This is TVNewser’s basic cable network ranker and cable news report for the week of March 10, 2025.
Fox News was watched by 63% of the cable news audience across total day and primetime, continuing its ratings dominance. FNC was the No. 2 network in all of television, averaging 3 million primetime total viewers and 361,000 viewers in the advertiser-coveted Adults 25-54 demo.
Fox News finished behind CBS, but ahead of ABC (2.8 million total viewers) and NBC (2.6 million total viewers).
Like its cable news competitors, though, FNC experienced viewership declines in both measured categories across primetime and total day, possibly caused by the advent of daylight savings time.
Fox News and CNN suffered double digit drops across the board. Meanwhile, MSNBC suffered single digit drops among total viewers, but recorded double-digit losses in the A25-54 demo.
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Nielsen live plus same-day data for the week of March 10 saw FNC average 2.976 million total viewers and 361,000 A25-54 viewers during primetime. The network fell -25% in the former category and -34% in the latter relative to the week prior.
Fox News averaged 1.817 million total viewers and 234,000 A25-54 viewers in total day viewing for declines of -14% and -16%, respectively.
Fox News finished first in total primetime viewers and second in the demo among all basic cable networks. It held those same positions in total day.
MSNBC’s primetime lineup averaged 1.170 million total viewers and 99,000 A25-54 viewers for declines of -1% and -12%, respectively.
During total day, the network averaged 635,000 total viewers and 56,000 A25-54 viewers for declines of -2% and -10% compared to the week prior.
Among all basic cable networks, MSNBC dropped from second to third in total primetime viewers and fell from No. 12 to No. 17 in the demo. During total day, the network also went from No. 2 to No. 3 in total viewers and placed 13th in the demo, tied with TV Land.
CNN averaged 571,000 total primetime viewers and 115,000 A25-54 viewers during primetime for week-to-week declines of -20% and -31%, respectively.
In total day, the network saw 420,000 total viewers and 72,000 A25-54 viewers for respective declines of -11% and -17% in those measured categories.
On the basic cable charts, CNN dropped from fourth to fifth in total viewers during primetime and from sixth to 10th in the primetime demo. During total day, it remained No. 4 in total viewers and fell from fourth to seventh in the demo.
When looking at these networks’ performance during the same period a year ago (the week of March 11):
- During primetime, Fox News was up by +45% in total viewers and +63% in the A25-54 demo. During total day, the network saw gains of +45% in total viewers and +59% in the demo.
- MSNBC was down -3% in total viewers and -14% in the demo. During total day, the network was down -20% in total viewers and -32% in the demo.
- CNN saw gains of +1% in both total viewers and the demo in primetime. During total day, it was down -3% in total viewers and -9% in the demo.
