Fox News’ dominant linear performance during the first quarter of 2025 spilled over into the digital space. The network recently reported the best quarter in its history on YouTube.
According to data supplied by Emplifi, Fox News recorded 1.2 billion video views during Q1, outpacing its cable news and broadcast news rivals. It was also an improvement over the network’s Q4 2024 YouTube performance with a +26% jump in views.
Mimicking the cable news primetime linear ratings, MSNBC finished in second place with 945 million YouTube views, and CNN saw 489 million views for Q1 2025.
It should be noted that MSNBC finished ahead of Fox News on YouTube for the month of March. According to YouTube Studio Analytics, the network recorded 472 million views through March 30, surpassing Fox News’ 404 million views. CNN logged 228 million, while ABC News received 120 million, CBS News recorded 59.5 million, and NewsNation had 44.1 million.
On the broadcast side during Q1, ABC News had the most YouTube views with 489 million, followed by NBC News at 357 million, and CBS News at 172 million.
Fox Business Network also had a good Q1, registering 326 million YouTube views per data from Shareablee. It finished ahead of CNBC’s 90 million views, and Bloomberg’s 30 million views for the quarter. This was FBN’s 13th straight quarter finishing in the top spot.
Digital viewership is the latest battleground for the news networks as they confront a larger shift away from linear platforms. For now, sources of measurement for digital ratings continue to vary making it a contested space.
