
NETWORKS:
Nielsen live plus same-day data for the week of Jan. 20 saw FNC average 3.856 million total viewers and 549,000 A25-54 viewers during primetime. The network was up in total viewers by +29% and +51% in the A25-54 demo relative to the week prior (the week beginning Jan. 13).
Fox News averaged 2.612 million total viewers and 386,000 A25-54 viewers in total day viewing. Based on what it averaged in those measurements the week prior, it was up +31% in total viewers and +64% in the demo.
Among all basic cable networks, Fox News remained in first place in total primetime viewers and finished as the No. 2 position in the demo. In total day, it remained in first position in total viewers and was in second place in total day demo for the week of Jan. 20.
MSNBC, in primetime, averaged 1,012,000 total viewers and 96,000 viewers in the A25-54 demo for the week that had just concluded. The network was up in total viewers by +34% and +50% in the demo compared to its average the week prior.
During total day, MSNBC averaged 591,000 total viewers and 58,000 A25-54 viewers. It was up in total viewers by +13% and +26% in the demo compared to the network average the week before.
Among all basic cable networks, MSNBC continued to be third place in total primetime viewers and leaped from No. 28 to No. 19 in the demo. During total day, the network was stuck in third place in total viewers and jumped from No. 22 to No. 14 in the total day demo.
CNN averaged 620,000 total primetime viewers and 145,000 A25-54 viewers in the demo during primetime for the week of Jan. 20. It was up in total viewers by +38% and +56% in the demo compared to the previous week. In total day, the network had 469,000 total viewers and 96,000 viewers in the demo. It was up by +24% in total viewers and +45% in the demo.
In relation to all the cable networks, CNN finished in fifth place, up from 12th among total viewers, and in the primetime demo, the network moved up two spots to the No. 8 position. During total day, it remained fourth with total viewers and climbed to fourth place from 10th in the demo.