Fox News has emerged as the clear leader in cable news ratings for September 2025, while CNN and MSNBC experienced significant year-over-year viewership drops. According to Nielsen data, Fox News averaged 2.54 million primetime viewers in September, a 1% increase from the same period in 2024. In contrast, MSNBC saw a 43% decline to 810,000, and CNN dropped 36% to 543,000.
The declines were even steeper in the key 25-54 demographic. Fox News averaged 280,000 viewers in that age group, down 14%, while CNN plummeted 52% to 87,000 and MSNBC fell 59% to 68,000. Total day figures followed a similar pattern, with Fox News up 13% to 1.61 million, MSNBC down 44% to 510,000, and CNN down 26% to 401,000.
Fox News also dominated the quarterly ratings for Q3 2025, averaging 2.48 million primetime viewers, down 9% from the election-year boost of 2024. MSNBC posted 802,000 (down 46%) and CNN 538,000 (down 42%). In the 25-54 demo, Fox News averaged 243,000 (down 34%), CNN 87,000 (down 58%), and MSNBC 66,000 (down 64%).
The most-watched cable news show in September was Fox News' 'The Five' with 3.9 million viewers, followed by 'Jesse Watters Primetime' (3.47 million), 'Hannity' (3.08 million), 'Special Report with Bret Baier' (3.04 million), and 'Gutfeld!' (2.9 million). MSNBC's top show was 'The Rachel Maddow Show' with 1.87 million, while CNN's 'Arena with Kasie Hunt' led with 652,000.
Among other news networks, NewsNation saw growth, averaging 118,000 primetime viewers in September (up 23%) and 14,000 in the 25-54 demo (up 8%). Its top show, 'Cuomo,' attracted nearly 200,000 viewers.
