Fox News solidified its reign atop the cable news heap in January 2025, posting blockbuster prime-time and total-day ratings that dwarfed rivals MSNBC and CNN, according to Nielsen data released this week. Fueled by President Donald Trump’s January 20 inauguration and a robust news cycle, Fox averaged 2.78 million viewers in prime-time (8-11 p.m. ET), a 40% leap from January 2024, while MSNBC drew 734,000, down 33%, and CNN notched 522,000, a 14% dip. In the coveted Adults 25-54 demographic, Fox’s 353,000 viewers (up 61%) lapped CNN’s 118,000 (down 5%) and MSNBC’s anemic 63,000 (down 41%), cementing its 23-year run as cable news king.
The total-day picture was no less lopsided. Fox averaged 1.92 million viewers, a 53% surge year-over-year, compared to MSNBC’s 506,000 (down 34%) and CNN’s 421,000 (down 9%). In the 25-54 demo, Fox hit 253,000 (up 70%), leaving CNN at 80,000 (down 7%) and MSNBC at 45,000 (down 42%). The network’s top shows—The Five (4.77 million), Jesse Watters Primetime (4.12 million), and Hannity (3.77 million)—crushed the competition, with The Five also leading the demo at 531,000. Fox touted its past week as the highest-rated in the total day since the 2020 election, boosted by the debut of The Will Cain Show at 4 p.m. ET, which averaged 3 million viewers in its first week, according to a report from Deadline.
MSNBC and CNN, reeling from post-election tune-out, are leaning on month-to-month gains to signal a turnaround. MSNBC noted a prime-time spike to 1.3 million viewers for the week of January 20-24—up 61% from the prior three weeks—thanks to Rachel Maddow’s return to five nights and inauguration coverage. The network’s January prime-time viewership rose 39% from December, with total day up 26%. CNN echoed the optimism, reporting a 39% total-day jump from December to January, a 69% demo increase, and a 56% prime-time boost (doubling in the demo). Both networks caveat these gains: December’s holiday lull typically depresses numbers, while January’s news-heavy slate—including Trump’s swearing-in and wildfires—drove engagement.
Still, the gulf with Fox remains stark. Fox’s rivals attribute their year-over-year declines to a predictable post-election slump, a pattern MSNBC likened to past transitions. But Fox’s gains—nearly 70% of cable news’ prime-time audience, per Deadline—suggest it’s capitalizing on a polarized moment, with shows like The Ingraham Angle (3.46 million) and Gutfeld! (446,000 in demo) rounding out its top five. Meanwhile, smaller player NewsNation hit a milestone, averaging 66,000 total-day viewers—its best since going 24/7 in 2023—and 121,000 in prime-time, its second-highest month ever.
Analysts see Fox’s dominance tied to its alignment with Trump’s base, while MSNBC and CNN scramble to regain footing. “Fox is feasting on the moment,” one X user posted, “but CNN and MSNBC are banking on outrage fatigue fading.” As February unfolds, all eyes are on whether the latter two can claw back viewers—or if Fox’s lead is the new normal in 2025’s cable news wars.
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