By Trendsetter Tribune 
Cable news ratings for 2025 show Fox News widening its lead in total viewers, while CNN and MS NOW suffer sharp losses in primetime and the key 25–54 demographic.
The cable news ratings for 2025 reveal a familiar but widening divide in the industry. Fox News strengthened its dominance in total viewership, while CNN and the newly rebranded MS NOW (formerly MSNBC) struggled with sharp declines—particularly among the crucial Adults 25–54 demographic.
The numbers highlight broader changes in audience behavior, advertiser priorities, and the challenges facing legacy news networks in an increasingly fragmented media landscape.
Background: Why the 25–54 Demo Still Matters
While total viewers remain important for influence and prestige, the Adults 25–54 demographic remains the gold standard for advertisers. Declines in this group can significantly impact ad revenue, even if overall viewership remains stable.
It is also important to note that Nielsen changed its ratings methodology in 2024, meaning year-over-year comparisons should be viewed with some caution. Even with that caveat, the overall trends in 2025 are difficult to ignore.
What Happened: Fox News Grows While Rivals Shrink
Fox News: Gains in Total Viewers, Modest Demo Declines
According to AdWeek, citing Nielsen big data and panel estimates for 2025, Fox News averaged:
- 2.652 million total viewers in primetime, up 11% year-over-year
- 278,000 viewers in the 25–54 demo, down 5%
Across total day viewing, Fox News averaged:
- 1.691 million total viewers, up 16% compared to 2024
- 180,000 demo viewers, down 3%
Despite modest demo erosion, Fox News led all cable networks in total primetime viewers, placed third in the demo, and ranked No. 1 in total-day total viewers.
MS NOW: Rebrand Fails to Stop Ratings Slide
The network formerly known as MSNBC endured one of the steepest declines following its November 2025 rebrand to MS NOW.
In primetime, MS NOW averaged:
- 915,000 total viewers, down 15%
- 80,000 demo viewers, down 40%
In total day, the network fell further:
- 551,000 total viewers, down 30%
- 48,000 demo viewers, down 43%
MS NOW ranked third in total primetime viewers across cable but collapsed from ninth to nineteenth in the demo. Its total-day demo ranking also fell sharply, underscoring growing advertiser challenges.
CNN: Continued Erosion Across the Board
CNN also posted significant declines, though not as severe as MS NOW’s in total audience share.
In primetime, CNN averaged:
- 573,000 total viewers, down 16%
- 102,000 demo viewers, down 31%
During total day, CNN averaged:
- 432,000 total viewers, down 10%
- 70,000 demo viewers, down 23%
CNN finished seventh in total primetime viewers and dropped from sixth to tenth in the demo, reflecting ongoing struggles to stabilize its audience.
Programming Standouts: Fox News Dominates the Top Shows
Fox News also dominated individual program rankings in 2025.
- Fox claimed 14 of the 15 most-watched cable news shows of the year
- The Five ranked No. 1 overall, averaging 4.046 million total viewers and 377,000 demo viewers
The only non–Fox News program in the Top 15 was The Rachel Maddow Show on MS NOW, which ranked:
- No. 13 in total viewers with 1.864 million
- No. 14 in the demo with 172,000 viewers
Analysis: What the Numbers Really Say
The 2025 ratings paint a clear picture:
- Fox News continues to win on loyalty and consistency, even as demo erosion reflects broader cable trends.
- CNN and MS NOW face deeper structural problems, including brand identity issues, audience fragmentation, and digital competition.
- Declines in the 25–54 demo suggest that younger and middle-aged viewers are moving away from traditional cable news entirely, not just switching networks.
While Fox News remains the strongest cable brand, even it is not immune to long-term demographic shifts that threaten the entire industry.
Conclusion: A Dominant Leader, but an Uncertain Future
Fox News emerged from 2025 as the undisputed ratings leader in cable news, extending its advantage as rivals faltered. However, declining demo numbers across all networks signal a deeper challenge facing cable television itself.
As streaming platforms, podcasts, and digital news continue to siphon off younger viewers, cable news may find that winning the ratings battle is no longer enough to win the future.