Left-wing cable network MSNBC, which was rebranded as MS NOW last year, suffered a steep ratings collapse in 2025, losing more than a quarter of its total audience while Fox News posted major gains, according to newly released Nielsen data.
MS NOW’s primetime averages fell to roughly 923,000–937,000 total viewers over the course of 2025, representing an estimated 25–26 percent year-over-year decline.
The downturn followed what was described as a sharp post-election ratings plunge that continued through the year.
The network underwent major internal changes after the 2024 presidential election, when MSNBC was separated from NBCUniversal’s news-gathering operations and bundled with other corporate cable assets.
As ratings continued to erode, including a reported 39 percent decline in the advertiser-coveted 25–54 demographic, network leadership initiated significant personnel shifts and ultimately rebranded the channel to MS NOW late in the year.
Notable departures included longtime hosts Joy Reid and Katie Phang, alongside broader weekend and weeknight lineup changes.
CNN also saw a ratings drop in 2025, with primetime viewership declining by roughly 16 percent to an average of 594,000 viewers, according to Nielsen data tracked by The Desk.
Like MS NOW, CNN posted notable losses in the key 25–54 demographic.
Fox News, by contrast, was the only member of the cable news “big three” to grow its primetime audience in 2025.
The network averaged 2,764,000 viewers in primetime, the highest total among major cable news outlets, marking an 11 percent increase year-over-year.
Overall, Fox News accounted for approximately 64 percent of all cable news viewership, with programs such as “The Five” and “Hannity” leading their time slots.
Laura Ingraham became the top-rated female host across cable networks, while “Jesse Watters Primetime” was the most-watched show in the industry.
Nextstar’s NewsNation, launched in 2021, also recorded audience growth, with primetime viewership averaging between 108,000 and 125,000 total viewers.
The network’s 2025 numbers reflect a 16 percent year-over-year increase and a 218 percent surge since its launch.
NewsNation benefited from major breaking-news coverage, including September reporting on the murder of Charlie Kirk, where it occasionally outperformed CNN and MS NOW in primetime.
Key programs such as “CUOMO” posted 16 percent gains, and the network expanded its lineup late in the year by signing longtime conservative commentator Katie Pavlich from Fox News.
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