Fox News continued to assert its commanding position in cable news during April, delivering strong ratings across key programs and demographics while competitors showed signs of renewed momentum in an increasingly competitive media environment.
According to Nielsen data, Fox averaged 2.9 million viewers in prime time from Monday through Sunday, along with 284,000 viewers in the critical 25-54 age demographic. Across the full day, the network brought in 1.8 million total viewers and 173,000 in the same key demo. The performance marked the third-most-watched April in Fox News history, underscoring its staying power at a time when audience habits continue to shift.
Much of that success was driven by a handful of top-performing shows. The Five led the pack with an average of 3.8 million viewers, followed closely by Jesse Watters Primetime at 3.6 million. Sean Hannity drew 3.2 million viewers, while Gutfeld! reached 3 million. Bret Baier also hovered around the 3 million mark with Special Report. Together, those programs secured the top five spots in cable news for the month.
Jesse Watters and Greg Gutfeld—both of whom appear on The Five in addition to hosting their own shows—emerged as the most-watched personalities in the industry, reflecting the network’s ability to build loyal audiences around recognizable figures.
Fox also performed strongly in the 25-54 demographic, capturing several of the top positions. Gutfeld! led with 349,000 viewers in the demo, followed by Jesse Watters Primetime (335,000), The Five (329,000), and Hannity (319,000). Rachel Maddow—whose show airs once a week—placed fifth with roughly 280,000.
While Fox maintained its lead, rival networks highlighted their own gains. CNN reported its strongest prime-time performance in two years, with nearly 1 million viewers—a notable jump from just under 600,000 during the same period last year. The network also posted a 48% increase in the 25-54 demographic, rising from 122,000 to 181,000 viewers. Including weekends, CNN averaged 910,000 total viewers and 157,000 in the demo.
MS NOW likewise pointed to year-over-year growth, with total viewership up 20% and weekday prime-time audiences increasing by 18%. The network also reported a more than 40% rise in its total-day 25-54 demographic. In weekday prime time, MS NOW averaged 1.5 million viewers and 160,000 in the demo, with slightly lower numbers when weekends were included.
Maddow’s program drew 2.4 million viewers, marking its largest audience since the fall of 2024. Meanwhile, Morning Joe saw its best performance since the 2024 presidential election, averaging 852,000 viewers. Other shows, including The Briefing with Jen Psaki and The Weeknight, also posted gains in the key demographic.
Even smaller players found reason to celebrate. NewsNation recorded its strongest prime-time performance ever, averaging 192,000 viewers and 27,000 in the demo—a 170% increase year over year. Its daytime audience also more than doubled compared to April 2025.
The broader picture suggests a cable news landscape that, while still led decisively by Fox, is seeing renewed competition as networks adjust to shifting viewer habits and a changing political and global climate. Even as ratings climb, the ongoing focus on high-stakes domestic and international issues continues to shape the tone of coverage—reminding viewers that behind the numbers lies a media environment deeply intertwined with events that carry real-world consequences.
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