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Fox & Friends First
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Fox & Friends First
Genre
Presented by
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons13
Production
Production locationNew York City
Camera setupMulti-camera
Running time
  • 120 minutes (2012-2023)
  • 60 minutes (2023-present)
Original release
NetworkFox News
ReleaseMarch 5, 2012 (2012-03-05) –
present

Fox & Friends First is a breakfast television show on Fox News. It airs every weekday from 5-6 a.m. EST. The hour-long program hosted by Carley Shimkus and Todd Piro serves as a pre-show to the network's flagship morning show Fox & Friends.

The current incarnation of the show debuted on March 5, 2012, with Heather Childers and Ainsley Earhardt as the original hosts of the show.

Hosts

[edit]

Current

  • Carley Shimkus, co-host (2021–present)[1]
  • Todd Piro, co-host (2020–present)
  • Janice Dean, meteorologist (2012–present)
  • Chanley Painter, news anchor (2024–present)

Former

  • Ainsley Earhardt: co-host (2012–2016), left to co-host Fox & Friends (replaced by Rob Schmitt)[2]
  • Heather Childers: co-host (2012–2020), was pulled from the air in March 2020 (after being sick on air during the COVID-19 pandemic)[3]
  • Rob Schmitt: co-host (2016–2020), was absent from the show before announcing he no longer worked for the network (replaced by Todd Piro)[4]
  • Jillian Mele: co-host (2017–2021), left to pursue a degree in October 2021 (replaced by Carley Shimkus)[5]
  • Ashley Strohmier: news anchor (2020–2024), left to anchor Fox News @ Night (replaced by Chanley Painter)
  • Brooke Singman, politics reporter (2021–2025)

Synopsis

[edit]

The show devotes to new developments of the latest overnight headlines and/or continuous coverage of breaking news. Due to the nature and time of the show, guests rarely appear, so it focuses more on updates of news stories with correspondents, analysis from the hosts, and politics.

When Fox and Friends First launched in March 2012, the show's executive producer, Lauren Petterson, described the show to Fox News Insider this way: "Think of Fox and Friends First like Fox and Friends on steroids. It will include all of the things you love about Fox and Friends – at warp speed. A cheat sheet, if you will, to all the day's big stories…"

Recurring segments/elements

[edit]
  • "Fox and Trends" – Chanley Painter shows the top three trending stories of the day
  • "Weather" – Janice Dean presents the weather across the United States
  • "Fox Business Headlines" – Cheryl Casone presents top stories that affect the markets
  • "The Good, The Bad & The Ugly" – hosts report three headlines in the morning and rate them into a category

Programming announcements and changes

[edit]

In 2001, Fox & Friends, which aired from 7:00 am to 9:00 am Eastern Time Zone, was expanded by an hour to start at 6:00 am.[6] The new hour was branded Fox & Friends First and was co-anchored by Alisyn Camerota.[7] In July 2008, the 6:00 am hour was replaced by a third hour of Fox & Friends, and Camerota was named permanent anchor of the weekend edition of Fox & Friends.[7]

In June 2011, rival cable news channel CNN began programming in the 5:00 am hour, with a one-hour extension of American Morning titled Wake Up Call,[8] which was replaced in January 2012 following American Morning's cancellation by the two-hour Early Start.[9] MSNBC already had started its news programming at that hour with two half-hour shows: Morning Joe First Look, a general news program which had aired since the mid-2000s, and Way Too Early (which leads into Morning Joe), which debuted in July 2009.[10] In March 2012, Fox News confirmed that it was expanding its morning programming to begin at 5:00 am.[6] The new one-hour show was named Fox & Friends First and serves as a lead-in to Fox & Friends.[11] It debuted on March 5, 2012.[12][13]

In its first week on the air, Fox & Friends First averaged more total viewers than other programs at CNN and MSNBC in the same time slot combined.[14]

In October 2017, Fox News announced that the show will be expanded to two hours from 4:00 am to 6:00 am. The 4:00 am hour would be anchored solely by Heather Childers, and Jillian Mele and Rob Schmitt would present the 5:00 am hour.[15] In July 2020, Childers had parted ways with Fox News after executives had expressed concern and anger about her coming to work and appearing visibly ill on air several months earlier during the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.[16] In 2021, Jillian Mele was replaced by Carley Shimkus as a co-anchor.[17]

