Fox News Soars in Ratings Amid Cable News Landscape Changes

NEW YORK, NY — Fox News Channel recorded its most successful February in history, achieving an unprecedented average of nearly 2 million viewers per day. The network dominated cable news ratings during the first two months of 2025, eclipsing competitors like CNN and MSNBC, which struggled to even reach one million viewers individually.

During the primetime slot of 8-11 p.m. ET, Fox News programs such as ‘Hannity,’ ‘Jesse Watters Primetime,’ and ‘Gutfeld!’ collectively attracted an audience of 3.1 million. In stark contrast, the No. 2, ESPN, averaged just 1.4 million viewers.

According to Nielsen Media Research, Fox News secured 65% of the overall cable news viewership share for both total day and primetime. CNN trailed with 433,000 viewers, while MSNBC managed only 638,000.

February marked the 14th consecutive month that ‘The Five‘ remained the No. 1 cable news program, averaging 4.7 million viewers. Additionally, Sean Hannity‘s interview with Elon Musk and Donald Trump garnered 5.4 million viewers, solidifying the show’s strong performance in the ratings.

Laura Ingraham also continued her dominance as the highest-rated woman in cable news, with ‘The Ingraham Angle’ bringing in 3.5 million viewers. Other notable performances included ‘Jesse Watters Primetime’ at 4.2 million and ‘Hannity’ at 3.6 million viewers for the month.

Nationally, Fox News has outperformed not only its cable news rivals but also major networks like ABC, CBS, and NBC, averaging 3.9 million weeknight viewers in primetime since January. The network’s reach among adult viewers aged 25-54 was also significant, averaging 252,000 total day viewers, the highest among all cable networks.

CNN’s performance during primetime was markedly weaker, with an average of just 122,000 viewers in the key demographic, and only 82,000 total day viewers. MSNBC struggled similarly, attracting 111,000 average viewers in primetime.

Fox News’ success extended to weekend programming, with ‘The Big Weekend Show’ and ‘Sunday Morning Futures’ dominating their time slots. The debut of ‘My View with Lara Trump’ captured an impressive 2.4 million viewers, making it the most-watched program that weekend.

Fox News’ ability to capture a wide audience appears to reflect a growing preference for its programming across various demographics, as more Democrats, Independents, and Republicans continue to engage with its content. This shift emphasizes Fox News’ unique position in the current cable news landscape.

As the cable news industry continues to evolve, Fox News’ ability to attract a diverse audience highlights its ongoing influence and popularity.