Fox News

FNC Marks its Second-Best Year in History Across Primetime and Total Day – Beating NBC with Weekday Primetime Viewers

‘The Five’ Smashes Records as the Number One Cable Program While Posting its Best Year Since Launch

FOX News Scores Best Year Ever on YouTube with 4.3 Billion Views

FNC is the Fastest Growing and only Major Cable News Network to Make Year-Over-Year Gains with Primetime and Total Day Viewers

CNN and MS Now Post Historic Lows in 25-54 Demo Across Primetime and Total Day

NEW YORK – December 15, 2025 – FOX News Channel (FNC) continued to break ratings records in 2025, delivering its highest-rated non-election year in history and rivaling broadcast networks and leading NBC throughout the year according to Nielsen Media Research. 2025 was FNC’s second-highest rated year in history and the network is on track to overtake NBC in weekday primetime viewers, making it the third highest-rated network in all of television. Marking 10 consecutive years as the number one network in all of cable, FNC averaged 3.2 million viewers in weekday primetime leading NBC’s 3.1 million viewers. This past year, FNC held 64% of the cable news audience in primetime and total day, also securing its highest share of the cable news audience since it launched in 1996. FNC saw gains with viewers in both total day and primetime compared to 2024, while CNN and MS NOW saw declines across the board. Additionally, FNC was the fastest growing network in all of television with viewers across both total day and primetime.

Completely dismantling the competition, FNC averaged 2,718,000 viewers (+14% vs. 2024) and 287,000 in Adults 25-54 in primetime and in total day, FNC saw 1,726,000 viewers (+18% vs. 2024). Once again, more Independents and Democrats chose FNC over any other network with viewers and A25-54, according to Nielsen MRI Fusion. The network was also number one among Hispanic, Asian, and upscale viewers. Notably, FNC delivered the top 1,080 cable news telecasts in 2025.

Additionally, throughout 2025 on YouTube, FNC has netted 4.3 billion video views (up 57% vs. 2024). This marks FOX News’ best year ever on YouTube leading MS Now (3.6 billion video views, CNN (2.2 billion video views), NBC News (1.7 billion video views), ABC News (1.3 billion video views) and CBS News (644 million video views) according to Emplifi.

In commenting on the record ratings, FOX News Media CEO Suzanne Scott said, “Delivering another record-breaking year, outpacing broadcast networks, and reaching new highs on YouTube is a testament to the strength of our brand and our ability to meet the audience where they are. I am incredibly proud of our unrivaled team on and off camera, whose journalism, global newsgathering skills and powerful voices continue to set the standard in news and connect with Americans nationwide.” 

For the full year FNC beat NBC in weekday primetime ratings, while finishing neck and neck with ABC and CBS. Additionally, FOX News completely dominated all of television for the summer (June 20 through September 1), leading all broadcast networks in primetime viewers. Averaging 2,432,000 viewers, FNC led ABC (2,376,000 viewers), NBC (2,208,000 viewers) and CBS (2,028,000 viewers) all summer long.

Meanwhile, CNN and MS NOW’s both marked historic lows in 2025 dating back decades. In total day, CNN’s 25-54 demo collapsed to 71,000 viewers and in primetime its 25-54 demo slumped to 105,000 viewers, the lowest the network has ever seen. MS Now also posted its worst year in the 25-54 demo across total day (49,000 viewers) and primetime (81,000 viewers) since its 1997 launch year. With just 552,000 total day viewers, this was MS NOW’s worst year since 2015.

In 2025, FNC programs made up the top 12 cable news programs in viewers, including The Five, Jesse Watters Primetime, Hannity, Special Report with Bret Baier, Gutfeld!, The Ingraham Angle, The Will Cain Show, Outnumbered, The Faulkner Focus, America’s Newsroom, The Story with Martha MacCallum, and America Reports. Notably, each program delivered double-digit year-over-year growth with viewers. The network also notched the top 13 cable news programs in the younger A25-54 demo with The Five, Jesse Watters Primetime, Gutfeld!, Hannity, Special Report with Bret Baier, The Ingraham Angle, The Will Cain Show, FOX News @ Night with Trace Gallagher, Outnumbered, America Reports, The Faulkner Focus, The Story with Martha MacCallum, and America’s Newsroom. Additionally, FNC secured the top 13 highest-rated cable news programs in A18-49, including The Five, Jesse Watters Primetime, Hannity, Gutfeld!, Special Report with Bret Baier, The Ingraham Angle, The Will Cain Show, America Reports, Outnumbered, The Story with Martha MacCallum, FOX News @ Night with Trace Gallagher, The Faulkner Focus and America’s Newsroom.

