Fox News Dominates Q2 2025 Ratings With 14 of Top 15 Shows — Only One Competitor Cracks the List as a Single Anchor Claims #1 and #2

Fox News has once again cemented its dominance in the cable news arena, sweeping 14 of the Top 15 most-watched shows among total viewers for the second quarter of 2025. According to AdWeek, citing Nielsen data covering April through June, the network’s grip on primetime and total day ratings remains unrivaled, despite minor declines compared to the previous quarter.

Fox News Leads by Wide Margins

For Q2 2025, Fox News averaged 2.633 million total primetime viewers and 1.632 million total day viewers . While these numbers represent a 13% drop in primetime and a 15% drop in total day viewers from Q1, Fox News still achieved an impressive 25% year-over-year gain in both categories, underscoring its continued growth and influence.

The Five and Jesse Watters: Ratings Juggernauts

At the top of the ratings chart is The Five , which averaged a massive 3.851 million viewers in its 5 p.m. ET slot. The panel show, hosted by Greg Gutfeld, Dana Perino, Jesse Watters, and alternating co-hosts Jessica Tarlov and Harold Ford Jr., blends politics with personality-driven banter, making it a consistent ratings powerhouse.

Close behind is Jesse Watters Primetime at #2, drawing 3.431 million viewers . Watters, who also appears on The Five, leverages his primetime platform for sharp political commentary and viral segments, solidifying his place as one of cable news’ biggest stars.

Fox News’ Ratings Powerhouses

Fox News’ dominance extends well beyond its top two programs. Here’s how the rest of its lineup performed:

3. Gutfeld! (3.009M) — Greg Gutfeld’s satirical late-night show continues to outperform traditional network late-night offerings.
4. Hannity (3.006M) — Sean Hannity’s blend of conservative commentary and high-profile interviews remains a major draw.
5. Special Report with Bret Baier (2.888M) — Baier’s straight-news approach and in-depth analysis earn respect across the spectrum.
6. The Ingraham Angle (2.749M) — Laura Ingraham’s cultural and political critiques keep her audience engaged.
7. The Will Cain Show (2.168M) — Cain’s mix of sports, politics, and culture appeals to a broad, conservative-leaning audience.
8. Outnumbered (2.045M) — Featuring four female hosts and one male guest, this midday panel show tackles the day’s biggest stories.
10. The Faulkner Focus (1.945M) — Harris Faulkner delivers breaking news with a hard-news tone.
11. America’s Newsroom (1.941M) — Bill Hemmer and Dana Perino anchor this late-morning news block.
12. America Reports (1.938M) — John Roberts and Sandra Smith focus on Washington politics and national news.
13. The Story with Martha MacCallum (1.913M) — MacCallum offers interviews and deep dives into major political stories.
14. Fox News at Night (1.682M) — A late-night news wrap-up featuring analysis and feature segments.
15. Fox & Friends (1.411M) — The long-running morning show mixes politics, entertainment, and lifestyle.

The Lone Challenger: MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow

The only non-Fox News program to break into the Top 15 was The Rachel Maddow Show on MSNBC, ranking #9 with 2.039 million viewers . Maddow, now hosting only on Monday nights as of May 5, remains a major ratings draw despite her reduced schedule.

How Other Networks Fared

– CNN: Erin Burnett OutFront led with 610,000 total viewers.
– NewsNation: Cuomo averaged 170,000 viewers, marking a 24% primetime gain compared to last year.
– Newsmax: Rob Schmitt Tonight was the top show with 412,000 viewers.
– CNBC: Squawk on the Street led with 220,000 viewers.

While Fox News continues to reign supreme, MSNBC was the only network not to lose viewers in total day compared to Q1 . However, Maddow’s reduced hosting schedule has impacted MSNBC’s primetime performance.

The Takeaway: Fox News Owns Cable News

For Q2 2025, the message is clear: Fox News not only dominates primetime but nearly every hour of the day . With 14 of the Top 15 shows, the network’s formula of personality-driven panels, sharp political analysis, and engaging hosts continues to attract millions of viewers, leaving rivals scrambling for a foothold.

As the cable news landscape evolves, Fox News’ commanding lead shows no signs of waning—at least for now.