‘The Five’ Shatters Records as 2022’s Most-Watched Cable Show, Cementing Fox News’ Ratings Reign Over MSNBC and CNN!

In a year marked by fierce competition and shifting media landscapes, Fox News has once again asserted its dominance in the cable news arena, with its flagship program The Five breaking records as the most-watched cable program of 2022. The achievement underscores Fox News’ unrelenting grip on viewership, leaving rivals MSNBC and CNN trailing far behind.

According to total day viewer metrics, 2022 ranked as the third-highest-rated year in cable news history—a testament to the enduring appetite for round-the-clock news coverage. For the seventh consecutive year, Fox News reigned supreme as the top cable network in both primetime and total day ratings, a streak that highlights its ability to captivate audiences in an increasingly fragmented media environment. As of March 24, 2025, reflecting on this milestone offers insight into why Fox News—and The Five in particular—continues to thrive while its competitors struggle to keep pace.

A Record-Breaking Year for The Five

Launched in 2011 as a roundtable discussion show featuring a rotating cast of hosts, The Five has evolved into a juggernaut of cable news. In 2022, the program—helmed by personalities like Greg Gutfeld, Dana Perino, Jesse Watters, Jeanine Pirro, and regular contributors like Jessica Tarlov and Harold Ford Jr.—averaged an astonishing 3.4 million viewers per episode, according to Nielsen ratings. This figure not only made it the most-watched show in cable news but also marked a historic shift: The Five outdrew traditional primetime heavyweights, despite airing at 5 p.m. ET, a slot typically considered less competitive. By December 2022, outlets like the Los Angeles Times were hailing it as the “most-watched non-sports cable program” of the year, a feat that stunned industry analysts who had long assumed primetime hours were the ratings kingmakers.

What fueled this surge? For one, The Five’s format—a blend of sharp debate, humor, and unapologetic commentary—resonated with viewers seeking an alternative to the often staid, lecture-style news delivery of its rivals. The show’s ability to balance conservative perspectives with occasional liberal counterpoints (via Tarlov, for instance) broadened its appeal, drawing in not just Fox News’ loyal base but also independents and even some Democrats. Posts on X from early 2023 noted how the show “attracts viewers across the political spectrum,” a rarity in today’s polarized media climate. Moreover, its hosts’ chemistry—Gutfeld’s irreverent wit, Watters’ provocative takes, and Perino’s measured analysis—created a dynamic that kept audiences hooked week after week.

Fox News’ Unbroken Streak

While The Five stole the spotlight, Fox News as a whole continued its ratings supremacy in 2022, marking seven years atop the cable network heap. The network averaged 1.4 million total day viewers and 2.3 million in primetime, dwarfing MSNBC’s 733,000 and CNN’s 568,000 total day figures, per Nielsen data reported by Forbes and Deadline. This dominance wasn’t a fluke—Fox News consistently outperformed its competitors in every key metric, from the advertiser-coveted 25-54 demographic to weekend viewership. Programs like Tucker Carlson Tonight (3.3 million viewers) and Hannity (2.9 million) bolstered the network’s primetime lineup, but The Five’s pre-primetime triumph signaled a shift in viewer habits, proving that compelling content could draw massive audiences outside the 8-11 p.m. window.

The numbers tell a stark story of disparity. MSNBC and CNN saw steep declines in 2022—down 19% and 27% respectively in total day viewers compared to 2021—while Fox News held steady, dipping just 1% in primetime. This resilience amid industry-wide erosion underscores Fox News’ ability to retain its audience even as cable subscriptions wane and streaming platforms rise. Web reports from outlets like FoxNews.com noted that the network claimed 95 of the top 100 cable telecasts in May 2022 alone, a statistic that reflects its chokehold on the market. For context, CNN’s top show, Erin Burnett OutFront, averaged 821,000 viewers, while MSNBC’s The Beat with Ari Melber hit 1.4 million—respectable, but nowhere near Fox’s juggernauts.

