Christmas came early at Fox News, as new Nielsen Media Research data released Monday confirmed the network delivered its strongest ratings ever in a non-election year — cementing its position as the undisputed leader in cable news.
Fox News averaged 2.72 million primetime viewers in 2025, a 14% increase from the previous year. That performance was driven by powerhouse programs including Jesse Watters Primetime, Gutfeld!, and the long-running Sean Hannity show. The network’s primetime audience was so dominant that it outpaced CNN and MS NOW combined by roughly 80%, with those two networks drawing just 580,000 and 923,000 viewers respectively.
Jesse Watters led the pack, finishing the year as the highest-rated show in cable news during primetime with an average audience of 3.6 million viewers. The Five posted its best year ever, averaging 4.1 million viewers, including 382,000 in the key 25-54 demographic. Gutfeld! also enjoyed its strongest year yet, averaging 3.1 million viewers at 10 p.m. Meanwhile, Laura Ingraham once again finished as the highest-rated woman in cable news, drawing an average of 3 million viewers at 7 p.m.
Overall, 2025 marked Fox News’ second-best year ever, trailing only the record-breaking numbers of 2020. Fox News Media CEO Suzanne Scott praised the milestone, pointing to the network’s ability to outperform broadcast competition and thrive across digital platforms.
“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,” Scott said. She credited the network’s journalists and on-air talent for setting the standard in news and connecting with viewers nationwide.
Fox’s ratings surge coincided with President Donald Trump’s return to the White House. The network has landed multiple high-profile interviews with Trump and senior administration officials. Bret Baier spoke with the president about the economy, while Hannity earlier hosted Trump alongside then-DOGE boss Elon Musk — moments that drew massive audience interest.
By contrast, Fox’s competitors struggled. CNN’s primetime audience fell 15% year over year, while MS NOW’s viewership plunged 25%. In the coveted 25-54 demo, Fox News averaged 287,000 primetime viewers, compared to CNN’s 105,000 and MS NOW’s 81,000.
Fox also beat broadcast networks during weekday primetime, averaging 3.2 million viewers between Monday and Friday — narrowly topping NBC’s 3.1 million. Total-day ratings told a similar story: Fox News averaged 1.73 million viewers overall, up 18% from last year, while CNN dropped 9% and MS NOW cratered 30%.
Digital dominance followed the same pattern. According to Emplifi data, Fox News led YouTube with 4.3 billion views in 2025, far ahead of MS NOW’s 3.6 billion and CNN’s 2.2 billion.
As year-end numbers roll in ahead of the holiday programming lull, one message is clear: Fox News didn’t just win 2025 — it lapped the field.
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