Below are the cable news ratings for the first quarter of 2026.
Conflict was the theme of the first quarter of the year. January and March started off with U.S. military action in Venezuela and Iran, respectively. This and other storylines, which focused on ICE enforcement, the economy, and the long TSA lines, led the cable networks to record double-digit growth in total viewers and the Adults 25-54 demo during the first three months.
Fox News continued its reign as the most-watched cable network, with MS NOW finishing in second place in total viewers and CNN taking the No. 2 spot in the demo.
Fox News Channel
According to Nielsen big data + panel, Fox News averaged 2.585 million total primetime viewers and 265,000 Adults 25-54 viewers in Q1 2026. During total day, Fox News had 1.703 million total viewers and 171,000 demo viewers.
Compared to the fourth quarter, Fox News was up +25% in total viewers and +39% in the demo during primetime. When looking at total day, it was up by +23% and +36% in total viewers and the demo, respectively.
Looking at Fox News’ performance against the same quarter in 2025, total viewers were down -14% and the demo was down -30% during primetime. While in total day, it saw losses of -11% in total viewers and -31% in the demo—it was the only network within this yearly comparison to record declines.
Fox News finished the quarter in first place among all cable networks during primetime in total viewers and ranked No. 3 in the demo. During total day, Fox News was again on top in total viewers and finished in second place in the demo.
MS NOW
During Q1 2026, MS NOW averaged 1.108 million total primetime viewers and 114,000 primetime demo viewers. During total day, MS NOW had 690,000 total viewers and 72,000 A25-54 viewers.
When looking at MS NOW’s performance vs. the fourth quarter in 2025, it was up in total viewers and the demo by +25% and +46%, respectively, during primetime. During total day, the network was also up +23% in total viewers and +47% in the demo.
Looking at its performance in the first quarter of 2025, MS NOW was up +8% in total viewers and +19% in the demo during primetime. It was also up +16% in total viewers and +26% in the demo during total day.
MS NOW remained in third place in total viewers and was tied with Comedy Central for 11th place in the demo. During total day, MS NOW continued to be in third place in total viewers and 8th in the demo.
CNN
CNN averaged 797,000 total primetime viewers and 156,000 primetime demo viewers in Q1 2025. During total day, the network had 576,000 total viewers and 101,000 A25-54 viewers.
Compared with the fourth quarter, CNN was up +54% in total viewers and +88% in the demo in primetime. When looking at how it performed during total day, it was up +42% in total viewers and +66% in the demo.
When looking at its performance to the same quarter in 2025 during primetime, it was up by +43% in total viewers and +29% in the demo. In total day, CNN grew by +35% and +28% in total viewers and the demo, respectively.
CNN was in fifth place in primetime among total viewers and in the demo. During total day, CNN remained in the No. 4 spot in total viewers and was No. 5 in the demo.
PROGRAMMING
- Fox News – The Five was the network’s most-watched program, averaging 3.971 million total viewers at 5 p.m. ET. It also took top honors in the demo, with 354,000 viewers.
- MS NOW – The Rachel Maddow Show at 9 p.m. ET was the network’s most-watched program in total viewers and the demo with an average of 2.27 million viewers and 251,000 viewers, respectively.
- CNN – Anderson Cooper 360 at 8 p.m. ET was the most-watched program, averaging 878,000 total viewers and 164,000 viewers in the demo.
- Newsmax – Rob Schmitt Tonight was the net’s top show in total viewers with 382,000 total viewers and in the A25-54 demo with 32,000 viewers. For the quarter, Newsmax was up +26% in total viewers and +29% in the demo during primetime. It was also up +17% in total viewers and +22% in the demo during total day.
- NewsNation – Cuomo was the net’s top show in total viewers and A25-54. It had 255,000 and 39,000 viewers, respectively. The network was up +54% in total viewers and +117% in the demo during primetime during Q1 2026. It was also up +60% in total viewers and +100% in the demo during total day.
- Fox Business – Varney and Company was the net’s top show in total viewers with 305,000 viewers. Kudlow was in the top spot in the demo with 16,000 viewers. FBN was up +38% in total viewers and +60% in the demo during primetime, while it was up +16% and +43% in total viewers and the demo, respectively, during total day.
- CNBC – Fast Money Halftime Report was the net’s top show in total viewers with 265,000. In the A25-54 demo, Squawk on the Street was the No. 1 show with 67,000 viewers. The business net was up +62% in total viewers and +100% in the demo during primetime. While in total day, it was up +43% in total viewers and +74% in the demo.
Among Total Viewers
- The Five – Fox News – (3,971,000)
- Jesse Watters Primetime – Fox News – (3,437,000)
- Special Report with Bret Baier – Fox News – (3,033,000)
- Gutfeld! – Fox News – (3,025,000)
- Hannity – Fox News – (2,884,000)
- The Ingraham Angle – Fox News – (2,873,000)
- The Will Cain Show – Fox News – (2,388,000)
- The Rachel Maddow Show – MS NOW – (2,270,000)
- The Story with Martha MacCallum – Fox News – (2,168,000)
- Outnumbered – Fox News – (2,152,000)
- The Faulkner Focus – Fox News – (2,151,000)
- America’s Newsroom – Fox News – (2,106,000)
- America Reports – Fox News – (2,073,000)
- Fox News at Night – Fox News – (1,663,000)
- Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell – MS NOW – (1,418,000)
Among Adults 25-54
- The Five – Fox News – (354,000)
- Gutfeld! – Fox News – (351,000)
- Jesse Watters Primetime – Fox News – (338,000)
- Hannity – Fox News – (301,000)
- Special Report with Bret Baier – Fox News – (289,000)
- The Ingraham Angle – Fox News – (282,000)
- The Rachel Maddow Show – MSNBC – (251,000)
- The Will Cain Show – Fox News – (220,000)
- Fox and Friends – Fox – (216,000)
- The Story – Fox News – (205,000)
- The Faulkner Focus – Fox News – (204,000)
- America Reports – Fox News – (203,000)
- Outnumbered – Fox News – (201,000)
- America’s Newsroom & Fox News at Night – Fox News – (191,000)
- Anderson Cooper 360 – CNN – (164,000)
2026 Q1 Cable News Ratings (Nielsen Big Data + Panel):
Fox News MS NOW CNN • Total Viewers: 2,585,000 1,108,000 797,000 • A25-54: 265,000 114,000 156,000
Total Day
Fox News MS NOW CNN • Total Viewers: 1,703,000 690,000 576,000 • A25-54: 171,000 72,000 101,000