What are the current ratings for CNN, Fox News, and MSNBC in 2025?
Executive summary
Fox News finished 2025 as the clear ratings leader among cable news channels, averaging roughly between 2.65–2.72 million primetime viewers and a mid-to-high 200,000s Adults 25–54 demo, while CNN and the network formerly known as MSNBC (rebranded MS NOW in November 2025) posted much lower totals — roughly a half‑million to single‑million primetime audience for CNN and roughly 0.9–1.0 million for MS NOW, with both lagging dramatically in the advertiser‑coveted 25–54 demo (low six‑figure to sub‑100k numbers) [1] [2] [3]. Year‑over‑year, Fox was the only major cable news channel to record across‑the‑board gains in total viewers for 2025, while CNN and MS NOW experienced steep, double‑digit declines, especially in the 25–54 demo [3] [4].
1. Fox News: the ratings winner — raw numbers and context
Across multiple industry tallies, Fox News led cable news in 2025, with reporting that the channel averaged roughly 2.65 million to 2.72 million primetime viewers for the year and produced demo averages in the high‑200,000s for Adults 25–54, making it the top cable news performer and, in some reports, competitive with broadcast networks in primetime [1] [2] [5]. Trade outlets cite Nielsen “big data + panel” composites and network press statements showing Fox posted double‑digit year‑over‑year gains in total viewers for primetime (+11–14% in different tallies) and was the lone major cable news network with gains across both primetime and total‑day measures in 2025 [2] [3] [6]. Network releases highlight record non‑election‑year performance and online view growth as complementary metrics, though those are separate from Nielsen linear ratings [6].
2. MS NOW (ex‑MSNBC): moderate total audience, dramatic demo losses
MS NOW — the rebranded successor to MSNBC — averaged roughly 0.9–1.0 million primetime viewers in 2025 according to multiple rankers, but its Adults 25–54 numbers collapsed to the tens of thousands (roughly 80–95k in primetime, with some reports showing as low as 48k for total‑day demo lows), representing steep year‑over‑year percentage declines of 30–40% or more in the demo [4] [1] [7]. Quarterly and monthly slices show volatility — late‑year quarters produced upticks versus earlier quarters — but the overall story in the yearlies is a substantial erosion of the advertiser‑valued demo even when total viewers remain higher than CNN in some months [7] [8].
3. CNN: smaller total audience, demo erosion
CNN’s 2025 primetime averages cluster around roughly 0.52–0.58 million total viewers with Adults 25–54 demo figures in the roughly 83–121k range depending on quarter and source, and year‑end tallies put CNN well below Fox and often behind MS NOW in total viewers, while the demo contracted sharply year‑over‑year [9] [1] [7]. Trade reporting emphasizes that CNN’s demo and total‑day placements slipped relative to 2024 and that non‑election conditions contributed to the declines, with the network finishing lower in demo rank among basic cable channels [3] [2].
4. How these numbers were compiled and caveats
All cited figures rely on industry rankers and summaries that reference Nielsen metrics (often described as “big data + panel”) and network statements; different outlets report slightly different annual averages (e.g., 2.65M vs. 2.72M for Fox primetime) because of rounding, different daypart scopes, and quarterly weighting [2] [1] [7]. Network press releases emphasize milestone framing and platform view counts (YouTube, etc.) that are not interchangeable with Nielsen linear ratings [6]. Quarterly and monthly snapshots show variation that can change rankings week‑to‑week; the year‑end consensus, however, is consistent: Fox up, CNN and MS NOW down [3] [4].
5. What the trends imply for advertisers and audiences
Advertisers looking at 2025 were likely focused on Fox’s strength in total viewers and improved demo performance, while CNN and MS NOW faced the twin problems of lower linear reach and especially diminished A25‑54 audiences — the segment advertisers prize — prompting programming changes and rebranding efforts at MS NOW that aimed to arrest declines but produced mixed short‑term results [3] [7]. Alternative viewpoints exist: some outlets note quarter‑end recoveries for MS NOW and month‑to‑month program winners for CNN, suggesting the decline may not be terminal and that event‑driven news cycles can quickly alter these rankings [7] [10].