Here Are the Cable News Ratings for May 2025

Fox News, MSNBC, and CNN all took a beating during the month of April with all three networks recording declines in total viewers and the Adults 25-54 demo.

MSNBC and CNN suffered double-digit drops across the board, with the former recording the steepest drops as the network transitioned to a new weeknight schedule that saw Rachel Maddow resume her once-a-week hosting duties. 

These May drops come after MSNBC was the only network to post month-to-month gains in total viewers during primetime and total day in April.

Despite its month-to-month declines, Fox News continued to dominate the cable news landscape, and finished ahead of the ABC broadcast network in weekday primetime total viewers.

Fox News

According to Nielsen Media Research, Fox News had 2.463 million total viewers and 262,000 A25-54 viewers in primetime. During total day, it had 1.557 million total viewers and 180,000 demo viewers.

Compared to its April 2025 performance, FNC experienced a -5% decline in total viewers and an -11% decrease in the demo during primetime viewing hours. Across total day, it was down a respective -4% and -11% in those measured categories.

Looking at Fox News’ performance alongside the same month in 2024, it rose +23% in total viewers and +32% in the demo during primetime. In total day, it was up by +21% in the former category and +22% in the latter—the only news network to see year-to-year gains.  

MSNBC

MSNBC ranked as the No. 2 cable news network among total viewers in primetime and total day with 877,000 and 545,000 viewers, respectively. The network also pulled in a respective 73,000 and 49,000 A25-54 viewers across both of those dayparts.

Month-to-month, MSNBC was down -27% in total viewers and -30% in the demo in primetime. During total day, the network was down -17% in the former category and -21% in the latter.

Year-to-year, MSNBC dropped -24% in total viewers and -34% in the demo during primetime. The network was down a respective -33% and -41% in those measured categories during total day.

CNN

CNN saw 426,000 total viewers and 76,000 A25-54 viewers during primetime. Across total day, the network averaged 353,000 total viewers and 59,000 demo viewers.

Compared to its April primetime performance, CNN dropped -18% in total viewers and -23% in the demo. During total day, it dropped -14% in the former category and -13% in the latter. 

Year-to-year, CNN was down -18% in total viewers and -21% in the demo during primetime. In total day, CNN declined a respective -25% and -27% in those measured categories.

Looking at the May performance of the other news nets:

• NewsNation — The network once again finished the month with double-digit increases in weekday total day viewership compared to the same period in 2024. Cuomo remains its top program with 153,000 total viewers and 17,000 A25-54 viewers.
• Fox Business — The network had seven of the Top 10 business programs with total viewers and outperformed CNBC by double digits during business day, market hours, and total day. Kudlow remained the net’s top show with 304,000 total viewers and 14,000 A25-54 viewers. 
• CNBC — Fast Money Halftime Report was the network’s most-watched program with 193,000 total viewers and 48,000 A25-54 viewers.  
• Newsmax — Rob Schmitt Tonight was the network’s top show in total viewers with 380,000 viewers. Finnerty finished first in the demo with 30,000 viewers.

PROGRAMMING

• Fox News — The Five (3.766 million at 5 p.m. ET) was the most-watched program in total viewers, and in the demo (368,000).
• MSNBC — The Rachel Maddow Show (1.894 million at 9 p.m. ET) led the way in total viewers and the demo (157,000).
• CNN — Erin Burnett Outfront (549,000 at 7 p.m. ET) was the network’s top performer in total viewers. CNN NewsNight with Abby Phillip (97,000 at 10 p.m. ET) was No. 1 in the demo.

The Top 15 Among Total Viewers 

1. The Five — Fox News (3,766,000)
2. Jesse Watters Primetime — Fox News (3,326,000)
3. Gutfeld! — Fox News (2,915,000)
4. Special Report with Bret Baier — Fox News (2,807,000)
5. Hannity — Fox News (2,730,000) 
6. The Ingraham Angle — Fox News (2,682,000)
7. The Will Cain Show — Fox News (2,088,000)
8. Outnumbered — Fox News (2,055,000)
9. America’s Newsroom — Fox News (1,933,000)
10. The Faulkner Focus — Fox News (1,914,000)
11. The Rachel Maddow Show — MSNBC (1,894,000)
12. America Reports — Fox News (1,890,000)
13. The Story with Martha MacCallum — Fox News (1,833,000)
14. Fox News @Night — Fox News (1,482,000)
15. Fox & Friends — Fox News (1,374,000)

The Top 15 Among Adults 25-54 

1. The Five — Fox News (368,000)
2. Jesse Watters Primetime — Fox News (363,000)
3. Gutfeld! — Fox News (328,000)
4. Hannity — Fox News (299,000)
5. The Ingraham Angle — Fox News (297,000)
6. Special Report with Bret Baier — Fox News (282,000)
7. Outnumbered — Fox News (236,000)
8. The Will Cain Show — Fox News (235,000)
9. America Reports — Fox News (226,000)
10. America’s Newsroom — Fox News (210,000)
11. The Faulkner Focus — Fox News (208,000)
12. The Story with Martha MacCallum — Fox News (207,000) 
13. Fox News @Night — Fox News (191,000)
14. Fox & Friends  — Fox News (175,000)
15. The Rachel Maddow Show — MSNBC (157,000)

May 2025 Cable News Ratings  (Nielsen Live+SD data):