This is TVNewser’s basic cable network ranker and cable news report for the week of September 1, 2025.
All three cable news networks returned from the Labor Day holiday weekend with mixed results. CNN was the only network to experience positive movement, growing in total viewers during primetime and total day, as well as in the Adults 25-54 demo during total day.
Fox News and MSNBC saw audience declines across both measured categories during both dayparts. Fox News recorded the steepest fall in the advertiser-coveted demo during primetime and total day.
However, it remained the most-watched cable network in total day and was ahead of CBS and ABC in total viewers during primetime. Fox News also commanded 64% of the primetime and 61% of the total day cable news audience, delivering 96 of the top 100 weekly cable news telecasts.
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According to Nielsen Big Data + Panel for the week of September 1, Fox News averaged 1.977 million total viewers and 164,000 A25-54 viewers during primetime. The network was down -5% in total viewers and down -25% in the demo compared to the week prior (the week beginning August 25).
Fox News averaged 1.290 million total viewers and 118,000 A25-54 viewers in total day viewing. Based on its average in those measurements from the previous week, it was down by -7% in total viewers and -22% in the demo.
Fox News was the No. 2 network in total primetime viewers and in the demo among all basic cable networks. In total day, it remained in first place in total viewers and was in second place in the total day demo.
MSNBC, in primetime, averaged 666,000 total viewers and 58,000 viewers in the A25-54 demo for the week that just concluded. The network fell by -10% in total viewers and -13% in the demo compared to its average the week prior during primetime.
During total day, MSNBC averaged 466,000 total viewers and 37,000 demo viewers. This represented a -6% loss in total viewers and a -21% fall in the demo compared to the network’s average the week prior.
Among all basic cable networks, MSNBC finished in third place in total primetime viewers and ranked No. 20 in the demo. It was in third place in total viewers and landed in 15th place in the total day demo.
CNN averaged 451,000 total primetime viewers and 62,000 A25-54 viewers in the demo during primetime for the week of September 1. It was up +25% in total viewers but fell by -10% in the demo compared to the previous week.
In total day, the network had 366,000 total viewers and 54,000 viewers in the demo. This resulted in a 17% increase in total viewers and an 8% increase in the demo during this daypart.
Among all cable networks, CNN finished in sixth in total viewers and in the No. 18 position in the demo during primetime. It finished in fourth place during total day and was ninth in the demo.