This is TVNewser’s basic cable network ranker and cable news report for the week of June 22, 2026.
Fox News and MS NOW concluded the week with some positive momentum as they recorded individual wins in total viewers during total day and the Adults 25-54 demo during total day, respectively.
All networks were down in both measured categories during primetime, as the official onset of summer and continued action from the FIFA World Cup may have kept viewers away from cable news networks.
NETWORKS:
According to Nielsen big data + panel for the week of June 22, Fox News averaged 2.223 million total viewers and 187,000 A25-54 viewers during primetime. The network was down -2% in total viewers and -7% in the demo compared to the week prior (the week beginning June 15).
During total day viewing, Fox News averaged 1.439 million total viewers and 126,000 A25-54 viewers. Based on its average from the previous week’s measurements, the network was up +2% in total viewers but experienced a -3% drop in the demo.
Fox News reclaimed first place in total primetime viewership and remained in third place in demo viewership among all basic cable networks. During total day, it continued to be No. 1 in total viewers and in third place in the total day demo.
MS NOW averaged 1.025 million total viewers and 86,000 viewers in the A25-54 demo for the week that just concluded. The network declined by -4% in total viewers and -2% in the demo compared to its primetime average the week prior.
During total day, MS NOW averaged 649,000 total viewers and 59,000 demo viewers. It was down -1% in total viewers but up +5% in the demo compared to the network’s average the week prior.
Among all basic cable networks, MS NOW slid from third to fourth in total primetime viewers and was 15th in the demo, tied with Discovery Channel. It moved back to second from third in total viewers and remained in 11th place in the total day demo.
CNN averaged 622,000 total primetime viewers and 85,000 A25-54 viewers during primetime for the week of June 22. The network fell by -3% in total viewers and -11% in the demo compared to the previous week.
During total day, the network had 446,000 total viewers and 57,000 viewers in the demo. CNN recorded drops of -2% in total viewers and -3% during this daypart.
Among all cable networks, CNN moved down one spot to seventh in total viewers and was 17th in the demo during primetime, tied with TNT. It rose two spots to land in third place in total day among total viewers and was 12th in the demo.
When looking at these networks’ performance during the same period a year ago:
- During primetime, Fox News was down -20% in total viewers and -47% in the A25-54 demo. During total day, the network posted losses of -19% in total viewers and -46% in the demo.
- MS NOW was up +14% in total viewers but down -1% in the demo. During total day, the network grew by +13% in total viewers but dropped by -2% in the demo.
- In primetime, CNN saw gains of +2% in total viewers but fell -33% in the demo. During total day, it was down by -2% in total viewers and -32% in the demo.
PROGRAMMING:
Fox News had 13 out of the 15 spots of the most-watched cable news shows of the week, with The Five on top with 3.303 million total viewers at 5 p.m. ET. MS NOW was represented in the chart by the Monday airing of The Rachel Maddow Show at 9 p.m. ET, with 2.261 million total viewers at No. 6, and by The Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell, airing weeknights at 10 p.m. ET, with 1.339 million total viewers at No. 15.
The Five also finished first in the Adults 25-54 demo, averaging 296,000 viewers at 5 p.m. ET. Fox News held 14 of the 15 top spots in the demo, with The Rachel Maddow Show in sixth place with 198,000 viewers.
June 22, 2026 (Nielsen Big Data + Panel):
Prime Time
Fox News MS NOW CNN • Total Viewers: 2,223,000 1,025,000 622,000 • A25-54: 187,000 86,000 85,000
Total Day
Fox News MS NOW CNN • Total Viewers: 1,439,000 649,000 446,000 • A25-54: 126,000 59,000 57,000