All 3 Networks See Across the Board Declines

This is TVNewser’s basic cable network ranker and cable news report for the week of Feb. 3, 2025.

The three cable news networks all saw week-to-week declines in total viewers and the Adults 25-54 to start February. CNN suffered the steepest drop, with double-digit declines across the board during prime time and total day.

Compared to January—which was a busy news month right from the start—February has not been that active save for the political news coming out of the Donald Trump administration.

That particular news cycle has likely contributed to MSNBC’s recent viewership resurgence, courtesy of Rachel Maddow anchoring five days a week for the next few months. The network overtook CNN for second place in the demo during primetime.

NETWORKS:

Nielsen live plus same-day data for the week of Feb. 3 saw FNC average 3.076 million total viewers and 398,000 A25-54 viewers during primetime. The network was down a respective -2% and -1% in those measured categories relative to the week prior (the week beginning Jan. 27). 

Fox News averaged 2.026 million total viewers and 258,000 A25-54 viewers in total day viewing for week-to-week declines -4% and -6%, respectively.

Fox News finished first in total primetime viewers and in the primetime demo among all basic cable networks. It repeated at No. 1 in both categories during total day as well.

MSNBC’s primetime lineup averaged 1.150 million total viewers and 118,000 A25-54 viewers for week-to-week declines of -3% and -7%, respectively.

During the total day, MSNBC averaged 657,000 total viewers and 72,000 A25-54 viewers for respective declines of -5% and -1% in the demo compared to the week prior.

Among all basic cable networks, MSNBC landed in second place in total primetime viewers and moved up two spots to No. 8 in the demo. During total day, the network moved to second place in total viewers and landed at No. 9 spot in the demo. 

CNN averaged 508,000 total primetime viewers and 115,000 viewers in the primetime demo, sustaining double-digit drops of -26% and -29%, respectively.

In total day, the network saw 417,000 total viewers and 78,000 A25-54 viewers for additional double-digit drops of -22% and -28% in those respective categories.

On the basic cable charts, CNN fell from fourth to seventh place in total viewers during primetime, and dropped from No. 5 to No. 9 and in the primetime demo. During total day, it remained fourth with total viewers and slid from third to seventh in the demo. 

When looking at these networks’ performance during the same period a year ago (the week of Feb. 5):