In June 2023, Fox News announced that the show would be ending its 4am EST hour and only broadcasting from 5–6am EST with Shimkus and Piro remaining as co-hosts.[18]

Location

[edit]

Fox & Friends First is broadcast from Studio J at 1211 Avenue of the Americas (also known as the News Corp. Building), New York City. On March 19, 2018, Fox & Friends First has relocated to Studio D from its original location in Studio J for construction. The team moved back to Studio J on June 19, 2018.[19]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Fox & Friends First

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
is an American morning and program broadcast on the Channel, airing live weekdays from 5:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m. Eastern Time, and hosted by Todd Piro and Carley Shimkus. The show delivers headlines, analysis, and interviews focusing on overnight developments and early morning stories, serving as the initial segment in ' extended morning programming block that leads into the flagship . Launched in as an expansion of the popular franchise, it has maintained strong viewership in its time slot, often outperforming competitors on and MSNBC by emphasizing timely reporting from a conservative perspective. While the broader series has drawn criticism from left-leaning outlets for promoting partisan narratives, Fox & Friends First shares this format but operates on a condensed schedule geared toward early risers and commuters, contributing to ' dominance in cable ratings during morning hours.

Program Origins and Development

Launch and Initial Format

Fox & Friends First premiered on March 5, 2012, as 's one-hour extension of its morning programming, filling the 5:00–6:00 a.m. ET slot previously occupied by repeat broadcasts. The launch aimed to capture early-rising audiences with live coverage ahead of the flagship program starting at 6:00 a.m., focusing on digesting overnight news developments and forecasting key events of the day. The initial format featured a rotating lineup of Fox News anchors, including and as prominent early co-hosts, who delivered headlines, brief interviews, and commentary in a brisk, viewer-engaged style mirroring the network's established morning franchise. This structure emphasized real-time updates on , , and world affairs, prioritizing conservative perspectives consistent with ' editorial approach, without extended segments or production elements seen in later iterations. The show's early-morning timing targeted commuters and shift workers, positioning it as an accessible entry point to the network's daily news cycle.

Expansion Within Fox Morning Lineup

Fox & Friends First was launched on March 5, 2012, as a one-hour program airing from 5:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m. ET, extending Fox News Channel's morning lineup beyond the existing broadcast that began at 6:00 a.m. This addition created a dedicated lead-in focused on overnight headlines, weather updates, and previews of the day's top stories, thereby lengthening the overall morning block to four hours of continuous conservative-leaning news and talk programming. The expansion responded to growing competition in early-morning cable slots and aimed to cultivate viewer habits among early risers, with initial hosting by Heather Childers. Further growth occurred on October 9, 2017, when doubled in length to two hours, shifting to 4:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m. ET as part of a broader franchise enhancement announced by the network. The 4:00 a.m. hour was anchored by , while the 5:00 a.m. segment featured co-hosts and , allowing for deeper coverage of and extending the seamless transition into ' three-hour run from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. ET. This move capitalized on the franchise's strong ratings performance, positioning to dominate pre-dawn viewership against rivals like and MSNBC. By solidifying an earlier start time, these developments integrated Fox & Friends First more deeply into the Fox morning ecosystem, which emphasizes live reporting, guest interviews, and opinion segments to retain audiences through the full block. Although the program's airing has since stabilized at 5:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m. ET under current hosts Carley Shimkus and Todd Piro, the prior extensions underscored ' strategy to prioritize extended morning dominance, contributing to the lineup's consistent outperformance in key demographics.

Hosts and Contributors

Current Hosting Team

Carley Shimkus serves as co-host of Fox & Friends First, a role she assumed on October 29, 2021, following her previous work as a and contributor for and Network. Her tenure has emphasized early-morning news delivery, weather updates, and previews of daily headlines, aligning with the program's focus on overnight developments. Todd Piro co-hosts alongside Shimkus, having joined the program in 2020 after prior experience as a for . Piro's contributions include anchoring segments on , political analysis, and guest interviews, maintaining the show's weekday format from 4:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m. ET. As of October 2025, no changes to the primary hosting duo have been announced by Channel.

