Fox News Achieves Record Ratings Growth in 2025, Strengthens Market Dominance
Introduction: Fox News’ Unprecedented Success
Fox News Channel has cemented its position as America’s leading cable news network, averaging 2.652 million total viewers during primetime in 2025, marking an 11 per cent increase compared to 2024. This achievement is particularly significant as it represents the second-highest ratings, and the highest ratings in a non-election year, in the 29-year history of Fox News. The network’s continued growth in a post-election year defies traditional cable news trends and demonstrates strengthening viewer loyalty.
Market Dominance and Competitive Landscape
Marking 10 consecutive years as the number one network in all of cable, FNC averaged 3,118,000 viewers in weekday primetime leading NBC’s 3,099,000 viewers. This remarkable performance stands in stark contrast to its competitors. CNN and MS NOW (formerly MSNBC) experienced significant double-digit declines in both total viewers and the 25-54 demo across primetime and total day. While Fox News grew, CNN averaged 573,000 total viewers (down 16 per cent) and 102,000 demo viewers (down 31 per cent) in primetime.
Programming Success and Digital Expansion
Fox News dominated the list of most-watched cable news programs, with 14 of the top 15 shows, led by The Five with over 4 million viewers. Beyond traditional television, throughout 2025 on YouTube, FNC has netted 4.3 billion video views (up 57% vs. 2024), marking FOX News’ best year ever on YouTube, surpassing all major competitors including NBC News, ABC News, and CBS News.
Significance and Future Outlook
The network’s performance carries important implications for the cable news industry. After posting an 11% increase in primetime ratings and a 16% rise in total day viewership in 2025, Fox News enters 2026 with momentum that few cable news organizations can match. However, challenges remain, as Fox News and other networks continued to witness a slide in the coveted 25-54 age demographic as the 20-year cord-cutting trend among younger audiences showed no sign of abating. For viewers and industry observers, Fox News’ sustained growth demonstrates the network’s ability to maintain audience engagement while adapting to evolving media consumption patterns in an increasingly digital landscape.