Week of June 30 Cable News Ratings: July 4th Holiday Weekend Leads to Lower Viewership

This is TVNewser’s basic cable network ranker and cable news report for the week of June 30, 2025.

With the July 4th holiday falling on a Friday, automatically creating a three-day weekend, the cable news networks naturally became the biggest losers.

Fox News, MSNBC, and CNN all experienced drops in total viewers and the Adults 25-54 demo as their target audience chose to celebrate the holiday instead of engaging with them.

Unfortunately, the long holiday weekend also brought tragic news. Networks devoted a lot of time to the flash flood tragedy in central Texas, with the death toll currently standing at over 115 people.

NETWORKS:

According to Nielsen Live Plus Same-Day data for the week of June 30, Fox News averaged 2.398 million total viewers and 300,000 A25-54 viewers during primetime. The network recorded losses of -13% in total viewers and -14% in the demo compared to the week prior (the week beginning June 23).

Fox News averaged 1.647 million total viewers and 225,000 A25-54 viewers in total day viewing. Based on its average in those measurements from the previous week, it was down -7% in total viewers and -3% in the demo.

Fox News remained in first place in total primetime viewers and 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 741,000 total viewers and 70,000 viewers in the A25-54 demo for the week that just concluded. The network was down -18% in total viewers and -20% in the demo compared to its average the week prior during primetime.

During total day, MSNBC averaged 489,000 total viewers and 51,000 demo viewers, representing a decline of -15% in total viewers and the demo compared to the network’s average the week before.

Among all basic cable networks, MSNBC finished in second place in total primetime viewers and ranked No. 23 in the demo. During total day, it remained in second place in total viewers and finished in 16th place in the total day demo.

CNN averaged 526,000 total primetime viewers and 111,000 A25-54 viewers in the demo during primetime for the week of June 30. It was down -14% in total viewers and -12% in the demo compared to the previous week.

In total day, the network had 403,000 total viewers and 73,000 viewers in the demo. This resulted in a -11% loss in total viewers and a -13% loss in the demo during this daypart.

In relation to all the cable networks, CNN was in fifth place in total viewers and was in the No. 7 position in the demo during primetime. It finished in fourth place during total day and was sixth in the demo.

When looking at these networks’ performance during the same period a year ago:

During primetime, Fox News increased by +17% in total viewers and 24% in the A25-54 demo. During total day, the network also saw gains of +19% in total viewers and +29% in the demo.
MSNBC was down -19% in total viewers and -9% in the demo. During total day, the network was down -14% in total viewers and -9% in the demo.
In primetime, CNN fell by -3% in total viewers but saw gains of +12% in the demo. During total day, it was flat in total viewers and saw a +7% gain in the demo.

PROGRAMMING:

Fox News had 13 out of the 15 spots of the most-watched cable news shows of the week, with The Five continuing to lead the way with 3.687 million total viewers at 5 p.m. ET. MSNBC had two shows in the chart with The Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell at 10 p.m. ET in the No. 13 position with 1.169 million total viewers. The Briefing with Jen Psaki followed it at 9 p.m. with 1.070 million total viewers.

The Five was also in the No. 1 spot in the Adults 25-54 demo, averaging 418,000 viewers at 5 p.m. ET. Fox News held 13 out of the 15 top spots in the demo, with CNN’s NewsNight with Abby Phillip at 10 p.m. ET occupying the 14th spot, drawing 143,000 viewers. The final spot belonged to another CNN show, with Anderson Cooper 360 having 122,000 viewers in the demo.

Prime Time

	Fox News	MSNBC	CNN
• Total Viewers:	2,398,000	741,000	526,000
• A25-54:	300,000	70,000	111,000

Total Day

	Fox News	MSNBC	CNN
• Total Viewers:	1,647,000	489,000	403,000
• A25-54:	225,000	51,000	73,000

Week of 6-30-25 Cable Ranker by Adweek on Scribd