Fox News Crushes Competition in Summer Prime-Time Ratings

The Fox News Channel ended its summer run as the top network in all of prime-time television through Labor Day, topping even ABC, NBC, and CBS.

Reaching more than 2.4 million weekday prime-time viewers since June 20, Fox News surpassed ABC with 2.38 million viewers, NBC with 2.2 million viewers, and CBS with 2 million viewers. In August, the network drew 2.3 million viewers in evening prime-time and 237,000 in the coveted 25-54 age demographic, becoming the most-watched television network for two consecutive months.

On a daily average, Fox News reached 1.4 million viewers and 160,000 in the 25-54 age demographic, commanding 63% of the cable news share across total daily viewership and 65% in prime-time.

Records show that CNN and MSNBC each lost half of their viewership in both prime-time and weekday programming, compared with August 2024. CNN reported its second-lowest-rated month ever in the total day for the 25-54 age demographic, sinking to just 53,000 viewers. MSNBC had its lowest-rated August in the 25-54 age demographic across both total day and prime-time, with 46,000 viewers in total day and 72,000 in prime-time, since 1997.

Fox News said it has dominated the top 1,532 cable news telecasts since the 2024 election.

In August, “The Five”—the Fox News Channel’s 5 p.m. Eastern Time weekday panel discussion program—maintained its spot as the No. 1 show, with 3.5 million viewers and 345,000 in the 25-54 age demographic.

The prime-time lineup begins at 8 p.m. with “Jesse Waters Primetime,” leading with 3.1 million viewers and 302,000 in the 25-54 age demographic.

Greg Gutfeld’s “Gutfeld!’ (10 p.m. ET) continued to command a considerable lead over all of late-night television in August, drawing 2.8 million viewers, 327,000 in the 25-54 age demographic. “Gutfeld!” again outdrew CBS’ “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” with 2.2 million viewers, NBC’s “The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon” with 1.1 million viewers, and ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” with 989,000 viewers. Those programs air at 11:30 p.m. ET.

At 9 p.m., “Hannity,” hosted by longtime FNC host Sean Hannity, reached 2.6 million viewers and 271,000 in the 25-54 age demographic.

“Special Report with Bret Baier,” airing from 6 to 7 p.m. ET, topped the broadcast competition with over 2.6 million viewers and 249,000 in the 25-54 age demographic, ahead of CBS’ “Evening News,” ABC’s “World News Tonight” and NBC’s “Nightly News” in many markets.

The morning show, “FOX & Friends” (6 to 9 a.m. ET weekdays) had a total average of 1.3 million viewers and 148,000 in the 25-54 age demographic, maintaining its No. 1 position as the first cable news program in the mornings, beating the combined viewers of CNN and MSNBC again. Fox News’ signature morning show surpassed ABC’s “Good Morning America” and NBC’s “Today” in many of the top markets.

Overall, the top five shows in August were:

1. “The Five” (3,479,000 average viewers)
2. “Jesse Watters Primetime” (3,062,000)
3. “Gutfeld!” (2,848,000)
4. “Hannity (2,612,000)
5. “Special Report” (2,550,000)