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Fox News Continues Dominance in Viewer Ratings
In May, Americans reaffirmed their trust in Fox News Channel, leading to the network surpassing ABC in weekday primetime viewership. This trend underscores Fox News’ ongoing influence and popularity compared to other major cable news networks.
Impressive Viewership Figures
Fox News recorded an impressive average of 2.9 million viewers during its weekday primetime slot, making it the fourth highest-rated network in all of television. By comparison, ABC managed to attract 2.7 million viewers during the same time frame.
Across the entire day, Fox News averaged 1.6 million viewers. This figure starkly contrasts with MSNBC’s 545,000 and CNN’s mere 353,000. Notably, Fox News experienced a remarkable 21 percent growth in daily viewership compared to May 2024. Conversely, MSNBC’s audience declined by 33 percent, while CNN suffered a 24 percent drop.
Fox News Leads in Primetime Ratings
During primetime hours, Fox News attracted an average of about 2.5 million total viewers, compared to MSNBC’s 877,000 and CNN’s 426,000. Furthermore, Fox News excelled among the all-important demographic of adults aged 25 to 54, averaging 180,000 viewers throughout the day. In stark contrast, CNN managed only 59,000 in this demographic, while MSNBC’s numbers were even lower at 49,000.
Dominating the Key Demo
In primetime, Fox News averaged 262,000 viewers in the 25 to 54 demographic from 8 to 11 p.m., further solidifying its position as the leader in cable news. CNN and MSNBC trailed significantly, garnering only 76,000 and 73,000 demo viewers, respectively.
Overall, Fox News claimed nearly 65 percent of the cable news share for total day and primetime viewers, establishing a wide gap over CNN and MSNBC. Both competitors saw a decrease in viewership in all categories compared to their performance in 2024. Fox News not only enjoyed a substantial 23 percent year-over-year increase in total viewership but also an impressive 32 percent growth among the key demographic.
Historic Lows for Competitors
As Fox News thrived, its competitors faced unprecedented challenges. CNN recorded its second-worst month ever in the adult demographic across both total day and primetime, while MSNBC suffered its second-lowest May in history among the same metrics.
Fox News Remains Unmatched
Fox News continues to sweep the ratings, dominating cable news in both total viewers and key demographics for the 51st consecutive month. This remarkable streak showcases the network’s stronghold on the cable news landscape. Since Election Day, Fox News has aired the 1,100 highest-rated cable news telecasts, including the top 135 shows in May.
Top Programs and Show Highlights
FNC’s flagship show, “The Five,” achieved astounding ratings with 3.8 million viewers and 368,000 in the 25 to 54 demographic, outperforming all of cable news. Other programs such as “Jesse Watters Primetime,” “Gutfeld!” and “Hannity” secured spots in the top ten most-watched cable news shows, leaving CNN and MSNBC offerings out of the competition.
In the mornings, “FOX & Friends” continued to attract an average of 1.4 million viewers, maintaining its position as the most-watched cable news program during that time. This successful trend helped Fox News outshine both CNN and MSNBC combined in the morning viewership.
Daytime Programming Success
Daytime offerings also fared exceptionally well. “America’s Newsroom” with Bill Hemmer and Dana Perino, and “America Reports” with John Roberts and Sandra Smith, along with Martha MacCallum’s “The Story,” all recorded strong numbers, affirming Fox News’ dominance in the daytime hours.
In stark contrast, CNN’s “The Lead with Jake Tapper” faced extreme challenges, averaging only 525,000 total viewers, marking its worst month since August 2015. This decline occurred despite heightened publicity surrounding the host’s recent book tour.
The Weekend Ratings Battle
On weekends, Fox News consistently outperformed both CNN and MSNBC across every hour of the day, capturing the attention of viewers across the board. “My View with Lara Trump” averaged over 1.4 million viewers, securing the No. 1 position on Saturday, while “Sunday Morning Futures” claimed the crown on Sunday with 1.7 million viewers.
Interestingly, data indicates that more Democrats, Independents, and Republicans turned to Fox News than any other cable network throughout the week. This trend highlights the network’s broad appeal and comprehensive viewership.
The Ratings Perspective
Ratings findings from Nielsen Media Research offer insights into this significant moment for Fox News. As the network continues to flourish, its competition faces mounting challenges that could reshape the future of cable news.
