Fox News has done something that doesn’t happen much in television anymore — it made more money this September than it did last year.
According to new estimates from EDO Ad EnGage, Fox News earned $105 million in advertising revenue during September. That accounts for more than half of the total earned by the big three cable news networks — Fox News, CNN, and MSNBC — during the month, and is an increase compared to the same month in 2024, when it reportedly earned $94 million in advertising revenue.
If you’ve been paying attention, it’s not exactly shocking that Fox News is performing well. The network dominates in the ratings, has an army of loyal viewers, and has the kind of built-in brand trust that most media companies would kill for.
But it’s one thing to win the ratings battle. It’s another thing entirely to increase revenue in an industry that’s shrinking by the day.
For years, the story around cable news has been the same: audiences are aging, subscribers are cutting the cord, and ad dollars are shifting to digital platforms. Despite all that, Fox News keeps finding ways to win — and not just by a little bit. It’s been cleaning up in the ratings, and it’s doing the same financially.
Let’s be honest: Fox News didn’t have the tailwind this year that it had last year. The election of President Donald Trump brought in unprecedented amounts of ad spending. Campaigns, PACs, and advocacy groups were throwing money at TV networks like it was their last chance to reach voters. When the calendar flips to a non-election year, that money vanishes. So, if you’re a network executive, you’re likely expecting a dip — not a jump — in revenue.
Yet, somehow, Fox News bucked that trend. That’s truly remarkable.
It says a lot about how Fox News has built its business. The network doesn’t rely on one show, one host, or one event to drive its success. Fox & Friends, The Five, Jesse Watters Primetime, Hannity, Gutfeld! — they’re all top performers in their time slots. Week after week, those programs don’t just lead cable news, they rank among the most-watched shows across all of cable television.
Think about that for a second. We’re not just talking about beating CNN or MSNBC anymore. Fox News is going head-to-head with the biggest brands in television — ABC, CBS, and NBC — and winning. On some nights, The Five outdraws live sports programming. When you’re competing with the MLB or college football and still coming out on top, that’s not just a win for cable news. That’s a win for television, period.
So how does Fox News keep pulling this off? Consistency.
Fox News sticks to what it does best. It delivers appointment television — live, personality-driven, opinion-heavy programming that feels like a community as much as it does a show. You don’t just watch The Five or Hannity; you feel like you’re part of the conversation. That connection is what makes the network nearly immune to the fragmentation that’s killing everyone else.
And it’s not like Fox News is ignoring digital. Fox Nation, Fox News Digital, and even its social content are pulling their weight. The company has done a smart job of turning its on-air personalities into multiplatform brands. Whether you’re streaming a full episode, catching a clip online, or seeing a Fox News host trending on social media, the brand is everywhere. That visibility reinforces what’s happening on linear TV — and that helps keep the ad dollars flowing.
Still, let’s not gloss over the context here. Cable subscriptions are in freefall. Every year, hundreds of thousands of households cut the cord. Fewer subscribers mean smaller affiliate fees — which, for most networks, means shrinking revenue. That Fox News is increasing its advertising revenue in that environment is almost unbelievable.
So while the industry keeps trying to figure out what’s next, Fox News just keeps stacking wins. It’s leading in the ratings. It’s maintaining dominance across every daypart. And now, it’s increasing revenue during a year when everyone else expected a pullback.
That’s the real story. Not that Fox News is still number one — we’ve known that for years — but that it continues to find ways to grow when growth seems impossible.
Rising revenue in 2025 isn’t just another bullet point in a corporate earnings report. It’s proof that Fox News’ formula still works. Even as the cable universe shrinks, the network is expanding its influence and deepening its profitability.
And when you consider that this revenue jump came the year after record-setting political ad spending, and during a period of nonstop subscriber decline, it might just be the most impressive thing Fox News has accomplished in 2025.
And that’s saying something.
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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.
We’re a nation of over 33 million. Right now FOX News averages 2,304,000 viewers primetime and 1,448,000 in total daily. MSNBC 783,000 and CNN 444,000. Yes, FOX makes money but in reality, nobody’s watching any of it.
I think saying no one is watching it might be a bit strong…..given that Fox News can often beat the three major networks in many markets on some nights.