What's Happening?
Fox News has reported its highest-rated non-election year in 2025, solidifying its position as the leading cable news network. According to Nielsen Media Research, the network averaged 3.2 million viewers in weekday primetime, surpassing NBC's 3.1 million.
This marks Fox News' second-best year in its history and its tenth consecutive year as the most-watched network in cable. The network commanded 64% of the total cable news audience in both primetime and total day, the largest share since its inception in 1996. Fox News also achieved significant growth on YouTube, with 4.3 billion video views, a 57% increase from 2024. Shows like 'The Five' and 'Gutfeld!' led the ratings, with 'The Five' averaging 4.1 million viewers.
Why It's Important?
Fox News' continued dominance in the cable news sector highlights its strong influence on American media consumption. The network's ability to attract a large audience, particularly in a non-election year, underscores its role in shaping public opinion and political discourse. This success also reflects the network's strategic content delivery and engagement with viewers across multiple platforms, including digital media. The ratings achievement may impact advertising revenue and influence the strategies of competing networks like CNN and MS NOW, which have seen declines in viewership.
