Billboard Women in Music 2025
Fox News was up in total viewers and the key demo in the first quarter of 2025 and during the month of March, while its cable news rivals all showed declines from the same period a year ago.
That said, MSNBC and CNN reported viewership gains since Donald Trump’s inauguration after seeing a fall off following the 2024 election.
In the first quarter, Fox News averaged 3.01 million total viewers in primetime, up 46% from a year earlier. MSNBC averaged 1.02 million, down 18%, and CNN posted 558,000, down 6%. In the 25-54 demo, Fox News averaged 380,000, up 63%, compared to CNN with 121,000, down 1%, and MSNBC with 96,000, down 18%.
In total day, Fox News averaged 1.92 million total viewers, up 48%, while MSNBC posted 593,000, down 27%, and CNN averaged 428,000, down 8%. In the 25-54 demo, Fox News averaged 247,000, up 58%, compared to 79,000 for CNN, down 7%, and 57,000 for MSNBC, down 30%.
In March, Fox News averaged 3.13 million viewers in primetime, up 47%, while MSNBC posted 1.18 million, down 10% and CNN averaged 591,000, down 2%. In the 25-54 demo, Fox News averaged 394,000, up 60%, compared to CNN with 121,000, down 2%, and MSNBC with 109,000, down 18%.
In total day in March, Fox News averaged 1.87 million viewers, up 43%, compared to MSNBC with 629,000, down 24%, and CNN with 432,000, down 6%. In 25-54, Fox News averaged 239,000, up 51%, compared to CNN with 78,000, down 7%, and MSNBC with 60,000, down 29%.
Fox News’ The Five was the top show in the first quarter, averaging 4.55 million, and in March, when it averaged 4.3 million. Jesse Watters Primetime was the top show in 25-54, averaging 507,000 in the first quarter and 485,000 in March.
MSNBC said that its weekday primetime viewership increased by 96% since the inauguration, and 118% in 25-54 when compared to the post-election period.
CNN, meanwhile, said that its primetime viewership grew by 7% in March when compared to the previous month. It grew 5% across weekdays.
Fox News said that it posted the highest rated quarter with weekday viewers in cable news history.
The post Fox News Tops Q1 And March Ratings As MSNBC And CNN Point To Post-Inauguration Gains appeared first on Deadline.
