Is Fox News an unstoppable force in cable news? November's ratings data screams 'yes,' showcasing a continued dominance over its rivals, CBS, NBC, CNN, and even the rebranded MS NOW (formerly MSNBC). But here's where it gets controversial: Is this dominance a reflection of superior journalism, or simply a reflection of a specific audience preference? Let's dive into the numbers.
Throughout November 2025, Fox News Channel didn't just compete; it soared. Averaging a whopping 3.2 million viewers during weekday primetime since the start of the year, it secured its position as the second highest-rated network across all of television, not just cable! That's a significant achievement, surpassing even established broadcast networks like CBS and NBC. This consistent performance highlights a strong and loyal viewership base. But this raises a question: How does Fox News maintain such a dedicated audience? Is it the personalities, the programming, or a combination of both?
While Fox News battles it out with the traditional broadcast giants, it completely overshadowed its cable news competitors. In November, Fox News's viewership dwarfed the combined audiences of CNN and MS NOW (which rebranded from MSNBC mid-month) across key metrics. And this is the part most people miss: these 'liberal networks,' as they're often labeled, experienced historic lows during this period. Fox News averaged 1.4 million total day viewers, compared to MS NOW's 600,000 and CNN's paltry 430,000. In fact, it was CNN’s worst November in total day viewership since 2013 – a decade prior!
During the coveted primetime hours (8-11 p.m. ET), Fox News continued its reign, averaging over two million viewers. MS NOW, on the other hand, struggled to reach even half that number, settling for 945,000. This poor performance led to MS NOW's worst November in both total day and primetime viewership since 2015. CNN's primetime numbers were even more grim, managing a dismal average audience of only 556,000 – their weakest November performance since 1997! The numbers clearly paint a picture of a widening gap between Fox News and its main cable news rivals.
Looking at market share, Fox News commanded a staggering 57% of the cable news audience in total day and 58% in primetime. These figures underscore the network's commanding position in the cable news landscape.
Now, let's talk about the demographic that advertisers drool over: adults aged 25-54. In this crucial category, Fox News averaged 123,000 total day viewers, significantly outpacing CNN's 70,000 and MS NOW's mere 55,000. The primetime story was similar, with Fox News attracting 184,000 demo viewers compared to CNN's 100,000 and MS NOW's 88,000. MS NOW’s demo performances were particularly concerning, marking their worst November in the category for both total day and primetime viewers since 1997. This suggests a potential struggle to connect with younger audiences.
Several Fox News programs stood out as ratings juggernauts. "The Five," featuring Dana Perino, Greg Gutfeld, Jesse Watters, Jessica Tarlov, and Harold Ford Jr., averaged 3.6 million total viewers and 293,000 in the 25-54 demo, becoming the most-watched cable news show at any time and the #1 show on television at 5 p.m. ET. "Jesse Watters Primetime" led all cable news primetime offerings with nearly three million total viewers and 272,000 in the demo. "Gutfeld!" continued to dominate the late-night scene, averaging 2.5 million total viewers and 270,000 in the demo, besting all broadcast and cable late-night competitors, including heavyweights like "CBS’s The Late Show with Stephen Colbert," ABC’s "Jimmy Kimmel Live!," and NBC’s "Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon." "Hannity" remained a force at 9 p.m. ET with 2.4 million viewers and 224,000 in the demo, while "The Ingraham Angle" averaged 2.5 million viewers and 224,000 in the demo, solidifying Laura Ingraham's position as the highest-rated woman in cable news. Even "FOX News @ Night with Trace Gallagher" topped its timeslot with 1.4 million viewers.
"Special Report with Bret Baier" averaged 2.7 million viewers and 245,000 among the demo, dominating its timeslot among cable news offerings and even outdrawing "CBS Evening News" in 13 top markets across the country. Impressively, Baier’s newscast also beat ABC’s "World News Tonight" in five markets, showcasing its growing reach. "FOX & Friends" finished November with 1.3 million viewers, remaining the top cable news program in the mornings and leading "CBS Mornings" in 23 major markets. The strong performance extended to the daytime lineup, with programs like "America’s Newsroom with Bill Hemmer and Dana Perino" and "The Faulkner Focus" consistently outperforming the competition.
Fox News also maintained its dominance on weekends. "Saturday in America with Kayleigh McEnany" averaged 1.2 million total viewers, becoming the #1 cable news program on Saturdays, while "Sunday Morning Futures" took the Sunday crown with 1.5 million total viewers. The newly launched "The Sunday Briefing," anchored by Peter Doocy and Jacqui Heinrich, was the second most-watched cable news program on Sundays. Programs like "FOX & Friends Weekend," "Life, Liberty & Levin," and "Sunday Night in America with Trey Gowdy" further solidified Fox News's weekend lead.
So, what does all this data mean? Fox News continues to be a dominant force in the cable news landscape, consistently outperforming its rivals in key viewership metrics. But is this simply a matter of catering to a specific audience, or is there something more to it? Could the network's success be attributed to its programming choices, its personalities, or perhaps a combination of factors? And more importantly, what does this dominance mean for the future of news consumption and the media landscape as a whole? Share your thoughts and opinions in the comments below!
