Fox News Channel just delivered its most-watched year outside of election seasons ever – a staggering achievement that has millions tuning in for reliable news. But here's where it gets controversial: Is this dominance a sign of unmatched credibility, or does it highlight a polarized media world? Dive in to find out more about how this powerhouse outperformed everyone else in 2025.
In a year that wasn't defined by political campaigns, Fox News Channel achieved unprecedented viewership, solidifying its position as the top choice for Americans seeking in-depth reporting and expert insights. The network, which you can explore through their shows here (https://www.foxnews.com/shows), saw record-breaking numbers as viewers flocked to its coverage of key events, from global headlines to domestic stories.
Fox News not only led the cable news pack but also claimed the second-highest rated year in its entire history across all television. It's even poised to surpass NBC in weekday primetime viewership, potentially rising to the third spot overall in TV ratings. This isn't just about numbers; it's a testament to connecting with audiences in a rapidly changing media environment.
"We delivered yet another year of records, surpassing traditional broadcast networks and hitting new peaks on platforms like YouTube," said FOX News Media CEO Suzanne Scott (from https://www.foxnews.com/media). "This reflects the incredible strength of our brand and our team's dedication. I'm so proud of our journalists, global reporters, and on-air talent whose commitment to high-quality news and powerful storytelling keeps setting the bar high and resonating with people across America."
To put this into perspective, Fox News averaged an impressive 1.7 million viewers throughout the entire day, far outpacing ESPN's 775,000 in second place. MS NOW (formerly MSNBC) lagged with 552,000, and CNN came in last at 436,000 – meaning the combined viewership of these competitors still couldn't match Fox News alone. For beginners wondering what this means, total day viewers include anyone watching during daytime hours, giving a broad snapshot of a network's reach.
And this is the part most people miss: During prime time (those coveted 8-11 p.m. slots when families gather around the TV), Fox News soared to an average of 2.7 million viewers, leaving ESPN (2 million) in the dust. MS NOW managed just 923,000, TNT 778,000, and CNN a mere 580,000 – even trailing behind lifestyle channels like HGTV and TBS in seventh place. Imagine that: a news network outselling entertainment options in peak viewing hours!
This success isn't new; Fox News has been the No. 1 cable network for a decade straight. In 2025, it captured a whopping 64% of the cable news audience for both total day and primetime – the highest share since its launch in 1996. That kind of consistency speaks volumes about its ability to attract and retain viewers.
When it comes to the advertiser-favorite demographic of adults aged 25-54 (often called the 'demo' in media lingo, as it represents prime spending power), Fox News obliterated the competition. It averaged 185,000 viewers during the day, compared to CNN's 71,000 and MS NOW's 49,000. In primetime, the gap widened: Fox News drew 287,000, while CNN hit a dismal 105,000 – its worst-ever showing in this category. For MS NOW, it was even bleaker at just 81,000, placing it behind 17 other cable channels, including Nickelodeon and Comedy Central. This marked MS NOW's poorest demo performance since its rebrand in 1997.
Fox News saw steady growth too, with increases in both total day and primetime viewers from 2024, while CNN and MS NOW faced declines. In fact, it was the fastest-growing network on all television, gaining viewers across the board. As detailed in this related article (https://www.foxnews.com/media/fox-news-extends-lead-over-cbs-nbc-key-category-through-november), Fox News widened its edge over CBS and NBC in key metrics through November.
Pushing further into broadcast territory, Fox News averaged 3.2 million viewers in weekday primetime, edging out NBC's 3.1 million and narrowing the gap with ABC and CBS. Its lineup shone brightly: Shows like "The Five," "Jesse Watters Primetime," "Hannity," "Special Report with Bret Baier," "Gutfeld!," "The Ingraham Angle," "The Will Cain Show," "Outnumbered" (hosted by Harris Faulkner, Emily Compagno, and Kayleigh McEnany), "The Faulkner Focus," "America’s Newsroom" (with Bill Hemmer and Dana Perino), "The Story" (with Martha MacCallum), and "America Reports" (with Sandra Smith and John Roberts) topped the charts, delivering the top 1,080 cable news programs of the year.
"The Five," featuring hosts Dana Perino, Greg Gutfeld, Jesse Watters, Jessica Tarlov, and Harold Ford Jr., broke records by claiming four straight years as cable news' most-watched show (check it out at https://www.foxnews.com/shows/the-five). It pulled in 4.1 million viewers and 382,000 in the demo – an all-time high for the program.
Meanwhile, "Gutfeld!" had its strongest year ever, averaging 3.1 million total viewers and 362,000 in the demo. Greg Gutfeld's show even became late-night TV's top draw, surpassing heavyweights like CBS' "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert," ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live!," NBC's "Late Night with Seth Meyers," Comedy Central's "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart," and NBC's "The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon." Talk about dominating the after-dark scene!
"The Ingraham Angle" ruled its slot under Laura Ingraham, who remains cable news' highest-rated female host, with 3 million viewers. "Jesse Watters Primetime" led all cable news primetime shows at 3.6 million, while "Hannity" commanded 3.2 million. "FOX News @ Night with Trace Gallagher" topped the 11 p.m. hour with 1.7 million.
"Special Report with Bret Baier" drew over 3.1 million viewers and 317,000 in the demo, inching closer to broadcast giants. It beat "CBS Evening News" 11 times in 2025, with gains year-over-year as CBS declined. A standout moment was Baier's February 28 interview with President Zelenskyy after his meeting with President Trump, peaking at 6.4 million viewers and 855,000 in the demo – eclipsing both "CBS Evening News" and "NBC Nightly News." For context, this highlights how exclusive interviews can spike interest, drawing in audiences beyond regular viewers.
Fox News' inauguration coverage was another blockbuster, attracting over 10 million viewers and crushing competitors, as explored here (https://www.foxnews.com/media/over-10-million-viewers-watched-fox-news-inauguration-coverage-crushing-all-other-networks). On Sundays, "Sunday Morning Futures with Maria Bartiromo" led weekend cable news with 2 million viewers. "FOX & Friends" reigned supreme in mornings for the 25th year straight, averaging 1.4 million and beating "CBS Mornings" in 24 markets (including New York and Chicago), "Good Morning America" in 15, and "Today" in seven.
"FOX News Live" topped Saturday cable news with 1.6 million viewers, and "Life, Liberty and Levin" captured primetime with 1.5 million. Plus, on YouTube, Fox News amassed 4.3 billion video views – a 57% jump from 2024 and its best year ever, outpacing MS NOW, CNN, NBC News, ABC News, and CBS News, per Emplifi analytics.
But here's where it gets controversial again: In a time when media trust is often questioned, does Fox News' overwhelming lead signify superior journalism, or could it be a reflection of echo chambers where viewers seek confirmation over balance? And this is the part most people miss – how does this dominance affect the diversity of voices in news? Do you think other networks need to step up, or is competition healthy as is?
Share your thoughts in the comments: Do you agree that Fox News is simply delivering what audiences want, or does this level of success raise concerns about media monopolies? What controversial interpretations do you have – perhaps that political leanings play a bigger role than quality? Let's discuss!
Ratings data is provided by Nielsen Media Research.
Brian Flood is a media editor/reporter for FOX News Digital. Send story tips to brian.flood@fox.com or on Twitter: @briansflood.
