Which anchors or shows drove ratings spikes for CNN Fox News and MSNBC in 2025?
Executive summary
Election and inauguration events drove the biggest 2025 rating spikes across the three networks: MSNBC’s primetime surged to about 1.3 million during the inauguration week (a ~61% bump vs. the prior weeks) [1], CNN tripled some recent averages and saw big spikes on Election Night and around high-profile trials/series (CNN election night ~1.91–1.97 million or strong single‑day numbers; original series premieres also drew big audiences) [2] [3] [4], while Fox News remained the year-long 24‑hour and primetime leader with primetime averages in the multi‑millions and strong month/quarter gains (Fox primetime Q1 ~3.01M; October and election night primetimes ~2.3–2.92M) [5] [6] [4] [7].
1. Big moments, big jumps: inaugurations and elections moved audiences
Networks recorded their largest spikes around discrete events. MSNBC’s primetime jumped to about 1.3 million in the week of President Trump’s January inauguration — a 61% increase from the prior three‑week weekday primetime average — and the network credited that lift to inauguration, confirmation hearings and early administration actions [1] [8]. Election Night in November produced dramatic one‑night gains for all three channels: Fox, MSNBC and CNN each posted much‑higher primetime audiences than normal, with Fox averaging about 2.92 million, MSNBC about 2.88 million and CNN about 1.91 million for Election Night coverage [4] [2].
2. Who and what drove the spikes on MSNBC
MSNBC’s rebound was anchored by its established programming around the new administration and its primetime personalities. The network highlighted Morning Joe doubling CNN’s morning audience and its daytime block “MSNBC Reports” posting major increases during confirmation hearings [9]. Coverage tied to the inauguration and the early chaotic news cycle around the administration — plus return of marquee hosts such as Rachel Maddow — were explicitly linked by MSNBC and reporting outlets to the viewership gains [1] [10].
3. CNN: event-driven spikes plus original programming
CNN’s notable surges in 2025 were tied to big stories and special programming rather than steady primetime dominance. Coverage of the inauguration and off‑year elections produced tripling of recent averages on some nights, and CNN also logged spikes around the Diddy trial, the Kohberger sentencing and major natural‑disaster coverage; original series premieres (e.g., “Live Aid” special) drew strong single‑night audiences [2] [3]. CNN’s quarter averages remained far below Fox’s but the network emphasized top‑5 cable rankings and some month‑to‑month growth tied to events [11] [12].
4. Fox News: consistent leader, event amplification for established shows
Fox sustained top positions across days, weeks and quarters in 2025. The network posted the highest‑rated quarter for weekday viewers in Q1 (around 3.01 million primetime average) and continued to dominate lists of the top shows; programs such as The Five, Gutfeld! and others filled most of the weekly top‑rated slots [5] [13] [7]. Fox also benefited on event nights — Election Night and other big news days — but its advantage is cumulative: structurally larger audiences and repeat top placements across weeks and months [4] [7].
5. Demo differences and digital reach: nuance behind total‑viewer headlines
Total‑viewer wins did not always map to the coveted Adults 25–54 demo. On Election Night, CNN led in the A25‑54 demo even while Fox and MSNBC raced in total viewers [14]. Networks also promoted digital and streaming milestones: MSNBC touted massive YouTube and TikTok view growth since inauguration [8], while CNN highlighted strong streaming days (e.g., New Year’s Eve and inauguration streaming lifts) [11]. These platform differences matter to advertisers and explain why networks celebrate different metrics.
6. Limitations, competing perspectives and what the sources don’t say
Available sources focus on specific weeks, quarters or single nights and mix press releases, trade reporting and aggregators; networks’ own statements (MSNBC, CNN) emphasize wins tied to their programming choices while trade outlets show Fox’s broader lead in cumulative measures [8] [11] [6]. Sources do not provide a comprehensive, show‑by‑show yearlong ranking that isolates exactly which single anchors consistently produced the largest year‑to‑date spikes across all dayparts — that granular, network‑wide chart is not found in current reporting. Reported spikes are event‑driven rather than purely host‑driven in the sources: inauguration, elections and high‑profile trials are the recurring catalysts referenced by the networks and trades [1] [4] [3].
7. Bottom line: spikes were episodic; Fox’s lead was structural
In 2025 the clearest pattern is that news events — inaugurations, elections and high‑visibility trials or specials — produced the sharpest short‑term lifts for all three networks, with MSNBC and CNN touting large percentage gains around those events and Fox maintaining dominant absolute audience totals across primetime and dayparts [1] [2] [5]. Which anchors “drove” spikes depends on how one measures it: MSNBC and CNN point to event coverage and marquee hosts returning to air [10] [3], while Fox’s steady stable of top-rated shows delivered the year’s largest cumulative audiences [5] [7].