This is TVNewser’s basic cable network ranker and cable news report for the week of Aug. 17, 2026.
The dog days of summer, which bring a slower news period, are catching up with cable news networks, as all three registered week-to-week declines in both total viewers and the Adults 25-54 demo during primetime and total day.
MS NOW saw the steepest declines in the primetime demo, falling by double digits, while it and CNN also saw double-digit drops in demo viewers during total day.
NETWORKS:
According to Nielsen big data + panel for the week of Aug. 17, Fox News averaged 2.009 million total viewers and 178,000 A25-54 viewers during primetime. The network fell by -3% in total viewers and -5% in the demo compared to the week prior (the week beginning August 10).
During total day viewing, Fox News averaged 1.287 million total viewers and 113,000 A25-54 viewers. Based on its average from the previous week’s measurements, the network declined by -3% in total viewers and -6% in the demo.
Fox News continued to rank first in total primetime viewership and finished in third place in demo viewership among all basic cable networks. During total day, it also finished first in total viewers and moved from No. 3 to No. 2 in the total day demo.
MS NOW averaged 851,000 total viewers and 66,000 viewers in the A25-54 demo for the week that just concluded. The network was down -8% in total viewers and -22% in the demo compared with its primetime average the prior week.
During total day, MS NOW averaged 572,000 total viewers and 48,000 demo viewers. It was down -2% in total viewers and -16% in the demo compared to the network’s average the week prior.
Among all basic cable networks, MS NOW was third in total primetime viewers and finished 20th in the demo. It dropped from second to third in total viewers and was 12th in the total day demo.
CNN averaged 584,000 total primetime viewers and 105,000 A25-54 viewers during primetime for the week of Aug. 17. The network fell by -6% in total viewers and -9% in the demo compared to the previous week.
During total day, the network had 405,000 total viewers and 60,000 viewers in the demo. CNN saw its performance decrease by -9% in total viewers and -12% in the demo during this daypart.
Among all cable networks, CNN finished sixth in total viewers and 10th in the demo, tied with HGTV, during primetime. It remained at No. 4 in total day among total viewers and was No. 8 in the demo.
When looking at these networks’ performance during the same period a year ago:
- During primetime, Fox News was down -17% in total viewers and -29% in the A25-54 demo. During total day, the network was down -16% in total viewers and -34% in the demo.
- MS NOW was up +6% in total viewers but down -15% in the demo. During total day, the network was up +12% in total viewers and +7% in the demo.
- In primetime, CNN grew by +32% in total viewers and +42% in the demo. During total day, it rose by +18% in total viewers and +13% in the demo.
PROGRAMMING:
Fox News had 14 out of the 15 spots of the most-watched cable news shows of the week, with The Five leading the way with 3.184 million total viewers at 5 p.m. ET. MS NOW was represented in the chart by The Briefing with Jen Psaki, airing weeknights at 9 p.m. ET, with 1.144 million total viewers at No. 14.
The Five was No. 1 in the Adults 25-54 demo, averaging 276,000 viewers. Fox News held 14 of the 15 top spots in the demo. CNN NewsNight with Abby Phillip, airing five days a week at 10 p.m. ET, had 138,000 demo viewers in ninth place.
August 17, 2026 (Nielsen Big Data + Panel):
Prime Time
| Fox News | MS NOW | CNN | |
| • Total Viewers: | 2,009,000 | 851,000 | 584,000 |
| • A25-54: | 178,000 | 66,000 | 105,000 |
Total Day
| Fox News | MS NOW | CNN | |
| • Total Viewers: | 1,287,000 | 572,000 | 405,000 |
| • A25-54: | 113,000 | 48,000 | 60,000 |
Correction: A previous version noted the Adults 18-49 ratings for programming rather than the Adults 25-54 demo.
