This is TVNewser’s basic cable network ranker and cable news report for the week of November 17, 2025.
The rechristened MS NOW finished the first week under its new name with positive momentum. It was the only news network to record week-to-week gains in total viewers and the Adults 25-54 demo during primetime and total day.
CNN did not see any viewership losses for the week, while Fox News was the odd one out, as it was the only network to see across-the-board declines.
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According to Nielsen big data + panel for the week of November 17, Fox News averaged 2.121 million total viewers and 189,000 A25-54 viewers during primetime. The network was down -5% in total viewers and -1% in the demo compared to the week prior (the week beginning November 10).
Fox News averaged 1.38 million total viewers and 121,000 A25-54 viewers in total day viewing. Based on its average in those measurements from the previous week, it was down -5% in total viewers and the demo.
Fox News remained in second place in total primetime and demo viewership among all basic cable networks. In total day, it remained in first place in total viewers and in second place in the total day demo.
MS NOW averaged 1.014 million total viewers and 90,000 viewers in the A25-54 demo for the week that just concluded. The network was up +5% in total viewers and +6% in the demo compared to its average the week prior during primetime.
During total day, MSNBC averaged 649,000 total viewers and 60,000 demo viewers. This translated to gains of +4% in total viewers and +7% in the demo compared to the network’s average the week prior.
Among all basic cable networks, MSNBC remained in third in total primetime viewers and rose to No. 12 from No. 13 in the demo. It continued to be in third place in total viewers and dropped to ninth from eighth, tied with ESPN2, in the total day demo.
CNN averaged 570,000 total primetime viewers and 103,000 A25-54 viewers in the demo during primetime for the week of November 17. The network was flat in total viewers and grew by +4% in the demo compared to the previous week.
In total day, the network had 450,000 total viewers and 73,000 viewers in the demo. This resulted in a +1% increase in total viewers, while the demo remained flat during this daypart.
Among all cable networks, CNN was stuck in fifth place in total viewers and slid to eighth from seventh in the demo during primetime. It remained in fourth place in total day among total viewers and moved to No. 4 from No. 5 in the demo.
