Cable News Ratings: Fox News Sees Significant Pre-Election Drop

The cable news ratings for October were a mixed bag for Fox News, which still dominated its competition on CNN and MS NOW but saw significant drops from its numbers a year ago.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, citing Nielsen data for October, Fox News averaged 1.68 million total viewers in primetime and 145,000 viewers in the key Adults 25-54 demographic. Compared to the same period in 2025, the network was down 28 percent in total viewers and down more than 30 percent in the demo.

The same story played out across the total day numbers, with Fox News averaging 1.01 million total viewers and 98,000 demo viewers. While that was enough to beat CNN and MS NOW, it was down 27 percent in total viewers and more than 30 percent in the demo from the previous year.

This is significant because it’s the month before the November midterm elections, which historically has led to an increase in viewership. Fox News, however, suffered its largest year-to-year ratings drop in a month before an election in the past 10 years, per THR.

The outlet noted that Fox News showed huge year-to-year gains in October 2016, October 2020, and October 2024, the month before the presidential elections. Midterm years were more mixed, but Fox previously posted its biggest year-over-year gain in October 2018, up 25 percent.

In comparison, MS NOW and CNN both posted double-digit gains in primetime vs. October 2025. MS NOW was also up double digits across total day, while CNN rose 3 percent.

Despite the year-over-year declines, Fox News still led its competition and held five of the most-watched cable shows, with The Five in the No. 1 spot at 2.7 million daily viewers.

MS NOW averaged 925,000 total viewers and 95,000 demo viewers in primetime for the month of October. Across total day, the network averaged 588,000 total viewers and 62,000 demo viewers.

Meanwhile, CNN averaged 598,000 total viewers and 107,000 demo viewers in primetime for October. In total day, the network averaged 402,000 total viewers and 60,000 demo viewers.