Below are the cable news ratings for the second quarter of 2025.
The threat of widespread conflict in the Middle East and the U.S. involvement were the main news stories of the second quarter.
Despite these bubbling tensions, the second-quarter cable news ratings were not as impressive as those in the first quarter, as all three cable news networks experienced declines in total viewers and the Adult 25-54 demo during primetime.
MSNBC was the lone bright spot for the quarter as it was the only news network not to lose viewers in either of the measured categories during total day. Rachel Maddow‘s return to her once-a-week schedule did, however, hurt the network’s primetime momentum.
Fox News continued its streak as cable news’ most-watched network and also surged past a couple of the broadcast networks, ABC (2.977 million) and NBC (2.704 million), in primetime in total viewers. This was the network’s second-highest-rated second quarter in network history with weekday total day viewers, trailing its coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
Fox News Channel
Fox News averaged 2.633 million total primetime viewers and 304,000 Adults 25-54 viewers in Q2 2025. During total day, Fox News had 1.632 million total viewers and 202,000 demo viewers.
Compared to the first quarter, Fox News was down -13% in total viewers and -20 in the demo during primetime. When looking at total day, it was down by -15% and -18% in total viewers and the demo, respectively.
When comparing its performance in the same quarter of 2024, it saw a +25% increase in total viewers and a +34% increase in the demo during primetime. Looking at total day, the network was up +25% and +31% in total viewers and the demo, respectively. Fox News was the only network with year-over-year same-quarter growth.
Fox News’ domination at the top of cable news has now stretched to 94 consecutive quarters, according to Nielsen Media Research.
Fox News was the most-watched cable network during primetime with total viewers and was the third most-watched network in the demo. During total day, Fox News was again on top in total viewers and finished in second place in the demo.
MSNBC
During Q2 2025, MSNBC averaged 1.008 million total primetime viewers and 91,000 primetime demo viewers. During total day, MSNBC had 596,000 total viewers and 57,000 A25-54 viewers.
When looking at MSNBC’s performance vs. the first quarter in 2025, it was down in total viewers and the demo by -2% and -5%, respectively, during primetime. However, during total day, the network was up +1% in total viewers and was flat in the demo—the only network not to lose viewers during this daypart.
