FOX NEWS CHANNEL BEATS CBS AND ABC IN THIRD QUARTER AND REMAINS LEADER IN ALL OF TELEVISION YEAR TO DATE

'Hannity' is Number One for September In 25-54 Demo; 'Jesse Watters Primetime' Leads in Primetime as 'Gutfeld!' Reigns Supreme in all Late-Night Topping 'Jimmy Kimmel Live' for September Despite Ratings Bump Post-Suspension

'Special Report' Outpaces 'CBS Evening News' in 18 Markets and Full Week in September; Overtakes 'NBC Nightly News' in New York and Boston

FNC Marks Third Highest Third Quarter Since Launch; CNN has Lowest Demo Quarter in Network History and MSNBC Sees Lowest Demo Ratings Since 1997

'The Five' Continues to Make History as Most Watched, Attracting More Viewers than The Ryder Cup, U.S. Open Men's Finals and NASCAR

NEW YORK, Oct. 1, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- FOX News Channel (FNC) continued to overtake the broadcast competition, surging ahead of ABC and CBS during the third quarter of 2025 with weekday primetime viewership, according to Nielsen. Year to date, FNC (3.3 million) remains leader in all of television with weekday primetime viewers, finishing ahead of CBS (3.1 million), ABC (3.1 million) and NBC (3 million). During weekday 3Q'2025, FNC drew 2,934,000 viewers and 299,000 in the 25-54 demo in primetime, ahead of ABC (2.751 million viewers) and CBS (2.097 million viewers) and only slightly trailing NBC's 2,990,000 viewers. This quarter is the third highest 3Q in network history, behind 2020 and 2024, and marks 95 consecutive quarters as number one in cable news with primetime viewership. In contrast, CNN and MSNBC declined double digits across all key demographics and hit record lows in the 25-54 demo. CNN saw its lowest-rated demo quarter in network history with total day (61,000) and primetime (87,000) while MSNBC had a demo low in total day (41,000) and primetime (66,000) dating back to 1997 and 1998, respectively. FNC remains the second fastest growing cable network among total viewers during primetime and number one in cable news among Hispanic and Asian viewers with total day in 3Q and September.  

FNC delivered 1.6 million viewers in total day for the quarter, occupying more than half the cable news share. In primetime, FNC notched 2.5 million viewers and 243,000 in the 25-54 demo. FNC commanded 64% of the audience share in total day and 65% in weekday primetime.

The month of September drew over 2.5 million viewers on FNC and 280,000 in the 25-54 demo in primetime, growing double digits in both categories versus August. FNC crushed CBS with both weekday and Monday-Sunday primetime. In total day, FNC averaged 1.6 million viewers increasing year to year (+13%) and month to month (+12%) with viewership. FNC's Hannity was the number one program for September in the 25-54 demo, seeing 391,000 viewers and 3.1 million overall. At 8 PM/ET, Jesse Watters Primetime led in total primetime viewership with 3.5 million viewers and 376,000 in the 25-54 demo. 

Late-night's highest-rated program, Gutfeld! continued to soar notching 2.9 million viewers and 320,000 in 25-54 during the 10 PM/ET hour. In addition to the cable news competition, Gutfeld! outpaced all broadcast and late-night television, including CBS' The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (2.1 million viewers; 300,000 A25-54), ABC's Jimmy Kimmel Live! (1.5 million viewers; 292,000 A25-54) and NBC's The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon (1.2 million viewers; 251,000 A25-54). Gutfeld! reigned supreme in September with 2.940 million viewers beating all late-night and topping ABC's Jimmy Kimmel Live (2.059 million) with total viewers despite his ratings boost following his return from being benched.

Several of FNC's programs continued to overtake broadcast programs throughout the quarter. At 5 PM/ET, FNC's The Five continued to make cable news history as the first non-primetime program to be the most watched for 16 consecutive quarters. Delivering 3.7 million viewers and 338,000 in 25-54 demo, the program grew its total audience 10% year over year. Notably, The Five surpassed several sports on broadcast including NBC's The Ryder Cup, The NASCAR Cup Series Race and ABC's U.S. Open Men's Championship. 

