This is TVNewser’s basic cable network ranker and cable news report for the week of July 28, 2025.
MSNBC finished off July as the only network with declines in total viewers and the Adults 25-54 demo during primetime and total day.
It was a mixed bag for its cable news competitors, with Fox News continuing its hot summer streak as the most-watched network in primetime, and it was the only network to post gains during primetime and total day in either of the measured categories.
Meanwhile, CNN finished the week as the only network to see an increase during primetime with total viewers.
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According to Nielsen Live Plus Same-Day Data for the week of July 28. Fox News averaged 2.392 million total viewers and 258,000 A25-54 viewers during primetime. The network was down -1% in total viewers but up +11% in the demo compared to the week prior (the week beginning July 21).
Fox News averaged 1.478 million total viewers and 167,000 A25-54 viewers in total day viewing. Based on its average in those measurements from the previous week, it was flat in total viewers but up +6% in the demo.
Fox News remained in first place in total primetime viewers and took over the top spot in the demo among all basic cable networks. In total day, it remained in first place in total viewers and the total day demo.
MSNBC, in primetime, averaged 754,000 total viewers and 68,000 viewers in the A25-54 demo for the week that just concluded. The network fell by -17% in total viewers and -13% in the demo compared to its average the week prior during primetime.
During total day, MSNBC averaged 506,000 total viewers and 46,000 demo viewers. This represented a -10% decrease in total viewers and an -8% decrease in the demo compared to the network’s average the week prior.
Among all basic cable networks, MSNBC finished in second place in total primetime viewers and dropped four spots to No. 20, tied with Investigation Discovery, in the demo. It remained in second place in total viewers and in 13th place, tied with MTV, in the total day demo.
CNN averaged 498,000 total primetime viewers and 85,000 A25-54 viewers in the demo during primetime for the week of July 28. It was up +4% in total viewers but down -4% in the demo compared to the previous week.
In total day, the network had 353,000 total viewers and 59,000 viewers in the demo. This resulted in a -2% loss in total viewers and in the demo during this daypart.
Among all cable networks, CNN jumped to fifth place from seventh in total viewers and finished in the No. 12 position, up from No. 13, in the demo during primetime. During total day, it finished in third place and moved up three spots to land at No. 7 in the demo.
