Here Are the 3rd Quarter of 2026 Cable News Ratings

Below are the cable news ratings for the third quarter of 2026.

The summer period was not kind to all the cable news networks, as hot, sunny weather combined with a slow news period led to quarter-to-quarter declines in total viewers and the Adults 25-54 demo during primetime and total day.

Fox News, MS NOW, and CNN finished with double-digit losses in both measured categories across the two observed dayparts.

Despite this, Fox News remained the most-watched cable network during this period. It hopes to carry that momentum into the last quarter, which will be sports-heavy programming-wise but, on the news front, will include consequential midterm elections.

Fox News Channel

According to Nielsen big data + panel, Fox News averaged 2.064 million total primetime viewers and 183,000 Adults 25-54 viewers in Q3 2026. During total day, Fox News had 1.321 million total viewers and 121,000 demo viewers.

Compared to the second quarter, Fox News was down -17% in total viewers and -20% in the demo during primetime. When looking at total day, it was also down by -16% and -19% in total viewers and the demo, respectively.

Looking at Fox News’ performance against the same quarter in 2025, total viewers were down -17%, and the demo was down -25% during primetime. In total day, it also fell -16% in total viewers and -24% in the demo, and it was the only network in 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. 2 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 Q3 2026, MS NOW averaged 933,000 total primetime viewers and 84,000 primetime demo viewers. During total day, MS NOW had 592,000 total viewers and 56,000 A25-54 viewers.

When looking at MS NOW’s performance vs. the second quarter in 2026, it was down in total viewers and the demo by -12% and -21%, respectively, during primetime. During total day, the network was also down by -10% in total viewers and -16% in the demo.

Looking at its performance vs. the third quarter of 2025, MS NOW was up +16% in total viewers and +27% in the demo during primetime. It was also up +20% in total viewers and +37% in the demo during total day—the only network with gains in both dayparts within this yearly comparison.

MS NOW remained in third place in total viewers and was 16th in the demo. During total day, MS NOW moved to second place from third in total viewers and remained in 10th place in the demo.

CNN

CNN averaged 608,000 total primetime viewers and 101,000 primetime demo viewers in Q3 2026. During total day, the network had 426,000 total viewers and 61,000 A25-54 viewers.

Compared with the second quarter, CNN saw drops of -14% in total viewers and -16% in the demo in primetime. Looking at how it performed during total day, it fell by -14% in total viewers and -19% in the demo.

When looking at its performance to the same quarter in 2025 during primetime, it was up +13% in total viewers and +16% in the demo. In total day, CNN grew +8% in total viewers and was flat in the demo.

CNN slid from fourth place to fifth in primetime among total viewers and was 10th in the demo, tied with FX. During total day, CNN remained in the No. 4 spot in total viewers and was No. 8 in the demo.

PROGRAMMING

Fox News – The Five was the network’s most-watched program, averaging 3.146 million total viewers at 5 p.m. ET. It also took top honors in the demo, with 289,000 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 1.915 million viewers and 175,000 viewers, respectively.
CNN – CNN NewsNight with Abby Phillip at 10 p.m. ET was the most-watched program, averaging 686,000 total viewers and 134,000 viewers in the demo.
Newsmax – Rob Schmitt Tonight was the net’s top show in total viewers, with 303,000 total viewers, and tied with Carl Higbie Frontline in the A25-54 demo with 17,000 viewers. For the quarter, Newsmax was down -7% in total viewers and -25% in the demo during primetime. It was also down -6% 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 198,000 and 22,000 viewers, respectively. The network dipped by -23% in total viewers and -32% in the demo during primetime during Q3 2026. It also fell by -25% in total viewers and -33% in the demo during total day.
Fox Business – Kudlow was the net’s top show in total viewers, with 255,000. It tied with Barron’s Roundtable for the top spot in the demo with 12,000 viewers. FBN dropped by -6% in total viewers and -14% in the demo during primetime, while it was down -16% and -20% 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, it was also the No. 1 show with 63,000 viewers. The business network declined by -6% in total viewers and -3% in the demo during primetime. While in total day, it was also down by -6% in total viewers and -14% in the demo.