Fact check: How have Nielsen ratings changed for CNN, Fox News, and MSNBC since 2020?

1. Summary of the results

The Nielsen ratings for CNN, Fox News, and MSNBC have experienced significant changes since 2020. According to ^[1], in 2020, Fox News had a 45% increase in primetime viewers, with an average of 3.6 million viewers, while MSNBC had a 24% increase, with an average of 2.2 million viewers, and CNN had an 85% increase, with an average of 1.8 million viewers ^[1]. Additionally, ^[2] highlights that 2020 was CNN's most-watched year in history, with significant increases in both total viewers and the key demographic of adults 25-54 ^[2]. However, more recent data from ^[3] shows that in the second quarter of 2025, Fox News experienced a 25% increase in total viewers and a 34% increase in the demo during primetime, while MSNBC was down 15% in total viewers and 20% in the demo, and CNN saw a 13% decline in total viewers and a 15% decline in the demo during primetime ^[3]. Furthermore, ^[4] reports that in 2022, Fox News' audience increased by 10% in the prime news time slot, while CNN's audience decreased by 25% and MSNBC's audience declined by 6% compared to 2021 ^[4]. Key points to note are the fluctuating ratings of these networks over the years, with each experiencing periods of growth and decline. For instance, ^[3] notes that Fox News experienced a decline in total viewers and the demo during primetime and total day compared to the first quarter of 2025, but saw year-over-year growth of 25% in total viewers and 34% in the demo during primetime ^[3].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

Some important context missing from the original statement includes the specific time frames being compared, as well as the factors contributing to the changes in Nielsen ratings. For example, ^[1] only provides data for 2020, while ^[3] and ^[4] provide more recent data, highlighting the need for a more comprehensive understanding of the trends over time ^{[1] [3] [4]}. Additionally, ^[5] notes that MSNBC's total viewers and demo declined in primetime and total day compared to the previous week, while Fox News and CNN saw gains in total viewers and the demo during primetime and total day, suggesting that short-term fluctuations may not be indicative of long-term trends ^[5]. Alternative viewpoints, such as the impact of external events on viewership, are also not considered in the original statement. For instance, ^[6] reports that MSNBC experienced significant declines in total viewers and the demo in the first quarter of 2025 and March 2025 compared to the same periods in 2024, despite a post-inauguration bump in viewership, highlighting the potential influence of political events on ratings ^[6]. Key stakeholders who may benefit from considering these alternative viewpoints include advertisers, investors, and the networks themselves.

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original statement may be subject to bias due to its narrow focus on Nielsen ratings, which may not provide a complete picture of the networks' performance. For example, ^[7] reports that Fox News finished the summer with the highest ratings, beating the three major broadcast networks in primetime, and that it maintained its dominance in the advertiser-coveted demographic of ages 25-54, suggesting that Fox News may have an advantage in terms of overall viewership and demographics ^[7]. However, this information is not presented in the original statement, potentially leading to an incomplete or misleading understanding of the networks' relative performance. Furthermore, the statement does not account for potential biases in the sources themselves, such as ^[2] being a CNN publication, which may have a vested interest in presenting CNN's ratings in a positive light ^[2]. Therefore, it is essential to consider multiple sources and evaluate the potential biases and limitations of each ^{[1] [2] [3] [4] [7] [5] [6]}.