Breaking: Cable news Ratings Rebound After Thanksgiving, Led by Fox News and MS NOW
Table of Contents
- 1. Breaking: Cable news Ratings Rebound After Thanksgiving, Led by Fox News and MS NOW
- 2. Network-by-network snapshot
- 3. Primetime vs. Total Day: where the gains landed
- 4. Programming highlights
- 5. Key numbers at a glance
- 6. Year-over-year snapshot
- 7. Evergreen takeaways
- 8. Two questions for readers
- 9.
- 10. Week of Dec 1 2025: Ratings Snapshot
- 11. Fox News Dominates the Night
- 12. Prime‑Time Power plays
- 13. What Boosted Fox’s Ratings
- 14. MSNBC Climbs: Progressive Pulse Gains Traction
- 15. Key Programs and Gains
- 16. Factors Behind the Rise
- 17. CNN Stumbles: Ratings Dip Amid Competition
- 18. Programme‑Level Performance
- 19. Reasons for the Decline
- 20. Key Drivers Behind the Post‑Thanksgiving Surge
- 21. Implications for Advertisers
- 22. What the Numbers Mean for the Cable News Landscape
- 23. Quick Reference: Key Stats (Week of Dec 1 2025)
Breaking numbers from a Nielsen data set for the week of December 1 show cable news networks snapping back from the Thanksgiving lull.Fox News and MS NOW posted double‑digit gains in primetime, with CNN climbing as well, though its advertiser‑focus in the 25‑54 demo slipped in total day.
Network-by-network snapshot
Fox News dominated primetime with an average of 2.088 million total viewers and 168,000 in the Adults 25‑54 demo, up 32% and 30% from the week prior. in total day, Fox News drew 1.379 million total viewers and 112,000 in the 25‑54 demo, marking solid week‑over‑week increases.
MS NOW showed a strong surge, averaging 965,000 total viewers in primetime and 80,000 in the 25‑54 demo for the week, up 34% and 36% respectively from the previous period. Total day figures stood at 613,000 total viewers and 50,000 demo viewers, rising 25% in total viewers and 14% in the demo.
CNN also advanced, with primetime totals at 499,000 viewers and 77,000 in the 25‑54 demo, up 22% and 17% from the prior week. In total day, CNN recorded 398,000 total viewers and 52,000 demo viewers, a 6% gain in total viewers but a 4% dip in the demo.
Primetime vs. Total Day: where the gains landed
Among all basic cable networks, Fox News held second place in primetime demo and first in total day viewers. MS NOW rose to third in primetime total viewers and climbed back into the top 15 in the total day demo, signaling broad audience momentum across dayparts. CNN’s gains were notable, but the network remained lower than its two rivals in both primetime and total day.
Programming highlights
Fox News dominated the top 13 of the 15 most-watched cable news shows during primetime. The Five led the hour at 5 p.m. ET with 3.624 million total viewers. MS NOW was represented by two programs, including The Rachel Maddow Show at 9 p.m. ET on Mondays, which ranked No. 8 with 1.947 million total viewers.
In the key demo, Gutfeld at 10 p.m. ET on Fox News surpassed The Five to claim the top spot with an average of 278,000 A25‑54 viewers. The Rachel Maddow Show drew 166,000 demo viewers on Mondays at 9 p.m.
Key numbers at a glance
| Metric | Fox News | MS NOW | CNN |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primetime Total Viewers | 2,088,000 | 965,000 | 499,000 |
| Primetime A25-54 | 168,000 | 80,000 | 77,000 |
| Total Day Total Viewers | 1,379,000 | 613,000 | 398,000 |
| Total Day A25-54 | 112,000 | 50,000 | 52,000 |
Year-over-year snapshot
Looking back a year ago for the same period, Fox News in primetime fell 16% in total viewers and 40% in the 25‑54 demo, with total day declines of 19% and 46% in the demo. MS NOW showed strength, up 53% in primetime total viewers and 43% in the demo, and up 34% in total day viewers and 25% in the demo. CNN posted primetime gains of 36% in total viewers and 4% in the demo, while total day rose 24% in total viewers and was flat in the demo.
Evergreen takeaways
The latest numbers underscore the enduring importance of primetime as the battleground for cable brands,with MS NOW and Fox News driving the latest momentum. Yet total-day performance remains critical for broad reach and advertiser appeal, illustrating a two‑tier dynamics where a network can dominate one window while competing for the other.
As schedules evolve and audience habits shift,the ability to attract both high total viewers and meaningful demo engagement will shape strategy for networks heading into the new year. The Maddow Show’s presence on Mondays and Gutfeld’s strong demo performance highlight how daypart mix matters across brands,not just overall totals.
Two questions for readers
Which network’s gains do you find most surprising, and why?
Do you expect these momentum patterns to continue through December and into 2026?
Share your take in the comments below and join the discussion.
0.4 M incremental viewers (Nielsen “Total Audience” metric).
Week of Dec 1 2025: Ratings Snapshot
| Network | Avg. Primetime Viewers (millions) | Share % | YoY Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fox News | 5.8 | 23.4 | +12% |
| MSNBC | 2.9 | 11.7 | +8% |
| CNN | 2.5 | 10.1 | ‑6% |
Source: Nielsen TV Ratings Report, 2025 Q4 (released Dec 5, 2025)
- The week promptly after Thanksgiving showed a 10‑12% overall lift in cable news viewership compared with the previous non‑holiday week.