Historical Hosts and Transitions

Ainsley Earhardt and Heather Childers served as the original co-hosts of Fox & Friends First upon its launch on October 29, 2012, delivering early-morning news coverage from 5 to 6 a.m. ET. Earhardt, who joined Fox News in 2007, handled reporting and anchoring duties alongside Childers, focusing on headlines, weather, and previews for the subsequent Fox & Friends program. In 2016, Earhardt transitioned to a co-host role on the flagship Fox & Friends program, debuting on February 29 after Elisabeth Hasselbeck's departure, marking a promotion within the Fox morning lineup. Her exit from Fox & Friends First shifted the early slot's dynamics, with Childers continuing as a primary anchor. The program expanded to two hours, from 4 to 6 a.m. ET, on , , prompted by growing viewership demands for extended morning coverage. Childers solo-anchored the new 4 a.m. hour starting September 2017, while and debuted as co-anchors for the 5 a.m. segment, introducing a paired format to enhance viewer engagement with live reporting and analysis. Schmitt, who joined in 2016, brought prior experience from network affiliates, and Mele contributed Emmy-recognized reporting skills. Significant transitions occurred in 2020 amid network adjustments. Childers parted ways with on July 23, 2020, following her removal from air in March after appearing ill during the early , which drew internal scrutiny over health protocols. Schmitt also departed later that year, moving to to host Rob Schmitt Tonight. Todd Piro, who joined in June 2017 with a background in local anchoring and legal affairs, assumed co-hosting duties alongside Mele for the streamlined 5 to 6 a.m. slot. Mele announced her final day on October 29, 2021, after four years on the program, citing personal priorities including family time in . Carley Shimkus replaced her, debuting as co-host with Piro on November 1, 2021, leveraging her decade of experience in market reporting and guest appearances. This pairing has remained stable, emphasizing consistent early-morning delivery of news, interviews, and segments feeding into the broader franchise.

Broadcast Format and Content

Daily Structure and Style

_Fox & Friends First airs weekdays from 5:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m. ET on , serving as the network's earliest morning program and a lead-in to the longer block. The hour-long format focuses on delivering concise updates on overnight developments, including national and international headlines, to viewers starting their day. Typical episodes open with anchors summarizing key stories missed during off-hours, such as breaking political events, crime reports, or economic indicators, often drawing from wire services and on-scene correspondents. The structure emphasizes brevity and momentum, with segments transitioning rapidly between news reads, brief interviews with reporters or experts, and previews of anticipated daily events to set the agenda for subsequent programming. Content spans politics, security threats, and cultural issues, incorporating live shots and graphics for visual clarity, while avoiding extended analysis to maintain a high-energy pace suitable for early-morning audiences. Guest appearances, such as from field journalists discussing specific probes or scandals, provide targeted commentary without dominating airtime. In style, the show adopts a straightforward, viewer-aligned tone, prioritizing factual reporting with interpretive framing that highlights implications for American interests, consistent with ' editorial approach. Anchors engage in light banter to foster familiarity, but the emphasis remains on substantive updates rather than , distinguishing it from later morning shows with more lifestyle elements. This structure ensures seamless handoff to at 6:00 a.m., where stories introduced earlier receive deeper exploration.

Recurring Segments and Features

Fox & Friends First emphasizes a streamlined format designed for early-morning viewers, focusing on rapid delivery of overnight headlines from global and domestic sources, including political shifts, security incidents, and economic indicators. The hour-long broadcast, airing weekdays from 5:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m. ET, typically opens with a host-led summary of developments missed during off-hours, such as late-night legislative actions or international conflicts reported by teams. Live interviews form a core recurring element, featuring Fox News correspondents, legal analysts, or policy experts to unpack breaking stories in real time; examples include discussions on federal investigations into rings tied to betting scandals. These segments prioritize concise questioning to elicit on-the-ground insights, often contrasting official narratives with alternative viewpoints from guests skeptical of mainstream institutional accounts. Previews of anticipated daily events, such as rulings or market openings, follow to set viewer expectations for subsequent Fox morning programming. Additional features occasionally integrate brief weather overviews relevant to U.S. travel and commuting, alongside spotlights on viral social trends or cultural controversies gaining traction online, though these are adapted to fit the show's news-driven pace rather than extended lifestyle content. Unlike the main , which includes branded lifestyle elements like cooking demos, Fox & Friends First maintains a tighter focus on substantive news analysis to bridge into the fuller lineup. Hosts Todd Piro and Carley Shimkus frequently incorporate viewer-submitted tips or rapid-fire commentary on underreported angles, such as discrepancies in from urban areas.

