This is TVNewser’s basic cable network ranker and cable news report for the week of August 11, 2025.
The week that featured a high-profile summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin lifted both Fox News and CNN, as they saw week-to-week gains across the board during primetime and total day.
During the just-concluded week, 65% of the primetime audience and 64% of the total day cable news audience belonged to Fox News. Notably, the network had five hours finish above 3 million total viewers on Friday, the day of the summit between the two world leaders.
Meanwhile, soon-to-be-rebranded MSNBC only saw growth in the Adults 25-54 demo during primetime.
NETWORKS:
According to Nielsen live plus same-day data for the week of August 11, Fox News averaged 2.342 million total viewers and 245,000 A25-54 viewers during primetime. The network was up +2% in total viewers and +13% in the demo compared to the week prior (the week beginning August 4).
Fox News averaged 1.491 million total viewers and 164,000 A25-54 viewers in total day viewing. Based on its average in those measurements from the previous week, it was up +4% in total viewers and +7% in the demo.
Fox News remained in first and third place in total primetime and demo viewers, respectively. During total day, it remained in first place in total viewers and moved to the No. 1 position, rising from second in the total day demo.
MSNBC, in primetime, averaged 797,000 total viewers and 74,000 viewers in the A25-54 demo for the week that just concluded. The network registered a -3% loss in total viewers, but saw a +1% gain in the demo compared to its average the week prior during primetime.
During total day, MSNBC averaged 497,000 total viewers and 44,000 demo viewers. This represented declines of -5% in total viewers and -8% in the demo compared to the network’s average the week prior.
Among all basic cable networks, MSNBC slid to third from second place in total primetime viewers and remained at No. 19 in the demo. It remained in second place in total viewers and fell from 13th to 16th place in the total day demo.
CNN averaged 467,000 total primetime viewers and 84,000 A25-54 viewers in the demo during primetime for the week of August 11. It was up +4% in total viewers and +8% in the demo compared to the previous week.
In total day, the network had 353,000 total viewers and 56,000 viewers in the demo. This resulted in gains of +10% in total viewers and +14% in the demo during this daypart.
Among all cable networks, CNN remained in seventh place in total viewers and finished in the No. 13 position, tied with Bravo, in the demo during primetime. During total day, it ascended to fourth from fifth place in total viewers and rose to No. 8 from No. 12 in the demo.
When looking at these networks’ performance during the same period a year ago:
- During primetime, Fox News was up +3% in total viewers but down -16% in the A25-54 demo. During total day, the network was up by +6% in total viewers but was down -13% in the demo.
- MSNBC was down -44% in total viewers and -54% in the demo. During total day, the network was down -47% in total viewers and -57% in the demo.
- In primetime, CNN declined by -41% in total viewers and -46% in the demo. During total day, it saw losses of -37% in total viewers and -43% 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 on top with 3.450 million total viewers at 5 p.m. ET. MSNBC’s The Rachel Maddow Show at 9 p.m. ET on Monday reached the No. 7 position with 1.904 million total viewers. Meanwhile, The Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell at 10 p.m. ET took the No. 15 spot with 1.176 million total viewers.
The Five remained in first place in the Adults 25-54 demo, averaging 342,000 viewers at 5 p.m. ET. Fox News had 13 out of the 15 top spots in the demo, with The Rachel Maddow Show at 9 p.m. ET on Monday taking the No.11 position with 167,000 demo viewers. CNN NewsNight with Abby Phillip at 10 p.m. ET was in 15th place with 109,000 demo viewers.
Prime Time
Fox News MSNBC CNN • Total Viewers: 2,342,000 797,000 467,000 • A25-54: 245,000 74,000 84,000
Total Day
Fox News MSNBC CNN • Total Viewers: 1,491,000 497,000 353,000 • A25-54: 164,000 44,000 56,000