Week of September 22 Cable News Ratings: MSNBC Has No Declines

This is TVNewser’s basic cable network ranker and cable news report for the week of September 22, 2025.

MSNBC is rapidly approaching a major transition period in its existence as it approaches the final stages of its association with the NBCUniversal News Group family. The network concluded its penultimate week as an NBCU member by becoming the only news network to avoid declines in both total viewers and the Adults 25-54 demo during primetime and total day.

Fox News was the No. 1 most-watched cable news network; however, it was also the only cable news network to experience declines across the board during both dayparts.

NETWORKS:

According to Nielsen big data + panel for the week of September 22, Fox News averaged 2.454 million total viewers and 249,000 A25-54 viewers during primetime. The network was down -8% in total viewers and down -14% in the demo compared to the week prior (the week beginning September 15).

Fox News averaged 1.524 million total viewers and 156,000 A25-54 viewers in total day viewing. Based on its average in those measurements from the previous week, it was down by -14% in total viewers and -22% in the demo.

Fox News slipped to second place in total primetime viewers and was the No. 2 network 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 853,000 total viewers and 71,000 viewers in the A25-54 demo for the week that just concluded. The network was flat in total viewers and saw a +1% gain in the demo compared to its average the week prior during primetime.

During total day, MSNBC averaged 514,000 total viewers and 48,000 demo viewers. This represented growth of +2% in total viewers and +9% 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. 12 in the demo, tied with FX. It was in third place in total viewers and ranked 11th in the total day demo.

CNN averaged 538,000 total primetime viewers and 86,000 A25-54 viewers in the demo during primetime for the week of September 22. It was down -6% in total viewers and -1% in the demo compared to the previous week.

In total day, the network had 387,000 total viewers and 59,000 viewers in the demo. This resulted in a -3% drop in total viewers, but it rose by +2% in the demo during this daypart.

Among all cable networks, CNN finished in fourth place in total viewers and moved up by one place to No. 9 in the demo during primetime. It also finished in fourth place during the total day with total viewers and went from No. 8 to No. 7 in the demo, tied with Comedy Central.

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

During primetime, Fox News was up by +5% in total viewers but fell by -10% in the A25-54 demo. During total day, the network grew by +6% in total viewers and dipped by -17% in the demo. It was the only network to record year-over-year growth in either of the dayparts.
MSNBC was down -28% in total viewers and -46% in the demo. During total day, the network was down -39% in total viewers and -47% in the demo.
In primetime, CNN declined by -23% in total viewers and -38% in the demo. During total day, it saw losses of -24% in total viewers and -34% in the demo.

PROGRAMMING:

Fox News had 14 out of the 15 spots of the most-watched cable news shows of the week, with The Five continuing to lead the way with 3.731 million total viewers at 5 p.m. ET. MSNBC was represented in the chart by The Rachel Maddow Show at 9 p.m. ET on Mondays, taking the No. 9 position with 1.992 million total viewers.

Gutfeld! led the way in the Adults 25-54 demo, averaging 367,000 viewers at 10 p.m. ET. Once again, Fox News held 14 out of the 15 top spots in the demo, with The Rachel Maddow Show at 9 p.m. ET on Mondays taking the No. 7 position with 216,000 viewers.

Prime Time

	Fox News	MSNBC	CNN
• Total Viewers:	2,454,000	853,000	538,000
• A25-54:	249,000	71,000	86,000

Total Day

	Fox News	MSNBC	CNN
• Total Viewers:	1,524,000	514,000	387,000
• A25-54:	156,000	48,000	59,000

Week 9-22-25 P25-54 Cable Ranker BDP by Adweek