Production Details

Studio and Location

Fox & Friends First is broadcast live from at the Fox News Channel headquarters, situated at (also known as ) between 47th and 48th Streets in , , New York 10036. The 59-story skyscraper, constructed in 1977, serves as the primary operational hub for , accommodating multiple studios, control rooms, and production facilities for its national news programming. Studio J, a versatile broadcast space within the building, was redesigned and reopened on June 4, 2018, featuring advanced LED video walls, dynamic lighting, and modular set elements to support fast-paced morning news formats. Fox & Friends First transitioned to this studio on June 19, 2018, aligning it with other early-morning segments in the Fox News lineup for seamless production flow. The studio's street-level accessibility and proximity to Rockefeller Center facilitate quick access for on-air talent and crew, with broadcasts originating weekdays from 5:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m. ET. No permanent relocation has been reported as of 2025, though temporary shifts in adjacent studios (such as Studio M renovations affecting related shows) have occurred without impacting Fox & Friends First.

Technical and Operational Aspects

Fox & Friends First is broadcast live utilizing a multi-camera production setup, enabling dynamic camera angles during host discussions, guest interviews, and news reports. The program airs in high-definition format with a 16:9 and employs for audio mixing, standard for Channel's live news output. Operational workflows commence in the early pre-dawn hours, with production staff coordinating remote live shots from field correspondents, conducting on video elements such as clips and , and preparing packets to support segment scripting and host briefing. These tasks ensure real-time integration of and guest hits, with producers handling unscripted transitions via topic cards for fluid on-air delivery. Technical execution involves a dedicated managing live switching between cameras, overlaying lower-thirds and full-screen , and adjusting audio levels for multiple inputs including microphones, remote feeds, and sound bites. In-studio panels facilitate interactive elements, such as the "Fox & Trends" segment, where hosts manipulate via cross-shot camera framing for viewer engagement. systems receive periodic updates to maintain visual consistency across the Fox morning lineup, including a package refresh implemented on November 1, 2021. The show's operational cadence supports seamless handoff to at 6:00 a.m. ET, with emphasis on rapid and element queuing to accommodate the fast-paced demands of early-morning news cycles.

Ratings Performance and Audience Metrics

debuted on March 5, 2012, as an extension of ' successful morning franchise, following strong February ratings for the preceding program, which averaged 1.2 million total viewers and outperformed combined and MSNBC morning shows in the same period. The addition of the early hour capitalized on established audience momentum in cable news mornings. Viewership has fluctuated in line with broader cable news trends, particularly spiking during election cycles and major political events. In the second quarter of 2024, the show averaged 550,000 total viewers for its 5-6 a.m. ET slot. By the end of 2024, this rose to 588,000 viewers, reflecting year-end growth amid heightened political discourse. A peak occurred in early 2025, with January averaging 722,000 total viewers, contributing to 's highest-rated January in its history. The first quarter overall delivered 715,000 viewers, outdelivering competitors and marking a milestone within ' record-breaking quarter for cable news weekday audiences. Subsequent months showed a downturn, with third-quarter 2025 averages at 524,000 viewers, consistent with monthly figures around 526,000 reported in late 2025 Nielsen measurements. This decline aligns with seasonal softening in cable viewership post-election periods, though the program retained its lead over Early Start and MSNBC's Early Start in total viewers throughout.
PeriodAverage Total Viewers (5-6 a.m. ET, weekdays)
Q2 2024550,000
End 2024588,000
January 2025722,000
Q1 2025715,000
Q3 2025524,000

