The world of cable news is a battlefield, a relentless struggle for eyeballs and influence fought over every hour of the day. For years, we’ve watched as networks rise and fall, as anchors become stars, and as the endless 24-hour news cycle shapes our understanding of the world. But the latest ratings report for the second quarter of 2025, covering April through June, doesn’t show a fight; it shows a conquest. The message is as clear as it is staggering: Fox News isn’t just winning the ratings war—it’s won the entire continent.

The numbers, meticulously gathered by Nielsen and reported by outlets like AdWeek, paint a picture of unparalleled dominance. In a landscape of dozens of channels vying for attention, Fox News secured an overwhelming 14 of the top 15 most-watched shows among total viewers. This isn’t just a victory; it’s a nearly complete shutout. To put that into perspective, the remaining field of cable news networks—CNN, MSNBC, NewsNation, Newsmax, and others—could only collectively muster a single program that cracked the top tier. It’s the kind of performance that forces everyone to sit up and take notice, and it redefines what it means to be a ratings powerhouse in the digital age.

While the overall viewership for Fox News saw a slight dip from its massive first quarter numbers—down 13% in primetime and 15% in total day—the context is crucial. The first quarter of 2025 was a historical outlier, driven by a particularly frenzied news cycle. But when you zoom out, the network’s health is undeniable. Fox News posted a jaw-dropping 25% year-over-year gain in both primetime and total day viewership, proving that its core audience is not only loyal but growing at an astonishing rate. The numbers for Q2 2025 reveal that Fox News averaged 2.633 million total primetime viewers and 1.632 million total day viewers, a testament to a deep and consistent connection with its audience.

But the most surprising and telling detail in the entire report lies at the very top of the list. The number one show, once again, was the 5 p.m. ET juggernaut, The Five, which averaged a massive 3.851 million viewers. A panel show that blends sharp political commentary with personality-driven banter, The Five has consistently been a ratings monster, a testament to its unique format and the chemistry of its co-hosts. The number two spot was claimed by Jesse Watters Primetime, with a commanding 3.431 million viewers. The revelation here is not just that a single person, Jesse Watters, is a crucial part of the number one show, but that his solo program holds the number two spot as well. To have the top two shows in all of cable news anchored by the same person is an unprecedented feat and a clear sign of his star power. It demonstrates a rare ability to command a massive audience not once, but twice a day, leveraging a familiar face and a proven formula to dominate both the late-afternoon and primetime slots.

Rounding out the top six were other familiar Fox News heavyweights. Gutfeld!, billed as a late-night comedy alternative, landed at number three with 3.009 million viewers, continuing to outperform the traditional late-night shows on broadcast networks. At number four, longtime conservative commentator Sean Hannity’s show pulled in 3.006 million viewers, a testament to his enduring appeal and deep ties to the Republican establishment. At number five, Special Report with Bret Baier stood as a pillar of traditional news, with 2.888 million viewers tuning in for its straight-news approach and in-depth political analysis. Finally, The Ingraham Angle claimed the number six spot with 2.749 million viewers, solidifying Laura Ingraham’s status as a key figure in the network’s primetime lineup.

The rest of the list reads like a Fox News programming guide. From The Will Cain Show at number seven to Outnumbered at number eight and a series of hard-news programs like The Faulkner Focus and America’s Newsroom taking spots 10 through 15, the network’s footprint is everywhere. The ratings prove that Fox News’s dominance isn’t just a primetime phenomenon. It owns the morning, the afternoon, and the night. It is a well-oiled machine, meticulously crafted to deliver a consistent message and a predictable experience to an audience that has shown an insatiable appetite for it.

In this sea of red, the single-colored life raft was found on MSNBC. The Rachel Maddow Show at number nine was the sole non-Fox News program to break through the top 15, with 2.039 million viewers. What makes this feat so remarkable is the context: Maddow has been on a reduced schedule since May, hosting only on Monday nights. Her ability to remain a top-tier ratings draw despite only appearing a single day a week speaks volumes about the loyalty of her audience and her unique appeal. However, her limited presence has taken a toll on MSNBC’s overall primetime performance, highlighting how critical one individual can be to a network’s success.

The numbers for other networks were less flattering. CNN’s top-ranked show, Erin Burnett OutFront, averaged a mere 610,000 total viewers, while NewsNation’s Cuomo averaged 170,000 viewers. While both networks have seen some year-over-year gains in certain demographics or time slots, their overall viewership remains a fraction of Fox News’s. This disparity isn’t just about partisan politics; it’s about network strategy, host personality, and the ability to consistently deliver a product that resonates with a specific, highly engaged audience.

The message from the second quarter of 2025 is unmistakable. Fox News has perfected a formula that allows it to not only win, but to effectively shut out the competition. It’s a business model built on personality-driven commentary, consistent messaging, and a deep understanding of its viewer base. The question for the other networks isn’t just how to get back into the game, but whether they ever can. As the media landscape continues to fragment, Fox News has consolidated its power in a way that suggests its dominance isn’t going anywhere. It has built a loyal, multi-generational audience that is not just watching the news—they’re living the brand. And for the foreseeable future, they are in complete control of the conversation.