The Five made history marking the fourth consecutive year it has topped cable news with viewers, delivering its best year ever with 4.1 million viewers and 382,000 in the 25-54 demo. The program not only dismantled the cable news competition but also led broadcast programs including CBS’ Hollywood Squares (4 million viewers), CBS’ The Neighborhood (4 million viewers) and ABC’s Who Wants to be a Millionaire (4 million viewers). 

Late-night television’s most-watched program Gutfeld! continued to smash ratings records, delivering its highest-rated year in program history in viewers and A25-54. Host Greg Gutfeld once again dominated the cable and broadcast competition with 3.1 million viewers and 362,000 in A25-54, becoming the only late-night program to post increases year-over-year among key demos amid turmoil with the planned cancellation of CBS’ The Late Show with Stephen Colbert and the suspension of ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live!. The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Late Night with Seth Meyers, CBS’ After Midnight and Comedy Central’s The Daily Show with Jon Stewart as well as NBC’s The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon. Gutfeld! continues to be home to the most affluent (among the 25-54 demo) and politically balanced audience in its timeslot with more democrats and independents watching than any other cable program at 10 PM, according to data from Nielsen and Nielsen MRI Fusion.  

At 7 PM/ET, The Ingraham Angle dominated its timeslot with Laura Ingraham once again finishing the year as the highest-rated woman in cable news with 3 million viewers and 309,000 in 25-54 demo. At 8 PM/ET, Jesse Watters Primetime was the most-watched cable news program with primetime viewers, commanding 3.6 million viewers and 377,000 in the 25-54 demo, its best year since launch. Meanwhile, Hannity (weeknights at 9 PM/ET) dominated the hour with 3.2 million viewers and 353,000 in the 25-54 demo. FOX News @ Night with Trace Gallagher topped the 11 PM/ET hour with 1.7 million viewers and 236,000 in the 25-54 demo.

At 6 PM/ET, Special Report with Bret Baier delivered over 3.1 million viewers and 317,000 in the 25-54 demo and continued to close the gap with broadcast competition beating CBS Evening News 11 times in 2025. Special Report also leads CBS Evening News in 56 metered markets across the country and saw year-over-year gains while CBS Evening News posted declines. On February 28, Special Report’s interview with President Zelenskyy following his Oval Office meeting with President Trump peaked at 6.4 million viewers and 855,000 in the 25-54 demo leading CBS Evening News and NBC Nightly News.

From 6-9 AM/ET, FOX & Friends continued to dominate the morning cable news landscape as the highest-rated morning show for the 25^th consecutive year with 1.4 million viewers. FOX & Friends outpaced the broadcast morning shows across the country, beating CBS Mornings in 24 markets including New York and Chicago, leading Good Morning America in 15 markets including Washington DC and surpassing The Today Show in seven markets including Boston. FNC’s early show FOX & Friends First (5-6 AM/ET) delivered 613,000 viewers.

Notably, FNC’s daytime programming from 9 AM-5 PM/ET saw their best years ever with viewers. America’s Newsroom with Bill Hemmer and Dana Perino (9-11 AM/ET) averaged 2.1 million total viewers and 207,000 in the 25-54 demo, continuing to decimate the cable news competition. Harris Faulkner’s The Faulkner Focus at 11 AM/ET garnered an audience of 2.2 million total viewers and 218,000 in the 25-54 demo. The program closed the gap with ABC’s The View, winning head-to-head with viewers in January. FNC’s Outnumbered, with co-hosts Harris Faulkner, Emily Compagno and Kayleigh McEnany, was the highest-rated cable news program at 12 PM/ET with 2.2 million viewers and 225,000 in 25-54 demo. America Reports with John Roberts and Sandra Smith (1-3 PM/ET) bested the competition, garnering 2.1 million viewers and 220,000 in 25-54 demo. The Story with Martha MacCallum at 3 PM/ET nabbed 2.1 million viewers and 215,000 in the 25-54 demo. During its first year, The Will Cain Show secured the network’s best ratings the 4 PM/ET hour with 2.4 million viewers and 241,000 in the 25-54 demo. America’s Newsroom, America Reports, The Faulkner Focus, Outnumbered and The Story continue to outpace the broadcast competition, beating Today with Hoda and Jenna, GMA3, and NBC News Daily with total viewers. 

