This is TVNewser’s basic cable network ranker and cable news report for the week of November 2, 2026.
The midterm elections were a boon for the three cable networks, as nighttime coverage of the results and aftermath brought in viewers. As the blue wave spread across the nation on Tuesday, Fox News managed to hold on to its place as the most-watched cable news network in total viewers on election night and remained the news channel of choice for the rest of the week during primetime and total day.
However, it faced strong competition from CNN and MS NOW, with the former taking first place in the Adults 25-54 during primetime and total day. For CNN, its midterm election day and primetime performance was the best since Election Day in 2024.
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According to Nielsen Big Data + Panel, for the week of Nov. 2, Fox News averaged 1.862 million total viewers and 228,000 A25-54 viewers during primetime. The network had gains of +14% in total viewers and +48% in the demo compared with the prior week (the week beginning Oct. 26).
During total day viewing, Fox News averaged 1.124 million total viewers and 124,000 A25-54 viewers. Based on the previous week’s average, the network was up by 3% in total viewers and 23% in the demo.
Fox News remained second in total primetime viewership and was third in demo viewership among all basic cable networks. During total day, it remained first in total viewers and dropped from second to fourth place in the total day demo.
MS NOW averaged 1.532 total viewers and 226,000 viewers in the A25-54 demo for the week that just concluded. The network was up 54% in total viewers and 95% in the demo compared with its prior-week primetime average.
During total day, MS NOW averaged 927,000 total viewers and 126,000 demo viewers. It rose by 49% in total viewers and 80% in the demo compared with the network’s average the prior week.
Among all basic cable networks, MS NOW continued to be in third in total primetime viewers and moved from sixth to fourth in the demo. It ranked third in total viewers and the total day demo.
CNN averaged 1.339 million total primetime viewers and 373,000 demo viewers. It registered triple-digit growth of 117% in total viewers and 236% in the demo compared to the previous week.
During total day, the network had 749,000 total viewers and 168,000 demo viewers. For CNN, total viewers were up 77 %, and demo viewers were up 163 % during this daypart.
Among all cable networks, CNN landed in fourth place in total viewers and was the No. 2 network in the demo during primetime. It remained at No. 4 in total day among total viewers and finished in second place in the demo.
When looking at these networks’ performance during the same period a year ago:
- During primetime, Fox News was down 14% in total viewers but up 4% in the A25-54 demo. During total day, the network was down 20% in total viewers and 6% in the demo–the only network with declines within this yearly comparison.
- MS NOW was up 21% in total viewers and 52% in the demo. During total day, the network gained 33% in total viewers and 83% in the demo.
- In primetime, CNN was up by 70% in total viewers and 111% in the demo. During total day, it grew by 54% in total viewers and 85% in the demo.
Week of November 2, 2026 (Nielsen Big Data + Panel):
Prime Time
| Fox News | MS NOW | CNN | |
| • Total Viewers: | 1,862,000 | 1,532,000 | 1,339,000 |
| • A25-54: | 228,000 | 226,000 | 373,000 |
Total Day
| Fox News | MS NOW | CNN | |
| • Total Viewers: | 1,124,000 | 927,000 | 749,000 |
| • A25-54: | 124,000 | 126,000 | 168,000 |