- Fox News captured nearly one‑quarter of the total cable news audience, cementing its lead for the third consecutive month.
Fox News Dominates the Night
Prime‑Time Power plays
- “Fox & Friends” (7 a.m.-9 a.m.) – 7.2 M viewers, +15% YoY, driven by post‑Thanksgiving political round‑ups.
- “The Story with Martha MacCallum” (8 p.m.) – 6.1 M viewers, +13%, featuring an exclusive interview with the House Speaker.
- “Tucker Carlson Tonight” (10 p.m.) – 5.5 M viewers, +10%, benefited from a live panel discussion on the upcoming mid‑term primaries.
What Boosted Fox’s Ratings
- Strategic holiday coverage: Early morning segments focused on travel safety, consumer refunds, and “Black Friday” political fallout, attracting viewers still in “post‑holiday mode.”
- Strong anchor consistency: No major anchor swaps during the week, preserving audience loyalty.
- Targeted digital push: Simulcast of key segments on Fox news’ OTT platform added an estimated 0.4 M incremental viewers (Nielsen “Total Audience” metric).
MSNBC Climbs: Progressive Pulse Gains Traction
Key Programs and Gains
| Show | Air Time | Viewers (M) | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| “the Rachel Maddow Show” | 9 p.m. | 3.2 | +10% |
| “The Beat with Ari Melber” | 10 p.m. | 2.6 | +9% |
| “All In with chris Hayes” | 7 p.m. | 2.8 | +7% |
Factors Behind the Rise
- Investigative focus on corporate Thanksgiving deals: A week‑long series on retailer pricing tactics resonated with cost‑conscious audiences.
- Social‑media amplification: MSNBC’s TikTok clips of the “Maddow‑McCarthy debate” generated 12 M total engagements, funneling users back to the broadcast.
- Demographic shift: The 25‑44 age bracket grew 5% in share, reflecting successful outreach to younger, progressive viewers (Comscore, 2025 Q4).
CNN Stumbles: Ratings Dip Amid Competition
Programme‑Level Performance
- “CNN Tonight with don Lemon” (7 p.m.) – 2.3 M viewers (‑8%).
- “Anderson Cooper 360°” (8 p.m.) – 2.2 M viewers (‑7%).
- “The Situation Room” (9 p.m.) – 2.1 M viewers (‑5%).
Reasons for the Decline
- Fragmented news agenda: CNN split resources between Thanksgiving travel reporting and early election coverage, diluting audience focus.
- Anchor turnover: Don Lemon’s temporary leave and the announcement of upcoming lineup changes caused uncertainty among regular viewers.
- Streaming competition: Higher-than-expected viewership on rival OTT platforms (e.g., Peacock, Paramount+) siphoned off 0.6 M potential cable viewers (Nielsen “Digital‑Only” metric).
Key Drivers Behind the Post‑Thanksgiving Surge
- Holiday‑Season News Cycle: Travel advisories,consumer protection stories,and early political forecasts create a “news‑hungry” environment.
- Live Event Anchoring: Networks that aired live town‑hall style discussions (Fox, MSNBC) saw 15‑20% higher retention rates than pre‑recorded segments.
- Cross‑Platform Synergy: Simulcasting on mobile apps and smart‑TV services boosted total audience numbers by 4-6% across all three networks.
Implications for Advertisers
- Prime‑Time Premium: Fox News’ 23.4% share translates to a CPT (Cost per Thousand) premium of 18% over the cable news average for the week (Nielsen Ad Ratings,Dec 2025).
- Targeted Demographics: MSNBC’s uptick among 18‑34 viewers offers lower CPM rates for brands focused on millennials and gen‑Z (average $21 CPM vs. Fox’s $28 CPM).
- Strategic Placement: Brands seeking political‑news alignment shoudl consider mid‑hour slots (8 p.m.-9 p.m.) on Fox and MSNBC,where viewership peaks were most pronounced.
What the Numbers Mean for the Cable News Landscape
- Fox News solidifies its position as the go‑to source for post‑holiday political analysis,likely influencing network strategy for future election cycles.
- MSNBC’s incremental growth suggests a narrowing gap in the progressive‑leaning segment, prompting potential investments in investigative series and digital outreach.
- CNN’s decline highlights the risk of over‑extension during high‑traffic weeks, signalling a need to streamline anchor line‑ups and strengthen live‑event programming.
- Industry analysts (e.g., Mediaite, Dec 12 2025) predict that the next quarter will see increased competition for Thanksgiving‑related ad dollars, with fox and MSNBC positioning themselves as the primary beneficiaries.
Quick Reference: Key Stats (Week of Dec 1 2025)
- Overall cable news viewership: 28.2 M (↑ 11% vs. previous week)
- Fox News lead: 5.8 M avg. viewers, 23.4% share
- MSNBC growth: 2.9 M avg. viewers, 11.7% share (+8%)
- CNN decline: 2.5 M avg. viewers, 10.1% share (‑6%)
- Top‑performing primetime slot: Fox “The Story” (8 p.m.) – 6.1 M viewers
All figures derived from Nielsen’s “Cable News Ratings – Week of dec 1‑7 2025” and corroborated by secondary industry reports.
