CNN, MS NOW & Fox News Ratings Shocker: Which Network Had Huge Fall?

Alyssa Norwin
22 Comments
Kaitlin Collins, Jesse Watters, Rachel Maddow
CNN/Fox News/MS Now/YouTube

What To Know

  • The primetime and total day ratings for basic cable news networks during the week of March 2 were revealed.
  • Fox News won the week, but saw the largest decrease in both total viewers and the key demo compared to the previous week.
  • It was also the only network to see a decline in primetime and total day ratings compared to the same week in 2025.

During the week of March 2, Fox News won big in the ratings against competitors CNN and MS NOW, but still saw a massive decline in both total viewers and the key Adults 25-54 demo.

The network averaged 3.113 million total viewers and 362,000 in the key demo during primetime, a major decrease (21% in total viewers and 25% in the 25-54 demo) from the week beginning February 23. For total day viewing, Fox News saw an average of 2.042 million viewers and 220,000 in the key demo, which was a 10% and 15% decrease, respectively from the prior week.

These numbers put Fox News in the No. 1 spot for total primetime viewership and total day viewership among all basic cable networks. The network finished in second place in key demo viewership for both primetime and total day. Still, of all the basic cable networks, Fox News saw the largest drop in week-to-week numbers.

Compared to the same time period one year ago, Fox News was down 21% in total viewers and 34% in the key demo during primetime. For total day, the network saw a 3% decline in total viewers and 21% decrease in the demo compared to the same week one year ago, making it the only basic cable news network to see year-to-year declines.

MS NOW finished in second place in total primetime viewers and six place in the demo, averaging 1.354 million total viewers and 160,000 in the key demo during primetime. This was a 5% decrease in total viewers and 4% decrease in the demo compared to the week of February 23. MS Now’s total day numbers averaged 796,000 in total viewers and 91,000 in the key demo, down 6% and 4%, respectively, from the week prior. This put the network at No. 2 in total day viewers and No. 6 in total day demo viewers for the week.

These numbers put MS NOW at a 15% increase in primetime total viewers and 43% increase in primetime key demo viewers compared to the same week in 2025. The network also saw a year-to-year 23% increase in total viewers and 47% increase in the key demo for total day viewing.

Finally, CNN averaged 1.046 million total primetime viewers and 220,000 in the Adults demo, a 4% and 8% decrease from the previous week, respectively. For primetime viewing, the network finished in fourth place for total viewers and fourth in the key demo.

CBS, NBC & ABC Evening News Ratings: Who's on Top?
Related

CBS, NBC & ABC Evening News Ratings: Who's on Top?

CNN’s total day average was 724,000 total viewers and 135,000 viewers in the key demo, a 1% week-to-week decrease in both categories. This put CNN in third place for total day viewers and third place in the demo against the other basic cable networks.

CNN’s primetime numbers were a 46% increase in total viewers and 32% increase in the key demo compared to the same week last year. For total day, the network saw an increase of 54% in total viewers and 55% in the key demo




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  1. S

    Spiney Norman

    YouTube channels get more viewers than CNN

    1. B

      blzzn

      way more and TIKTOK and instagram and Facebook/META youtube is google its better than TV and taking over the airwaves

      1. E

        EDY E

        Except that you cant get news in real time.

  2. T

    txpinhead1

    Statistics are like bikinis - what they reveal is enticing, what they cover up is vital.

  3. N

    non-ya

    As a lifelong fox news consumer, their recent push to indoctrinate and push their religious views have made me switch channels. Every segment now is about how great it is to be catholic. They keep putting kids on who are dressed in pajamas talking about how great god is. They haven't even been on the earth long enough to have their faith tested. huge mistake on fox's side. If fox keeps this sad attempt to be a mega church they will continue to slide.

  4. C

    clammymcgonigal

    there seems to be some numbers missing from your story. still scamming people

  5. A

    aldy

    as the over 60 age, all TV news/opinion shows will decline....

  6. N

    NoMo

    The Fox News demographic is aging out. They either die or are so demented they no longer watch. My parents had dementia and for a long time could still hit the remote to tune to Fox, but eventually that stopped. That's my guess for the Fox viewing decrease.

  7. R

    Rob Sr

    BINGO!

  8. S

    Sj

    I don’t watch mainstream news, I get my information from Podcasts on YouTube

  9. S

    Sam

    lol

  10. X

    xxx

    cnn sucks

  11. L

    Laurajo

    Fools tuning in for their daily FOX NEWS FEED. Have to keep their myth alive . . .

    1. W

      WiltChambermaid

      The same aplies to the entire alphabet soup constellation. Cable news makes you stupid.

  12. T

    Tee Gee

    CNN is all hate

  13. F

    Franko

    I believe that if CNN had not gone to a subscriber addition, they would have wiped the floor with Fox.

    1. I

      ILikeNews

      Yes, that is annoying. Not that it matters but if you are using Edge, if you turn on "Immersive Reader" you can view the full article

    2. X

      xxx

      keep dreaming

  14. P

    Pablo

    FOX I hope he crushes and destroys CNN and MSNOW; they are a lie—their entire philosophy is nothing but constant lying.

    1. J

      JBOSO

      NO IDIOT FOX NEWS IS THE MOST FAKE NEWS. ALL LIES.

      1. J

        JOBLO

        STFU leftist stooge.

    2. E

      EDY E

      Fox themselves identify as Fox Entertainment, not Fox News. You just want your news dumbed down and with a happy ending. That's Entertainment. Grow up!