Week of June 2 Cable News Ratings: All 3 Networks See a Primetime Upswing
This is TVNewser's basic cable network ranker and cable news report for the week of June 2, 2025.
The three cable news networks can feel good about their respective performances, especially during primetime. Fox News, MSNBC, and CNN all experienced week-to-week gains in total viewers and the Adults 25-54 demo.
MSNBC and CNN recorded double-digit gains in primetime in both measured categories and had across-the-board gains during total day. President Donald Trump's feud with Elon Musk clearly played well for these two networks as they captured additional viewers during a relatively slow news period.
Meanwhile, Fox News finished the week as the only network with a week-to-week decline in either of the dayparts. However, FNC still finished ahead of its cable rivals as well as the NBC and CBS broadcast networks in weekday primetime total viewers.
NETWORKS:
According to Nielsen Live Plus, same-day data, FNC averaged 2.378 million total viewers and 256,000 A25-54 viewers during primetime. The network saw a +4% rise in total viewers and a +7% rise in the demo compared to the week prior.
Fox News averaged 1.460 million total viewers and 177,000 A25-54 viewers in total day viewing. Week-to-week it was down -1% in the former category, but up +1% in the latter.
FNC moved back to first place in total primetime viewers and climbed from fourth to third in the primetime demo among all basic cable networks. In total day, it remained No. 1 in total viewers and climbed from No. 3 to No. 2 the demo demo.
MSNBC's primetime lineup averaged 965,000 total viewers and 92,000 viewers in the A25-54 demo for respective gains of +34% and +42% in both measured categories.
During total day, MSNBC averaged 584,000 total viewers and 57,000 demo viewers for respective gains of +16% and +21% relative to the prior week.
Among all basic cable networks, MSNBC jumped from fifth to third in total primetime viewers and climbed from No. 24 to No. 16 in the demo. During total day, it landed in second place in total viewers and 12th place in the demo.
CNN averaged 619,000 total viewers and 108,000 A25-54 viewers during primetime for gains of +66% in the former category and +77% in the latter. The network's live airing of George Clooney's Tony-nominated play Good Night, and Good Luck on June 7 provided a boost, bringing in 2.011 million total viewers and 223,000 demo viewers.
In total day, the network averaged 391,000 total viewers and 66,000 demo viewers for respective gains of +27% and +35% in those measured categories.
In relation to all the cable networks, CNN climbed from 14th to fifth place, and jumped from No. 27 to No. 9 in the demo. It moved sixth to fifth place during total day, and leaped from No. 16 to No. 8 in the demo.
When looking at these networks' performance during the same period a year ago (the week of June 3):
During primetime, Fox News increased +11% in total viewers and +19% in the demo. During total day, the network saw gains of +12% in total viewers and +21% in the demo.
MSNBC dropped by -17% in total viewers and -19% in the demo. During total day, the network was down -23% in total viewers and -27% in the demo.
In primetime, CNN jumped by +28% in total viewers and +23% in the demo. During total day, it dropped -3% in total viewers and -7% in the demo.
PROGRAMMING:
Fox News held 14 out of the Top 15 spots of the most-watched cable news shows of the week in total viewers, with The Five (3.432 million viewers at 5 p.m. ET) leading the way. MSNBC's The Rachel Maddow Show (2.118 million viewers at 9 p.m. ET on Monday) finished at No. 7.
The Five (347,000 viewers) also landed in first place among A25-54 viewers, with FNC once again occupiying 14 out of the 15 top spots. The Rachel Maddow Show (212,000 viewers) came in at No. 9.
Prime Time
Fox News
MSNBC
CNN
• Total Viewers:
2,378,000
965,000
619,000
• A25-54:
256,000
92,000
108,000
Total Day
Fox News
MSNBC
CNN
• Total Viewers:
1,460,000
584,000
391,000
• A25-54:
177,000
57,000
66,000
Week 6-2-25 Cable Ranker by Adweek on Scribd
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