In a stunning shake-up of the cable news world, Fox News’ The Five has just made history by becoming the first non-primetime show to crush CNN and MSNBC in the ratings.
For years, primetime programming has dominated cable news rankings, with networks like Fox News, CNN, and MSNBC relying on their late-evening powerhouses to draw in the biggest audiences. But now? A mid-afternoon panel show has just rewritten the rules of TV news.
So what makes The Five such a ratings juggernaut?
💥 How did this unexpected shift happen?
💥 Why are viewers ditching CNN and MSNBC for Fox News’ unconventional panel format?
💥 And what does this mean for the future of cable news?
Let’s break down the numbers, the controversies, and the secret formula that’s turning The Five into an unstoppable force.
📊 The Ratings Shockwave: The Five Defies ALL Expectations
According to the latest Nielsen ratings, The Five is not just holding its ground—it’s outright dominating the cable news scene, outperforming traditional primetime heavyweights.
💥 Average Viewership: Over 3.2 million viewers per episode.
💥 Key Demographic (Ages 25-54): Beating CNN and MSNBC in the most coveted advertising bracket.
💥 Total Cable News Rankings: #1, surpassing even Fox News’ primetime stars like Sean Hannity and Laura Ingraham.
This is a historic achievement—no other non-primetime show has ever pulled off such a feat in cable news history!
So what’s fueling this ratings revolution?
🎤 The Five’s Secret Formula: Why Viewers Keep Tuning In
Unlike traditional primetime news shows, which rely on a single host delivering monologues and conducting interviews, The Five shakes things up with a rotating panel format.
Here’s what sets it apart:
🔥 A Diverse Cast of Personalities – From Greg Gutfeld’s sarcastic wit to Jesse Watters’ bold takes, and from Jeanine Pirro’s fiery arguments to Harold Ford Jr.’s measured approach, The Five delivers constant engagement.
🔥 Unfiltered, Off-the-Cuff Debates – Unlike heavily scripted shows, The Five often lets debates spiral into unexpected territory, creating viral moments that get people talking.
🔥 A Balance of Conservative and Liberal Voices – While The Five leans conservative, it features a liberal seat that rotates between commentators like Harold Ford Jr. and Jessica Tarlov, keeping the discussion lively and unpredictable.
🔥 A Blend of Hard News & Humor – The show seamlessly mixes serious political discussions with humor, making it feel more like a conversation than a traditional news broadcast.
This formula is clearly working—and CNN & MSNBC just can’t keep up.
🚨 The CNN & MSNBC Exodus—Why Viewers Are Jumping Ship
While The Five continues to break records, CNN and MSNBC are struggling to keep audiences engaged.
📉 CNN’s Viewership Decline – CNN has been bleeding viewers, with some of its biggest primetime shows failing to crack even 1 million viewers.
📉 MSNBC’s Stagnation – MSNBC continues to hold a loyal base, but it hasn’t been able to attract new audiences, especially in younger demographics.
🔍 What’s Going Wrong?
💢 Overly Predictable Commentary – Many CNN & MSNBC shows lack diversity in viewpoints, making their debates feel scripted rather than spontaneous.
💢 Overreliance on Trump Coverage – Viewers seem to be fatigued by the networks’ constant Trump-centric reporting, while The Five tackles a wider range of topics.
💢 A Lack of Humor & Personality – Unlike The Five, which mixes news with entertainment, CNN and MSNBC often feel overly rigid and serious.
With more and more viewers looking for engaging, free-flowing discussions, The Five has capitalized on the gap, leaving its competitors in the dust.
🔮 What’s Next? Will The Five Change Cable News Forever?
With its historic rise, The Five is proving that primetime isn’t the only path to success in cable news.
But will this trend continue?
📺 Will other networks start experimenting with similar formats?
📺 Can CNN & MSNBC find a way to regain lost viewers?
📺 Or is The Five just getting started, ready to dominate for years to come?
One thing is clear—cable news will never be the same again.
🔥 What Do YOU Think?
Do you watch The Five?
Is Fox News changing the future of cable news, or is this just a temporary ratings spike?
Drop your thoughts in the comments! ⬇️