This is TVNewser’s basic cable network ranker and cable news report for 2025.
The non-election year didn’t help CNN and MS NOW (formerly MSNBC), as the two networks experienced double-digit year-to-year declines in total viewers and the Adults 25-54 demo during primetime and total day.
On the other hand, Fox News posted a stronger 2025 performance with total viewer gains during primetime and total day compared to the previous year. Fox News also experienced declines in the advertiser-prized demo; however, those declines were in the single digits.
Among the biggest stories, President Donald Trump, in the first year of his second term, generated the most news throughout the calendar year.
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According to Nielsen big data + panel for 2025, FNC averaged 2.652 million total viewers and 278,000 A25-54 viewers during primetime. The network was up +11% in total viewers but regressed by -5% in the A25-54 demo relative to the year prior (2024*).
Fox News averaged 1.691 million total viewers and 180,000 A25-54 viewers in total day viewing. Based on its average in those measurements versus the prior year, it was up +16% in total viewers but down -3% in the demo.
Among all basic cable networks, Fox News finished in first place in total primetime viewers and third place in the demo. In total day, it remained the leader in total viewers and finished No. 2 in the total day demo for 2025.
MSNBC, in primetime, averaged 915,000 total viewers and 80,000 viewers in the A25-54 demo for the year that had just concluded. The network was down in total viewers by -25% and -40% in the demo compared to its 2024* average.
During the total day, MSNBC averaged 551,000 total viewers and 48,000 A25-54 viewers. It fell by -30% in total viewers and by -43% in the demo compared to the network average the previous year.
Among all basic cable networks, MSNBC remained in third place in total primetime viewers and dropped from ninth to 19th, tied with FS1 in the demo. During total day, the network slipped to No. 3 from No. 2 in total viewers and fell to 13th from eighth in the total day demo.
CNN averaged 573,000 total primetime viewers and 102,000 A25-54 viewers during primetime in 2025. The network saw declines in total viewers by -16% and -31% in the demo compared to the previous year (2024*). In total day, it had 432,000 total viewers and 70,000 viewers in the demo. This represented a -10% drop in total viewers and a -23% drop in the demo.
In relation to all the cable networks, CNN was in seventh place among total viewers. In the primetime demo, the network finished in tenth place, down from sixth. During total day, CNN remained in fourth place with total viewers and slid to seventh from sixth place in the demo.
