Week of March 3 Cable News Ratings: Fox News Leads All of TV, Including the Broadcast Networks

Both Fox News and CNN recorded week-to-week gains

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

One week after Fox Corporation CEO Lachlan Murdoch observed that Fox News should be considered “the fifth broadcast network,” the network continued to cement that moniker with a No. 1 finish for the first week of March.

According to Nielsen Media Research, Fox News averaged 4.8 million total viewers for the week, making it the highest-rated network across all of television. FNC notably finished ahead of all three broadcast networks; CBS had 4.2 million total viewers, NBC had 3.4 million total viewers, and ABC had 2.6 million total viewers.

Viewers favored Fox News on Tuesday night when President Donald Trump delivered his joint address to Congress. The network recorded 10.7 million total viewers making its broadcast the highest-rated joint address in cable news history.

Both Fox News and CNN celebrated week-to-week gains in total viewers and the Adults 25-54 demo during total day and primetime. As for MSNBC it was the only network to experience week-to-week losses across the board.

NETWORKS:

Nielsen live plus same-day data for the week of March 4 saw FNC average 3.942 million total viewers and 550,000 A25-54 viewers during primetime. The network was up by +28% and +40% in those respective categories relative to the week prior.

In total day viewing, Fox News averaged 2.103 million total viewers and 280,000 A25-54 viewers for week-to-week gains of +6% in the former category and +10% in the latter.

Across all basic cable networks, Fox News ranked first in total primetime viewers and the A25-54 demo and repeated in that position in both measured categories during total day.

MSNBC’s primetime lineup averaged 1.176 million total viewers and 112,000 viewers in the A25-54 demo for week-to-week declines of -4% and -2%, respectively.

During total day, MSNBC averaged 645,000 total viewers and 62,000 A25-54 viewers for respective declines of -2% and -6% in those measured categories.

Among all basic cable networks, MSNBC continued to place second in total primetime viewers and fell two spots from No. 10 to No. 12 in the demo. During total day, the network remained in second place in total viewers and in the No. 10 position in the total day demo, tied with FX.

CNN averaged 716,000 total primetime viewers and 167,000 A25-54 viewers in the demo during primetime. It was up a respective +21% and +40% relative to the previous week.

In total day, the network had 470,000 total viewers and 87,000 viewers in the demo for week-to-week gains of +1% and +4%, respectively.

In relation to all the cable networks, CNN moved from fifth to fourth in total viewers during primetime, and rose from ninth to sixth in the primetime demo. During total day, it remained in the No. 4 position in total viewers and ticked upwards from fifth to fourth in the demo.

When looking at these networks’ performance during the same period a year ago (the week of March 4):

During primetime, Fox News was up by +51% in total viewers and +55% in the A25-54 demo. During total day, the network saw gains of +44% in total viewers and +46% in the demo.
In primetime, MSNBC was down in total viewers by -28 and -45% in the demo. During total day, the network was down -30% in total viewers and-43% in the demo.
 CNN fell by -6% in total viewers and -8% in the demo during primetime. During total day, it was down by -2% in total viewers and -12% in the demo.

PROGRAMMING:

Fox News took 14 out of the 15 spots of the most-watched cable news shows of the week, with The Five (4.681 million viewers at 5 p.m. ET) staying at No. 1. MSNBC’s The Rachel Maddow Show (1.917 million viewers at at 9 p.m. ET) landed in the 14th spot.

Jesse Watters Primetime (554,000 viewers at 8 p.m. ET) led the way in the Adults 25-54 demo with Fox News occupying 14 out of the 15 top spots. The Rachel Maddow Show (1.917 viewers at 9 p.m. ET) slipped in at No. 15 for MSNBC.

Prime Time

Fox News
MSNBC
CNN

• Total Viewers:
3,942,000
1,176,000
716,000

• A25-54:
550,000
112,000
167,000

Total Day

Fox News
MSNBC
CNN

• Total Viewers:
2,103,000
645,000
470,000

• A25-54:
280,000
62,000
87,000