FNC's premier newscast Special Report with Bret Baier at 6 PM/ET garnered the largest audience in its timeslot with nearly 3 million viewers and 280,000 in 25-54 demo. Year-over-year Special Report surged 15% in overall viewership. Special Report beat CBS Evening News in the 25-54 demo for the week of September 8th, drawing 489,000 viewers in comparison to CBS' 486,000. Baier also beat CBS Evening News head-to-head on September 10th and September 11th, remaining highly competitive with the broadcast program and winning nearly 20 key markets including Washington D.C, Chicago, Philadelphia, Detroit and more. Additionally, Baier is closing in on NBC Nightly News, outpacing the program in New York, Boston and Tulsa. 

For the third quarter of 2025, FNC delivered 14 of the top 15 shows in cable news with viewers, posting increases nearly every hour year-over-year. At 7 PM/ET, The Ingraham Angle topped the competition with over 2.7 million viewers and 265,000 in 25-54. Jesse Watters Primetime at 8 PM/ET scored over 3.3 million viewers and 323,000 in 25-54. Hannity (weeknights, 9 PM/ET) dominated the competition and with 2.9 million viewers and was 305,000 in the 25-54 demo. At 11 PM/ET, FOX News @ Night saw 1.6 million viewers and 201,000 in 25-54.

From 9-11 AM/ET, America's Newsroom with Dana Perino and Bill Hemmer dominated its timeslot with 2 million viewers and 194,000 in the 25-54 demo. The Faulkner Focus helmed by Harris Faulkner drew the largest audience in its hour at 11 AM/ET with 2 million viewers and 190,000 in 25-54. The Faulkner Focus beat ABC's The View head-to-head 3 times in September, outdrawing the broadcast audience on September 11th, 12th and 24th. Outnumbered also topped cable news at 12 PM/ET also securing 2 million viewers and 200,000 in 25-54. From 1-3 PM/ET, America Reports with John Roberts and Sandra Smith was the most-watched program with 1.9 million viewers and 194,000 in 25-54. The Story with Martha MacCallum drew the largest cable news audience at 3 PM/ET, averaging 1.9 million viewers and 187,000 in 25-54.At 4 PM/ET, FNC's The Will Cain Show averaged over 2.2 million viewers and 219,000 in the 25-54 demo, a double digit increases with viewers over the yearly 4 PM/ET average. Each daytime program surpassed CBS Mornings (1,821,000 viewers), NBC's Today Third Hour (1,854,000 viewers), ABC's GMA3 (1,325,000 viewers) and NBC's Today with Jenna & Friends (1,316,000 viewers). 

The FOX & Friends franchise remained cable news most-watched morning shows throughout the quarter. FOX & Friends (6-9 AM/ET) delivered more than 1.3 million viewers and 141,000 in 25-54 and beat ABC's GMA3, NBC's Jenna and Friends, NBC's Kelly Clarkson Show and more. From 5-6 AM/ET, FOX & Friends FIRST outpaced the competition with 524,000 viewers as FOX & Friends Saturday averaged 1.2 million viewers and 113,000 in the key demo.

FNC also continued to excel against the competition throughout the weekend for the quarter.. On Saturdays, Kayleigh McEnany's newly launched Saturday in America(Saturday, 10 AM – 12 PM/ET) drew over 1.4 million viewers. FOX News Live (Saturday, 12 – 2 PM/ET) was the top show in the demo with 126,000 in 25-54 and 1.4 million overall viewers. At 9 PM/ET, My View with Lara Trump (Saturday, 9 PM/ET) also commanded 1.4 million viewers and 103,000 in the 25-54 demo making it the most-watched show in primetime. FOX News Saturday Night with Jimmy Failla (Saturday, 10 PM/ET) and Life, Liberty & Levin (weekends, 8 PM/ET) combined commanded 1.3 million viewers

On Sundays at 10 AM/ET, Maria Bartiromo's Sunday Morning Futures was the top-rated show with viewers, garnering 1.8 million viewers. At 11 AM/ET, The Sunday Briefing, anchored by Peter Doocy and Jacqui Heinrich, was the top show in the 25-54 demo with 186,000 viewers and for its first two weeks, grew the time slot by double digits. In primetime, Sunday Night in America (Sunday, 9 PM/ET) with Trey Gowda averaged 1.6 million viewers and 105,000 in the 25-54 demo while Life, Liberty & Levin saw 1.4 million viewers and 96,000 in the 25-54 demo. One Nation with Brian Kilmeade at 10 PM/ET, delivered 1.3 million viewers and 99,000 in the 25-54 demo.  

