Here Are the Cable News Ratings for September 2026

September proved to be an even slower news month than August, as all three cable news networks finished with month-to-month losses in total viewers and the Adults 25-54 demo during primetime and total day.

Fox News remained the most-watched cable news network, but its primetime total viewers numbers fell below the 2 million mark. Meanwhile, CNN’s comfortable second-place lead in the demo nearly evaporated as 1,000 viewers separated it from MS NOW.

Fox News

According to Nielsen big data + panel, Fox News had 1.717 million total viewers in primetime and 156,000 viewers in the Adults 25-54 demo in September. During total day, it had 1.112 million total viewers and 106,000 viewers in the demo.

Compared to its August 2026 performance, Fox News was down -19% in total viewers and -17% in the A25-54 demo during primetime. In total day, the network fell -18% in total viewers and -11% in the demo compared with the previous month. 

Looking at Fox News’ performance against the same month in 2025, it declined by -32% in total viewers and -44% in the demo during primetime. While in total day, it was down by -31% in total viewers and -40% in the demo.

The network finished September in second place among total viewers and was third in the demo during primetime. During total day, it remained in first place in total viewers and was No. 2 in the demo. 

MS NOW

MS NOW finished second among news networks in total viewers in primetime and total day, with 839,000 and 544,000 viewers, respectively, in September. In the A25-54 demo, the network had 79,000 viewers in primetime and 52,000 during total day. 

Compared to August, MS NOW was down -11% in total viewers and -6% in the A25-54 demo during primetime. During total day, it was also down -9% in total viewers and the demo.

Looking at its performance in September 2025, MS NOW was up +4% in total viewers and +14% in the demo during primetime. It was also up +7% in total viewers and +16% in the demo during total day.

MS NOW was the No. 3 cable network during primetime and during total day among total viewers. It finished 13th in the demo during primetime and 11th during total day.

CNN

During primetime in September, CNN had 539,000 total viewers and 90,000 A25-54 viewers. Looking at total day, the network had 373,000 total viewers and 53,000 demo viewers.

Compared to the previous month, CNN fell by -14% in total viewers and -17% in demo viewers during primetime. It was down by -15% in total viewers and -20% in the demo during total day. 

When looking at its performance to the same month in 2025 during primetime, CNN slid by -1% in total viewers but grew +3% in the demo. It was down -7% during total day and -15% in the demo. 

CNN finished fifth in primetime and fourth in total day in total viewers among all cable networks. In the demo, it finished 11th in primetime and 10th in total day.

Looking at the September performance of the other news nets:

• NewsNation – The network’s primetime viewership averaged 96,000 total viewers and 12,000 demo viewers. Cuomo was the top show for the network in total viewers and the demo with 167,000 and 20,000 viewers, respectively.
• Fox Business – Kudlow was the network’s top show in total viewers, with 244,000, and in the demo, with 13,000 viewers. 
• CNBC – Fast Money Halftime Report was the most-watched program in total viewers, with 237,000, as well as in the A25-54 demo, with 56,000 viewers. 
• Newsmax – Rob Schmitt Tonight was the network’s top show in total viewers, with 305,000, and the Adults 25-54 demo, with 19,000 viewers. 

PROGRAMMING

• Fox News – The Five was the most-watched program in total viewers, with 2.794 million at 5 p.m. ET. It also led the advertiser-coveted A25-54 demo with 273,000 viewers.
• MS NOW – The most-watched show in total viewers and the demo continued to be The Rachel Maddow Show with 1.786 million and 186,000 viewers, respectively, at 9 p.m. ET on Mondays. 
• CNN – CNN NewsNight with Abby Phillip was the network’s top performer in total viewers, with 610,000 viewers. It led the A25-54 demo with 121,000 viewers. 

Among Total Viewers 

1. The Five – Fox News (2,794,000)
2. Jesse Watters Primetime – Fox News -(2,408,000)
3. Gutfeld! – Fox News – (2,123,000) 
4. Hannity – Fox News – (2,055,000)
5. Special Report with Bret Baier – Fox News – (2,040,000)
6. The Ingraham Angle – Fox News – (1,919,000)
7. The Rachel Maddow Show – MS NOW – (1,786,000)
8. The Will Cain Show – Fox News – (1,645,000)
9. The Story with Martha MacCallum – Fox News (1,427,000) 
10. America’s Newsroom – Fox News – (1,414,000) 
11. Outnumbered – Fox News – (1,405,000)
12. The Faulkner Focus – Fox News – ( 1,399,000)
13. America Reports – Fox News – (1,368,000)
14. The Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell – MS NOW – (1,110,000)
15. Fox News @Night – Fox News – (1,095,000)

Among Adults 25-54 

1. The Five – Fox News – (273,000)
2. Gutfeld! – Fox News – (214,000)
3. Jesse Watters Primetime – Fox News – (212,000)
4. Hannity – Fox News – (204,000)
5. The Rachel Maddow Show – MSNBC – (186,000)
6. Special Report with Bret Baier – Fox News – (179,000) 
7. The Ingraham Angle and The Will Cain Show – Fox News – (161,000)
8. Outnumbered – Fox News – (147,000)
9. The Faulkner Focus and The Story with Martha MacCallum – Fox News – (139,000)
10.  America Reports – Fox News – (135,000)
11. America’s Newsroom – Fox News and CNN NewsNight with Abby Phillip – CNN – (121,000)
12. Fox News @Night – Fox News – (112,000)

September 2026 Cable News Ratings  (Nielsen Big Data + Panel):

Total Day