Week of July 7 Cable News Ratings: Fox Wins, But MSNBC Posts Gains

The first full week of July delivered good news for MSNBC, as it was the only cable news network to experience across-the-board gains in primetime and total viewers.

Fox News, which remained the most-watched cable news network, recorded gains in total viewers during primetime, but it regressed in other categories, while CNN was the only network to experience declines in both monitored segments during primetime and total day.

NETWORKS:

According to Nielsen Live Plus Same-Day data for the week of July 7, Fox News averaged 2.436 million total viewers and 261,000 A25-54 viewers during primetime. The network experienced a gain of +2% in total viewers but saw a decline of -13% in the demo compared to the previous week (the week beginning June 30). 

Fox News averaged 1.544 million total viewers and 190,000 A25-54 viewers in total day viewing. Based on its average in those measurements from the previous week, it was down -6% in total viewers and -16% in the demo.

Fox News remained in first place in total primetime viewers and the demo among all basic cable networks. In total day, it remained in first place in total viewers and the total day demo.

MSNBC, in primetime, averaged 888,000 total viewers and 86,000 viewers in the A25-54 demo for the week that just concluded. The network saw a +20% increase in total viewers and a +23% increase in the demo compared to its average the week prior during primetime. 

During total day, MSNBC averaged 531,000 total viewers and 52,000 demo viewers, representing gains of +9% in total viewers and +2% in the demo compared to the network’s average the week before.

Among all basic cable networks, MSNBC finished in second place in total primetime viewers and jumped from No. 23 to No. 14 in the demo. During total day, it remained in second place in total viewers and finished in 12th place in the total day demo, up four spots from the previous week. 

CNN averaged 484,000 total primetime viewers and 89,000 A25-54 viewers in the demo during primetime for the week of July 7. It was down -8% in total viewers and -20% in the demo compared to the previous week. 

In total day, the network had 368,000 total viewers and 61,000 viewers in the demo. This resulted in a -9% loss in total viewers and a -16% loss in the demo during this daypart.

In relation to all the cable networks, CNN slipped one place to sixth in total viewers and was in the No. 9 position, down two spots, in the demo during primetime. It remained in fourth place during total day and was in eighth place, down from sixth, in the demo. 

When looking at these networks’ performance during the same period a year ago, which happened to be the same week that the assassination attempt on then-presidential candidate Donald Trump took place:

• During primetime, Fox News was down by -37% in total viewers and -54% in the A25-54 demo. During total day, the network dropped by -25% in total viewers and -35% in the demo.
• MSNBC was down -26% in total viewers and -38% in the demo. During total day, the network was down -23% in total viewers and -33% in the demo.
• In primetime, CNN declined by -52% in total viewers and -65% in the demo. During total day, it was down in total viewers by -35% and -50% in the demo.

PROGRAMMING:

Fox News had 13 out of the 15 spots of the most-watched cable news shows of the week, with The Five staying on top with 3.545 million total viewers at 5 p.m. ET. MSNBC’s highest-rated show in the chart was The Rachel Maddow Show at 9 p.m. ET on Mondays, which came in the No. 7 position with 2.054 million total viewers. 

The Five was also in the No. 1 spot in the Adults 25-54 demo, averaging 376,000 viewers at 5 p.m. ET. Fox News held 13 out of the 15 top spots in the demo, with MSNBC’s The Rachel Maddow Show at 9 p.m. ET on Mondays occupying the 6th spot, drawing 252,000 viewers.

Prime Time

Total Day

Week 7-7-25 Cable Ranker by Adweek on Scribd