Comparative Analysis with Competitors

Fox & Friends First has consistently led viewership in the 5:00–6:00 a.m. ET slot compared to counterparts Early Start on and on MSNBC. In the third quarter of 2025, it averaged 524,000 total viewers on weekdays, outpacing the competition as reported by Nielsen data. This figure reflects ' broader dominance in , where the network captured 14 of the top 15 programs in total viewers during the same period. MSNBC's trailed with an average of 215,000 total viewers per episode in recent episodes, marking a 43% decline from April 2024 levels. The program has occasionally outperformed in the slot for 40 consecutive months through July 2025, but both lag significantly behind in absolute numbers. 's Early Start figures are not prominently detailed in quarterly reports, aligning with the network's total day average of 396,000 viewers in Q3 2025, down amid ongoing challenges in non-primetime slots. Nielsen metrics indicate 's early morning lead extends to the adults 25-54 demographic, where cable news competition remains fragmented, with holding a majority share.
ProgramNetworkQ3 2025 Weekday Avg. Total Viewers (5-6 a.m. ET)
Fox & Friends First524,000
Way Too EarlyMSNBC~215,000 (recent avg.)
Early StartNot specified; network total day 396,000

Reception and Cultural Impact

Positive Viewer and Industry Feedback

FOX & Friends First has garnered positive reception from viewers, who appreciate its role in delivering early-morning headlines with a focus on breaking news and conservative perspectives, as reflected in its sustained high engagement and viewership. The show's official page maintains over 463,000 likes, with regular posts eliciting supportive comments from audiences praising the hosts' energy and coverage of topics like and . Industry recognition highlights the program's contribution to ' morning dominance, with analysts noting its consistent outperformance in the cable news landscape. For example, in the third quarter of 2025, averaged 524,000 total viewers from 5-6 AM ET, surpassing competitors and underscoring its appeal in establishing viewer habits early in the day. Similarly, the broader franchise, including First, has been identified as the most-watched cable morning shows, with the early edition playing a key role in building audience momentum. Viewers have specifically commended the hosting duo of Todd Piro and Carley Shimkus for their straightforward style and rapport, which fosters loyalty among conservative audiences seeking unfiltered news before transitioning to the main program. This feedback aligns with the show's first-week performance in 2012, when it averaged more total viewers than and MSNBC combined in the same slot, signaling immediate positive reception.

Criticisms from Media Observers

Media bias analysts have rated Fox & Friends First as strongly right-leaning in its perspective. , employing a panel of left-, right-, and center-leaning evaluators, assigned the program a score of 14.13 on a scale where positive values indicate rightward tilt, categorizing it as "strong right," based on factors including language tone, political positioning, and comparisons to other reporting. Its reliability score of 35.07, on a 0-64 scale assessing veracity, expression, and other elements, places it in the "generally reliable / or other issues" range (24-40), denoting a mix of factual reporting with opinion and potential variability due to its analytical format. Left-oriented media watchdogs have accused the show of platforming fringe viewpoints under the guise of activism. In April 2023, highlighted an interview with Richard Ward, whom they described as an activist with a history of promoting white supremacist tropes on , framing his opposition to asylum-seeker aid as mainstream discourse. Such critiques emanate from sources with documented ideological leanings, which may prioritize narratives aligning with progressive priorities over balanced scrutiny of conservative media. Outlets including have portrayed the program's early-morning segments on education policy as inflating controversies. For instance, in October 2021 coverage, co-host Carley Shimkus discussed parents "fighting back" against (CRT) in schools, which the Post analysis contended overstated CRT's actual implementation, as surveys showed it rarely featured in K-12 curricula beyond isolated instances. This reflects broader observer claims of in amplifying cultural debates, though empirical data on school curricula supports limited CRT adoption, suggesting the show's emphasis aligns with documented parental surveys indicating widespread concern over related instructional materials. These assessments often originate from institutions exhibiting systemic left-wing , as evidenced by consistent patterns in and academic critiques that downplay conservative viewpoints while elevating opposing ones, potentially undermining the objectivity of such evaluations.