On the weekends, FOX News continued to dominate the competition across the board. FOX News Live (Saturday, 12-2 PM/ET) was the number one show of the day with 1.6 million viewers. During primetime on Saturdays, FNC remained the highest-rated cable news network as Life, Liberty and Levin (8-9 PM/ET) finished the year in the number one spot in viewers at 8 PM/ET with 1.5 million viewers. At 9 PM/ET, FNC’s My View with Lara Trump dominated the competition, averaging 1.4 million viewers, while FOX News Saturday Night with Jimmy Failla (10-11 PM/ET) delivered 1.3 million viewers. From 5-8 PM/ET, The Big Weekend Show nabbed 1.5 million viewers and FOX & Friends Weekend (6-10 AM/ET) averaged 1.4 million viewers. The newly launched Saturday in America with Kayleigh McEnany (Saturday, 10 AM – 12 PM/ET) nabbed 1.4 million viewers.

On Sundays at 10 AM/ET, Sunday Morning Futures with Maria Bartiromo drew the largest weekend cable news audience with 2 million. At 11 AM/ET, FNC’s brand new program The Sunday Briefing anchored by Jacqui Heinrich and Peter Doocy delivered over 1.3 million viewers. On Sunday evening, Sunday in America with Trey Gowdy (9 -10 PM/ET) led in primetime with 1.6 million viewers, while Life Liberty & Levin and One Nation with Brian Kilmeade (Sunday, 10-11 PM/ET) followed with 1.4 million viewers.

Nielsen Ratings for 2025 

Weekday Primetime (8 PM – 11 PM/ET):

ABC: 3,432,000 viewers

CBS: 3,208,000 viewers

FNC: 3,180,000 viewers

NBC: 3,139,000 viewers

Primetime (Monday – Sunday, 8 PM – 11 PM/ET):

FNC: 2,718,000 viewers (up 14% vs. 2024); 287,000 25-54 (down 2% vs. 2024)

CNN: 580,000 viewers (down 15% vs. 2024); 105,000 25-54 (down 29% vs. 2024)

MS NOW: 923,000 viewers (down 25% vs. 2024); 81,000 25-54 (down 39% vs. 2024)

Total Day (Monday – Sunday, 6 AM – 6 AM/ET):

FNC: 1,726,000 viewers (up 18% vs. 2024); 185,000 25-54 (down 1% vs. 2024)

CNN: 436,000 viewers (down 9% vs. 2024); 71,000 25-54 (down 22% vs. 2024)

MS NOW: 552,000 viewers (down 30% vs. 2024); 49,000 25-54 (down 42% vs. 2024)

Source: Nielsen. Big Data + Panel. 2025 preliminary ratings data (12/30/24-12/5/25). Average audience for cable news networks Monday-Sunday based on Total Day and Prime (6a-6a, 8P-11P), P2+, P25-54. Cable News/Broadcast Program averages 20+ airings exclude specials and repeats and include the corresponding program name.

FOX News Channel (FNC) is a 24-hour all-encompassing news service and has been the number one network in basic cable for the last 10 years and the most-watched television news channel for more than 23 consecutive years, currently attracting nearly 70% of the cable news viewing audience according to Nielsen Media Research. Notably, Nielsen/MRI Fusion has consistently shown FNC to be the network of choice for more Democrat and Independent viewers, with the most politically diverse audience in cable news. A 2024 Pew Research Center study found that more Americans named FNC as their main source for political news than any other network while a 2023 New York Times/Siena College poll found FNC as the leading single source of news for voters across the country. Owned by Fox Corporation, FNC is available in more than 60 million homes and dominates the cable news landscape, routinely notching the top 10 programs in the genre.

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FOX News Media Contact:

Connor Smith: Connor.Smith@fox.com or 212-301-3879