3Q'25 NIELSEN NUMBERS VS. 3Q'24 (Monday-Sunday, Live + Same Day):
TOTAL DAY+

FNC: 1,570,000 total viewers (159,000 in 25-54) flat with viewers and down 26% with A25-54
CNN: 396,000 total viewers (61,000 in 25-54) down 29% with viewers and down 45% with A25-54
MSNBC: 492,000 total viewers (41,000 in 25-54) down 45% with and down 59% with A25-54
PRIMETIME (8-11p)
FNC: 2,483,000 in total viewers (243,000 in A25-54) down 9% with viewers and down 34% with A25-54
CNN: 538,000 in total viewers (87,000 in A25-54) down 42% with viewers and down 58% with A25-54
MSNBC: 802,000 in total viewers (66,000 in A25-54) down 46% with viewers and down 64% with A25-54

SEPTEMBER 2025 vs SEPTEMBER 2024 NIELSEN NUMBERS (Monday-Sunday, Live + Same Day):
TOTAL DAY
FNC: 1,613,000 total viewers (179,000 in 25-54) up 13% P2+ and down 7% A25-54
CNN: 401,000 total viewers (62,000 in 25-54) down 26% P2+ and down 37% A25-54
MSNBC: 510,000 total viewers (45,000 in 25-54) down 44% P2+ and down 54% A25-54
PRIMETIME (8-11P)
FNC: 2,541,000 total viewers (280,000 in 25-54) up 1% P2+ and down 14% A25-54
CNN: 543,000 total viewers (87,000 in 25-54) down 36% P2+ and down 52% A25-54
MSNBC: 810,000 total viewers (68,000 in 25-54) down 43% P2+ and down 59% A25-54

3Q '25 RATINGS FOR THE TOP FIVE PROGRAMS IN CABLE NEWS:
Total Viewers: The Five (3,700,000), Jesse Watters Primetime (3,336,000), Gutfeld! (2,940,000), Hannity (2,891,000), Special Report with Bret Baier (2,862,000),
Adults 25-54: The Five (338,000), Jesse Watters Primetime (323,000), Gutfeld! (320,000), Hannity (305,000), Special Report with Bret Baier (280,000),

SEPTEMBER 2025 RATINGS FOR THE TOP FIVE PROGRAMS IN CABLE NEWS:
Total Viewers: The Five (3,897,000), Jesse Watters Primetime (3,472,000), Hannity (3,079,000), Special Report with Bret Baier (3,042,000), Gutfeld! (2,901,000)
Adults 25-54: Hannity (391,000), The Five (380,000), Jesse Watters Primetime (376,000), Gutfeld! (339,000), Special Report with Bret Baier (322,000)

Source: Nielsen. Live+SD. Big Data + Panel. 3Q'25 quarterly and September 2025 monthly ratings data. Average audience for cable news networks M-Sunday based on Total Day and Prime (6a-6a and 8P-11P), P2+, P25-54, P18-49. Cable News/Broadcast Program averages exclude repeats/specials and include the corresponding program name.  Includes only current Fox News lineup.

FOX News Media operates the FOX News Channel (FNC), FOX Business Network (FBN), FOX News Digital, FOX News Audio, FOX News Books, the direct-to-consumer streaming services FOX Nation and FOX News International and the free ad-supported television service FOX Weather. Currently the number one network in all of cable, FNC has also been the most watched television news channel for more than 23 consecutive years, while FBN is the top business channel on cable. Owned by Fox Corporation, FOX News Media reaches nearly 200 million people each month.

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FOX News Media Contact:
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SOURCE Fox News Network, LLC