Why 2022 Stood Out in Cable News History

The claim that 2022 was the third-highest-rated year in cable news history isn’t mere hyperbole. Total day viewership across Fox News, MSNBC, and CNN reached levels not seen since the peak years of 2020 (driven by the pandemic and election) and 2003 (marked by the Iraq War). Data compiled from Nielsen and cited by Deadline shows that while all three networks saw primetime declines from 2021’s extraordinary highs—Fox down 12%, MSNBC down 56%, CNN down 77%—the overall appetite for cable news remained robust. Fox News’ 1.41 million total day average was a 4% uptick from the prior year, a rare growth spurt in a contracting industry. Meanwhile, MSNBC and CNN hemorrhaged viewers, posting losses of 60% and 74% respectively in total day metrics.

Several factors fueled this banner year. The 2022 midterm elections, ongoing cultural debates, and global crises like the Russia-Ukraine war kept news cycles buzzing, driving viewers to cable outlets for real-time updates. Fox News capitalized on this by leaning into its signature blend of opinion-driven programming and breaking news coverage, a formula that resonated more than CNN’s attempt at neutrality or MSNBC’s liberal lean. Posts on X from early 2023 praised Fox’s “go-to status for breaking news,” citing its coverage of events like the midterms as a key draw. The result? A year that, while not matching 2020’s record highs, still etched itself into cable news lore.

The Secret Sauce: What Sets Fox Apart?

So why does Fox News—and The Five—keep winning? Critics and fans alike point to a few core strengths. First, consistency. For seven years, Fox has delivered a predictable product: conservative-leaning commentary paired with slick production values. While MSNBC and CNN have pivoted—MSNBC doubling down on progressive voices, CNN oscillating between centrist and sensationalist tones—Fox has stayed the course, building a loyal base that trusts its brand. Second, personality-driven content. Stars like Gutfeld and Watters don’t just report news—they perform it, turning dry headlines into must-watch TV. The Five epitomizes this, transforming a panel show into a cultural touchstone.

Third, Fox News has mastered the art of outrage and engagement. Whether it’s Gutfeld mocking “woke” culture or Pirro decrying political hypocrisy, the network taps into viewers’ emotions in ways its rivals often fail to replicate. Web analyses from 2022, like those on Forbes.com, noted how Fox’s “tribal appeal” keeps conservative audiences from cutting the cord, a lifeline as cord-cutting accelerates. By contrast, CNN’s 2022 struggles—exacerbated by the CNN+ streaming flop—and MSNBC’s reliance on aging stars like Rachel Maddow (1.9 million viewers at her peak) left them playing catch-up.

The Competition’s Struggles

For MSNBC and CNN, 2022 was a year to forget. MSNBC’s primetime averaged 1.2 million viewers, a 21% drop, while CNN’s 730,000 marked a 33% plunge. The 25-54 demo was even bleaker: Fox’s 351,000 trounced CNN’s 150,000 and MSNBC’s 105,000, per Deadline. CNN’s attempts to rebrand under new leadership at Warner Bros. Discovery faltered, with viewership hitting lows not seen since 2014. MSNBC, meanwhile, leaned heavily on Maddow, but her reduced schedule (down to Mondays by mid-2022) hurt its momentum. Fox News’ ability to sweep the top 10 cable news shows—leaving Maddow’s ninth-place finish as the lone non-Fox entry—exposed the chasm between the networks.

Looking Ahead: Can Fox Sustain Its Run?

As we sit in March 2025, Fox News’ 2022 triumph feels both distant and prophetic. The Five continues to dominate—recent X posts from March 2025 cite it averaging over 4 million viewers some weeks—while Fox maintains its lead over MSNBC and CNN. But challenges loom. Streaming giants like Netflix and YouTube are siphoning younger viewers, and cable’s overall decline could eventually dent even Fox’s numbers. Still, with no clear successor to its formula, Fox News seems poised to extend its streak into an eighth year and beyond.

For now, The Five’s 2022 record stands as a high-water mark—a symbol of Fox News’ ability to defy industry trends and keep viewers glued to their screens. Whether you love it or loathe it, one thing’s clear: in the cable news wars, Fox and its flagship show are still the ones to beat.