Cable News Ratings Plummet to Historic Lows Post-Election

Fox News dominates the ratings while CNN and MSNBC hit 20- and 30-year lows, reflecting a significant decline in viewer engagement.

Fox News remains the top cable news network, capturing 70% of the key 25-54 demographic during total day viewing and hosting 98 of the top 100 cable news programs last week.
CNN recorded its lowest total viewership since 2001, averaging just 268,000 total day viewers, and its lowest performance in the 25-54 demographic in nearly 30 years with 41,000 viewers.
MSNBC saw its weakest ratings in the 25-54 demographic since 1997, averaging only 29,000 viewers during total day viewing and struggling to maintain its primetime audience with just 465,000 total viewers.
Both CNN and MSNBC faced steep declines compared to the same week in 2023, with MSNBC losing over half of its primetime audience and CNN experiencing a 41% drop in total viewers during primetime.
Analysts attribute the declines to post-election viewer disengagement, a lack of breakout talent, and eroding trust in mass media, as Fox News continues to outpace its competitors.