Controversies and Debates

Allegations of Bias and Political Slant

Fox & Friends First, as an early-morning extension of Fox News Channel's flagship conservative programming, has been subject to allegations of exhibiting a strong right-wing political slant. rating organizations, employing panels of analysts from across the , have classified the program as strongly right-biased. For instance, assigns it a score of 14.13 on a scale from -42 (extreme left) to +42 (extreme right), categorizing it within the "strong right" range based on evaluations of language, political positioning, and comparisons to other coverage. This assessment reflects patterns such as frequent promotion of conservative narratives, sympathetic framing of Republican figures, and skepticism toward Democratic policies, consistent with broader analyses of morning shows. Critics, including left-leaning watchdog groups and academics, argue that the program's guest selection and segment focus amplify partisan viewpoints, often prioritizing interviews with conservative commentators and downplaying or critically examining liberal positions. Content analyses of programming, including morning segments, have documented a tendency to allocate disproportionate airtime to stories aligning with Republican priorities, such as and economic critiques of Democratic administrations, while applying stricter scrutiny to opposing narratives. For example, post-2016 coverage in related Fox morning shows emphasized supportive angles on then-President Trump's agenda, with transcripts revealing recurring themes of media distrust toward mainstream outlets perceived as left-leaning. Such patterns, attributed to editorial directives, have led to claims that Fox & Friends First functions more as advocacy than neutral journalism, though these critiques emanate predominantly from sources with documented left biases themselves, like . Defenders of the program contend that its slant serves as a corrective to the pervasive left-wing in legacy media and academia, where empirical studies indicate systemic underrepresentation of conservative perspectives. Reliability ratings for Fox & Friends First remain in the "generally reliable" category per , scoring 35.07 on a 0-64 veracity scale, suggesting factual underpinnings despite the opinionated delivery, with issues primarily in analytical framing rather than outright fabrication. This positions the show as polarizing yet grounded, appealing to audiences seeking alternatives to dominant media narratives, as evidenced by sustained viewership among conservative demographics.

Specific Incidents and Responses

In November 2020, co-host Todd Piro tested positive for , prompting internal concerns among staffers who reported not being informed of the diagnosis despite shared workspaces and close proximity during broadcasts. The incident highlighted broader criticisms of the network's handling of protocols in its studios, with employees alleging a lack of transparency that risked further spread among production teams. did not publicly address the specific notification lapse but maintained operations under its return-to-office policies, which emphasized in-person broadcasting amid debates. In April 2017, Fox News anchor Kelly Wright joined a lawsuit against the network, claiming executives rejected his pitch for an early-morning program—later launched as Fox & Friends First—due to bias against promoting Black on-air talent. Wright alleged that despite his qualifications and idea's alignment with successful formats, white colleagues received preferential opportunities, contributing to a pattern of underrepresentation. The suit, part of wider harassment and discrimination claims settled by Fox for $12 million in 2017, did not result in individual liability for the show's development but underscored internal diversity critiques during ' tenure. Fox responded by denying and highlighting subsequent hires, including diverse contributors to morning programming. A 2008 broadcast of Fox & Friends First drew scrutiny for airing unverified quotes attributed to a Cleveland elementary school principal opposing , which were later revealed as fabricated by a email campaign. Hosts and presented the story without immediate , leading to calls for from media watchdogs who labeled the segment as emblematic of insufficient sourcing rigor. No proceeded against the show, as the originating perpetrators were not pursued, and Fox issued no formal on-air correction but continued operations without noted policy changes.

Recent Developments

Programming Adjustments Post-2020

Following the 2020 presidential election, maintained its core format as an early-morning news program delivering headlines, weather updates, and brief interviews, but underwent a notable hosting transition in early 2023. On January 20, 2023, co-host announced her departure after more than five years on the show, stating her intention to relocate to for family reasons. Mele, who had joined in alongside rotating anchors, was replaced by Carley Shimkus, previously a Network correspondent and occasional fill-in host. Shimkus began co-hosting with Todd Piro effective immediately after Mele's exit, preserving the program's two-anchor structure focused on concise, live reporting to lead into the longer broadcast. This change occurred amid broader Fox News personnel shifts post-2020, including high-profile departures elsewhere on the network, but did not alter the show's weekday 5:00-6:00 a.m. ET slot or emphasis on real-time domestic and international news coverage. Viewership data from the period indicated steady performance for the early slot, with Fox & Friends First averaging around 450,000-470,000 total viewers in 2021 quarters, supporting continuity rather than overhaul. No additional format modifications, such as expanded segments or thematic shifts, were implemented through 2025, as the program continued prioritizing empirical reporting over opinionated analysis.

