The Lead
It’s no secret that both CNN and MSNBC have struggled in the ratings department since Donald Trump secured victory in the 2024 election. In February, however, CNN saw a bounceback, especially in the 10 PM ET timeslot from NewsNight with Abby Phillip.
During the month, the primetime show saw a 23% increase in its overall viewership compared to the same month last year. The show helmed by Abby Phillip averaged 615,000 total viewers. Additionally, the show rose 28% in the Adults 25-54 demographic, averaging an audience of 154,000 from the key demo.
Those figures were the largest upticks for CNN overall. NewsNight with Abby Phillip was joined in double-digit growth by Erin Burnett OutFront, up 14% in the key demographic, while Laura Coates Live was up 25% in that same sector. Coates’ show also grew 10% in the overall audience category, averaging 391,000 viewers.
Anderson Cooper 360 and The Source with Kaitlan Collins were each up 10% in the key demographic for the month, too.
Fox Business Sees Highest Month Since 2022
Fox Business earned its highest-rated month since December 2022 during the month of February.
The network bested CNBC in the total day ratings for the 11th straight month as it featured 147,000 total viewers on average. During the business day ratings, an average audience fo 234,000 viewers tuned into the network, marking the third consecutive month it beat CNBC during business hours.
Larry Kudlow’s 4 PM ET show continues to serve as the top-ranked business program. The show averaged 323,000 viewers during the month. It marked the 41st consecutive month that Kudlow finished above competition from CNBC in the total viewership category.
Additionally, Stuart Varney’s Varney & Co. — which airs from 9 AM to Noon — earned an average of 280,000 total viewers.
NewsNation Adds Viewers in February as Chris Cuomo Stays on Top
NewsNation saw a 21% increase in total viewership during the month of February. Chris Cuomo’s primetime show earned the top spot on the network with an average of 180,000 total viewers during the month.
Elizabeth Vargas Reports — which was moved to the 7 PM ET timeslot earlier this month — saw its ratings grow by 19% compared to February 2023.
Meanwhile, The Hill saw a 71% year-over-year increase in total viewers, and a 50% increase in the coveted Adults 25-54 demographic.
In the key demo, NewsNation’s audience has seen a 10% increase compared to the same month in 2024.
Fox News Sees Highest February in Network History
Fox News saw a year-over-year increase of 50% in the total day metrics during the second month of 2025, making it the most-watched February in network history.
The Five remained the top-performing show in total viewers for Fox News with 4.7 million viewers. Jesse Watters Primetime (4.1 million), Hannity (3.6 million), Special Report with Bret Baier (3.6 million), and The Ingraham Angle (3.5 million) rounded out the top five programs for the network.
In the Adults 25-54 demographic, the primetime program from Watters just surpassed The Five with 518,000 viewers compared to 517,000. Similarly, Hannity (467,000) just bested Gutfeld! (466,000) for the third-most viewers for the network in the key demo.
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Garrett Searight is Barrett Media’s News Editor, which includes writing daily news stories, features, and opinion columns. He joined Barrett Media in 2022 after a decade leading several radio brands in several formats, as well as a 5-year stint working in local television. In addition to his work with Barrett Media, he is a radio and TV play-by-play broadcaster. Reach out to him at Garrett@BarrettMedia.com.
