The Empire Strikes Again
The cable news wars have a clear king — and his name is Fox News.
In Q2 2025, the network didn’t just win the ratings battle. It staged a rout so overwhelming that it now controls 14 of the Top 15 most-watched cable news programs, according to Nielsen data reported by AdWeek.
From fiery primetime debates to midday panel chatter, Fox’s grip on the American news audience has become nearly total.
The numbers tell the story:
2.633 million average primetime viewers
1.632 million average total day viewers
Yes, that’s down 13% and 15% from the previous quarter. But compared to last year? Fox is up 25%. That’s not a win. That’s a juggernaut.
The Five: America’s New Town Square
At the top of the heap sits The Five — a show once dismissed as “happy-hour chatter” at 5 p.m. ET, now America’s most-watched cable news program.
Greg Gutfeld, Dana Perino, Jesse Watters, Jessica Tarlov, and Harold Ford Jr. have turned the roundtable format into television gold. With 3.851 million viewers per night, The Five isn’t just beating competitors — it’s beating entire networks.
“It’s politics, but with personality,” said one Fox executive off the record. “People don’t just want information. They want to feel like they’re in the room.”
Watters & Gutfeld: The Double Punch
Coming in at #2 with 3.431 million viewers, Jesse Watters Primetime proves the former Bill O’Reilly protégé has become a star in his own right. His sharp commentary, viral stunts, and knack for stirring outrage have made his show a must-watch for Fox’s core audience.
Then, in a twist that still baffles critics, Watters’ fellow panelist Greg Gutfeld dominates late-night.
Gutfeld!, at #3 with 3.009 million viewers, regularly outperforms Jimmy Fallon, Stephen Colbert, and Jimmy Kimmel. Yes — a cable news comic is beating the networks’ late-night royalty.
It’s comedy. It’s politics. It’s a ratings bloodbath.
The Old Guard Still Standing Strong
At #4, Hannity continues to hold his ground. With 3.006 million viewers, Sean Hannity remains a Fox cornerstone — his close ties to Republican leaders keeping his show relevant, if polarizing.
Special Report with Bret Baier sits at #5 with 2.888 million — proof that straight-news credibility still has a home at Fox.
And at #6, The Ingraham Angle secures 2.749 million, as Laura Ingraham mixes cultural commentary with sharp-edged politics, appealing directly to the base.
Fox’s Bench Strength
Perhaps most remarkable isn’t just Fox’s primetime lineup, but the depth of its bench.
#7: The Will Cain Show – 2.168M
#8: Outnumbered – 2.045M
#10: The Faulkner Focus – 1.945M
#11: America’s Newsroom – 1.941M
#12: America Reports – 1.938M
#13: The Story with Martha MacCallum – 1.913M
#14: Fox News at Night – 1.682M
#15: Fox & Friends – 1.411M
What this means: Fox isn’t just winning primetime. It’s owning nearly every hour of the day.
The Lone Outsider: Rachel Maddow
The only show to break Fox’s stranglehold? MSNBC’s The Rachel Maddow Show, at #9 with 2.039 million viewers.
But Maddow now appears just once a week (Monday nights), leaving MSNBC with a void. While she still commands loyalty, her reduced schedule has hurt the network’s primetime standing.
Still, her presence at #9 underscores something powerful: Maddow is MSNBC’s brand. Without her, the network struggles. With her, it can still shake Fox’s dominance — if only for one hour.
The Rivals: CNN, Newsmax, NewsNation…
If Fox is the empire, CNN is the fallen republic.
CNN’s top program, Erin Burnett OutFront, pulled 610,000 viewers. That’s not a typo. Fox’s 15th-ranked show (Fox & Friends) nearly tripled it.
Newsmax did slightly better, with Rob Schmitt Tonight pulling 412,000 viewers. NewsNation, still the underdog, saw Cuomo average 170,000 — though that marked a 24% year-over-year gain.
CNBC’s Squawk on the Street managed 220,000, leading its network but barely scratching relevance in the cable wars.
Why Fox Still Wins
So what explains Fox’s chokehold?
Consistency: Fox delivers a predictable product its audience trusts.
Personalities: Love them or hate them, Fox’s hosts are celebrities, not just anchors.
Culture Wars: Fox leans into narratives that keep viewers engaged — and enraged.
Crossovers: From Watters to Gutfeld, Fox is blurring lines between news, commentary, and entertainment — and it’s working.
The Cracks in the Armor
Still, it’s not all good news for Fox. Q2 saw a 13% drop in primetime viewership compared to Q1, and a 15% drop in total day.
But the year-over-year 25% gain suggests the network is still on the upswing overall.
“Fox is so dominant that even their ‘bad’ quarter makes them untouchable,” one media analyst said. “The real question isn’t if they’ll be #1. It’s if anyone else can even play the game anymore.”
The Bigger Picture: Trust, Politics, and the Future of TV News
Fox’s ratings juggernaut comes as trust in media remains fractured. To some, Fox is the only network “telling the truth.” To others, it’s propaganda.
But numbers don’t lie: America is watching Fox more than anyone else.
What does that mean for 2026 — an election year already heating up? Expect Fox to wield enormous influence not just in politics, but in shaping the national conversation hour by hour, headline by headline.
The Final Word
Fox News didn’t just win Q2. It dominated it.
With 14 of the Top 15 shows, it turned cable news into a one-network sport.
MSNBC has Maddow. CNN has little left. NewsNation is still climbing. Newsmax is punching above its weight.
But the empire belongs to Fox.
For better or worse, America’s eyes are locked on one channel.
📢 What do YOU think? Is Fox News winning because it delivers what viewers want — or because no one else can compete?
👉 Share this story and join the debate. Because whether you love them or hate them, Fox News isn’t just reporting the news. It is the news.
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