Fox News continued to dominate the cable news landscape in April, delivering strong viewership numbers across both prime time and total day metrics, while competitors CNN and MS NOW reported more modest gains.
According to Nielsen data, Fox averaged 2.9 million viewers during prime time from Monday through Sunday, along with 284,000 in the key 25-54 demographic prized by advertisers. Across the full broadcast day, the network pulled in an average of 1.8 million viewers and 173,000 in the same demo. The performance marked Fox’s third-most-watched April in its history, underscoring its continued grip on the top spot in cable news.
The network’s success was driven in large part by a slate of high-performing shows. “The Five” led the way with an average of 3.8 million viewers, followed closely by “Jesse Watters Primetime,” which brought in 3.6 million. Sean Hannity’s program drew 3.2 million viewers, while Greg Gutfeld’s “Gutfeld!” reached 3 million. Bret Baier’s “Special Report” also averaged around 3 million viewers. Together, those five programs secured the top five spots in cable news for the month.
Both Jesse Watters and Gutfeld stood out not only for their individual shows but also for their roles on “The Five,” further cementing their status as two of the most-watched figures in the industry.
Fox also performed strongly in the 25-54 demographic, claiming several of the top positions. “Gutfeld!” led with 349,000 viewers in the demo, followed by “Jesse Watters Primetime” with 335,000, “The Five” with 329,000, and “Hannity” with 319,000. Rachel Maddow’s once-weekly program landed in fifth place with roughly 280,000.
While Fox maintained its commanding lead, its competitors pointed to signs of improvement. CNN reported its best prime time performance in two years, with just under 1 million viewers—up significantly from the roughly 600,000 it averaged a year earlier. The network also cited a 48% increase in its 25-54 demographic numbers, rising from 122,000 to 181,000. Including weekends, CNN averaged 910,000 total viewers and 157,000 in the demo.
MS NOW likewise highlighted year-over-year growth. The network reported a 20% increase in total viewers and an 18% rise in weekday prime time viewership. Its performance in the 25-54 demographic also climbed more than 40% during the total day.
In weekday prime time, MS NOW averaged 1.5 million viewers and 160,000 in the key demo, with slightly lower figures when weekends were included. Maddow’s program brought in 2.4 million total viewers and around 278,000 in the demo, marking its largest audience since the fall of 2024.
Other MS NOW programs also showed gains. “Morning Joe” recorded its biggest audience since the 2024 presidential election, averaging 852,000 viewers and 94,000 in the demo. Meanwhile, “The Briefing with Jen Psaki” and “The Weeknight” both posted increases in demo viewership since their launches, drawing 1.4 million and 1.2 million viewers, respectively.
The April ratings picture reflects a familiar dynamic: Fox News maintaining a clear lead, while rival networks point to incremental growth. Even as competition attempts to close the gap, the numbers suggest the broader landscape remains largely unchanged.
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