Updates Through 2025

In 2025, Fox & Friends First continued airing weekdays from 5:00 to 6:00 a.m. ET on , hosted by Carley Shimkus and Todd Piro, with contributions from meteorologist . The program maintained its focus on early-morning headlines, previews of the day's events, and interviews, serving as a lead-in to the expanded franchise. No major host or format changes were implemented during the year, reflecting stability amid ' broader morning dominance. Viewership remained strong, aligning with Fox News' overall cable news leadership. In the first quarter of 2025, the show averaged 715,000 total viewers, outpacing competitors and contributing to the network's highest-rated quarter in cable news history for weekday early-morning slots. By the third quarter, it drew 524,000 total viewers, still topping rivals like MSNBC's Early Start and CNN's early programming in the 5:00 a.m. hour, though down from earlier peaks possibly due to post-election cycle normalization. These figures underscored the show's role in Fox News' year-to-date total day averages of 1.568 million viewers, far exceeding MSNBC (878,000) and CNN (538,000). The program integrated ongoing coverage of key 2025 events, including political developments following the 2024 election and economic indicators, with segments featuring network contributors on topics like federal probes and media reactions. emphasized the show's competitive edge in press releases, attributing sustained performance to viewer preference for its unfiltered news delivery over alternatives perceived as more editorialized. Through October 2025, no disruptions or announced adjustments occurred, positioning it as a consistent early riser in the network's lineup.

References

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  39. https://www.newscaststudio.com/2021/11/01/fox-and-friends-new-graphics/
  40. https://press.foxnews.com/2024/07/fox-news-channel-hits-90-consecutive-quarters-at-number-one-and-posts-double-digit-growth-among-every-category-year-over-year
  41. https://press.foxnews.com/2024/12/fox-news-channel-finishes-2024-with-highest-audience-share-in-nearly-a-decade-as-it-marks-nine-years-as-cables-most-watched-network
  42. https://press.foxnews.com/2025/01/fox-news-delivers-highest-rated-january-in-cable-news-history-and-marks-23-years-at-number-one
  43. https://www.foxcorporation.com/news/business/2025/fox-news-channel-surges-to-highest-rated-quarter-in-history-of-cable-news-with-weekday-viewers-beating-broadcast-networks/
  44. https://press.foxnews.com/2025/10/fox-news-channel-beats-cbs-and-abc-in-third-quarter-and-remains-leader-in-all-of-television-year-to-date
  45. https://ustvdb.com/networks/fox-news/shows/fox-friends-first/
  46. https://www.tvinsider.com/1219169/msnbc-cnn-fox-news-top-shows-ratings-newsnation-newsmax/
  47. https://ustvdb.com/networks/msnbc/shows/way-too-early-jonathan-lemire/
  48. https://thedesk.net/2025/07/msnbc-july-2025-tv-ratings-nielsen/
  49. https://www.adweek.com/tvnewser/here-are-the-3rd-quarter-of-2025-cable-news-ratings/
  50. https://www.facebook.com/FoxFriendsFirst/
  51. https://www.aol.com/news/fox-news-channel-surges-past-210633733.html
  52. https://lazarco.ca/lirik-lagu-king-of-majesty/?ref=pagination&page=1au/au/at/be/be/sell?ref=ftrat/cartca-fr/at/au/at/au/at/at/au/au/
  53. https://adfontesmedia.com/fox-friends-first-bias-and-reliability/
  54. https://www.mediamatters.org/fox-news/fox-friends-first-hosts-activist-known-pushing-white-supremacy-attack-efforts-help-asylum
  55. https://www.washingtonpost.com/media/2021/10/06/fox-news-critical-race-theory/
  56. https://adfontesmedia.com/fox-friends-bias-and-reliability/
  57. https://scholarsarchive.jwu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1036&context=student_scholarship
  58. https://www.vox.com/2017/8/7/16083122/breakfast-club-fox-and-friends
  59. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0047272724001920
  60. https://www.thedailybeast.com/fox-news-host-todd-piro-got-covid-and-staffers-say-they-were-never-told/
  61. https://www.adweek.com/tvnewser/fox-news-anchor-kelly-wright-joins-racial-discrimination-suit/
  62. https://www.mediamatters.org/fox-friends/gullible-fox-friends-escape-lawsuit-repeating-yet-another-false-news-story
  63. https://press.foxnews.com/2021/03/fox-news-channel-reclaims-lead-sweeping-total-day-and-primetime-viewers-and-demo-for-the-month-of-march
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