Fox News Channel (FNC) concluded 2025 with the highest-rated non-election year in its history, officially surpassing broadcast network NBC in weekday primetime viewership, according to data released by Nielsen Media Research.
The cable network averaged 3.2 million viewers in weekday primetime, edging out NBC’s 3.1 million. This marks the first time a cable news network has consistently rivaled traditional broadcast giants in total viewership. The performance places FNC as the third highest-rated network in all of television, behind only ABC and CBS.
According to the Nielsen report, 2025 was FNC’s second-highest-rated year ever across both primetime and total day metrics. The network secured 64% of the total cable news audience, its largest share since launching in 1996. While FNC posted year-over-year gains—averaging 2.7 million primetime viewers (up 14%) and 1.7 million total day viewers (up 18%)—rival networks saw significant drop-offs.
Data indicates that CNN and MSNBC hit historic lows in the key demographic of adults aged 25-54. CNN’s primetime demo audience fell to 105,000, while MSNBC dropped to 81,000, the lowest for the network since its 1997 launch year.
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Program Highlights
The network’s ratings dominance was driven largely by The Five, which finished as the number one program in cable news for the fourth consecutive year. The show averaged 4.1 million viewers, outperforming broadcast staples such as CBS’ The Neighborhood and ABC’s Who Wants to be a Millionaire.
In late-night, Gutfeld! continued to lead its time slot, averaging 3.1 million viewers. The program outpaced broadcast late-night competitors, including The Late Show with Stephen Colbert and Jimmy Kimmel Live!, making it the only late-night show to post year-over-year increases in key demographics.
Other lineup staples also posted strong numbers:
- Jesse Watters Primetime (8 PM ET): Averaged 3.6 million viewers, marking its best year since launch.
- Hannity (9 PM ET): Won the hour with 3.2 million viewers.
- Special Report with Bret Baier (6 PM ET): Averaged 3.1 million viewers, beating CBS Evening News on 11 separate occasions throughout the year.
Digital Growth
Beyond linear television, FNC reported a record year on digital platforms. The network accumulated 4.3 billion video views on YouTube in 2025, a 57% increase from the previous year. This figure led all news competitors, with MSNBC recording 3.6 billion views and CNN recording 2.2 billion.
“Delivering another record-breaking year, outpacing broadcast networks, and reaching new highs on YouTube is a testament to the strength of our brand,” said FOX News Media CEO Suzanne Scott in a statement regarding the ratings release.
Morning and Weekend Dominance
FOX & Friends marked its 25th consecutive year as the highest-rated morning cable news show, averaging 1.4 million viewers. The program’s ratings exceeded those of broadcast competitors Good Morning America and The Today Show in several major media markets, including Washington D.C. and Boston.
Weekend programming followed a similar trend, with Sunday Morning Futures with Maria Bartiromo drawing 2 million viewers, the largest audience for weekend cable news.
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