led cable news in March as President Trump’s war with Iran drove the month’s news cycle and pushed viewers back to the big three networks. AdWeek, citing Nielsen big data and panel figures, said Fox averaged 2.994 million total viewers in primetime and 323,000 Adults 25-54 viewers.
The network’s primetime totals were up 15 percent from February and its key demo rose 24 percent. In total day, Fox averaged 1.897 million viewers and 197,000 in the demo, gains of 10 percent and 17 percent from the prior month. Even with the surge, Fox was down 4 percent in primetime total viewers and 18 percent in the primetime demo versus the same month in 2025. In total day, it was up 2 percent in total viewers but down 18 percent in the demo year over year.
MS NOW ranked second in primetime total viewers with 1.262 million, up 11 percent from February, while its 130,000 demo viewers were down 1 percent. In total day, it averaged 757,000 viewers and 80,000 demo viewers, both modestly higher than February. also gained ground, averaging 898,000 total viewers and 175,000 in the demo for March. The network was up 11 percent in primetime total viewers and 14 percent in the demo from February, and it posted far sharper total day growth, averaging 638,000 viewers and 110,000 in the demo, up 48 percent and 41 percent, respectively.
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That month-to-month jump reflects a cable audience that moved with the war coverage, but the year-over-year picture was more mixed. MS NOW was up 7 percent in primetime total viewers and 19 percent in the demo from last year, while rose 52 percent in primetime total viewers and 45 percent in the demo. In total day, MS NOW gained 20 percent in total viewers and 33 percent in the demo from a year earlier, while rose 48 percent and 41 percent. Fox still finished first by a wide margin, but the stronger gains at MS NOW and show how much March’s conflict coverage lifted the whole category.
Outside the main cable race, NewsNation averaged 191,000 primetime viewers and 30,000 in the demo, with Chris Cuomo’s self-titled show its top draw at 255,000 viewers and 39,000 in the demo. Newsmax said Rob Schmitt Tonight was its top primetime program at 382,000 viewers and 32,000 in the demo. In business news, Fox Business’ Varney & Company led total viewers with 305,000, while Kudlow finished first in the demo with 16,000. CNBC’s Fast Money Halftime Report drew the most total viewers at 265,000, and Squawk on the Street led the demo with 67,000.
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The March numbers make the same point twice: the Iran war widened the audience for cable news, and Fox remained the dominant draw even as rivals posted some of their biggest monthly gains in years.
