This is TVNewser’s basic cable network ranker and cable news report for the week of September 21, 2026.
Fox News, MS NOW, and CNN all experienced week-to-week gains in total viewers and the Adults 25-54 demo during primetime. However, Fox News was the odd one out during total day, as MS NOW and CNN also recorded growth in both measured categories.
CNN wrestled back its second-place position in the total day demo from MS NOW, overtaking the Versant-owned network courtesy of an additional 1,000 A25-54 viewers.
NETWORKS:
According to Nielsen big data + panel for the week of Sept. 21, Fox News averaged 1.666 million total viewers and 149,000 A25-54 viewers during primetime. The network was up +3% in total viewers and +1% in the demo compared to the prior week (the week beginning September 14).
During total day viewing, Fox News averaged 1.065 million total viewers and 98,000 A25-54 viewers, dropping below the 100,000 mark. Based on its average from the previous week’s measurements, the network was flat in total viewers and down -6% in the demo.
Fox News remained in second place in total primetime viewership and moved from No. 4 to No. 3 in demo viewership among all basic cable networks. During total day, it remained first in total viewers and second in the total day demo.
MS NOW averaged 930,000 total viewers and 90,000 viewers in the A25-54 demo for the week that just concluded. The network grew by +2% in total viewers and +11% in the demo compared with its primetime average the prior week.
During total day, MS NOW averaged 580,000 total viewers and 55,000 demo viewers. It was up +2% in total viewers and the demo compared to the network’s average the prior week.
Among all basic cable networks, MS NOW remained third in total primetime viewers and was 11th in the demo, tied with FX. It also ranked third in total viewers and finished in eighth place in the total day demo.
CNN averaged 598,000 total primetime viewers and 98,000 demo viewers. It grew by +8% in total viewers and +11% in the demo compared to the previous week.
During total day, the network had 395,000 total viewers and 56,000 viewers in the demo. For CNN, this was growth of +5% in total viewers and +6% in the demo during this daypart.
Among all cable networks, CNN reclaimed fourth place in total viewers and was ninth in the demo during primetime, tied with Adult Swim. It remained at No. 4 in total day among total viewers and was No. 7 in the demo.
When looking at these networks’ performance during the same period a year ago:
- During primetime, Fox News was down -32% in total viewers and -40% in the A25-54 demo. During total day, the network was down -30% in total viewers and -37% in the demo.
- MS NOW was up +9% in total viewers and +27% in the demo. During total day, the network gained +13% in total viewers and +15% in the demo.
- In primetime, CNN was up by +11% in total viewers and +14% in the demo. During total day, it was up +2% in total viewers but down -5% in the demo.
PROGRAMMING:
Fox News held 12 of the 15 spots among the week’s most-watched cable news shows, with The Five on top with 2.642 million total viewers at 5 p.m. ET. MS NOW was represented in the chart by Monday’s 9 p.m. ET airing of The Rachel Maddow Show, with 1.847 million total viewers at No. 6. The Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell, airing weeknights at 10 p.m. ET, had 1.216 million total viewers at No. 14, and the 4 p.m. ET edition of Deadline: White House with Nicolle Wallace was in the No. 15 position, with 1.166 million total viewers.
The Five remained in the pole position in the Adults 25-54 demo, averaging 270,000 viewers. Once again, Fox News held 12 of the 15 top spots in the demo, with MS NOW’s The Rachel Maddow Show averaging 202,000 viewers to take a surprising second place. The network’s weeknight 7 p.m. ET show, The Weeknight, finished at No. 15 with 112,000 demo viewers. CNN was represented by CNN NewsNight with Abby Phillip, airing five nights a week at 10 p.m. ET, which finished in 14th place with 116,000 viewers.
September 21, 2026 (Nielsen Big Data + Panel):
Prime Time
| Fox News | MS NOW | CNN | |
| • Total Viewers: | 1,666,000 | 930,000 | 598,000 |
| • A25-54: | 149,000 | 90,000 | 98,000 |
Total Day
| Fox News | MS NOW | CNN | |
| • Total Viewers: | 1,065,000 | 580,000 | 395,000 |
| • A25-54: | 98,000 | 55,000 | 56,000 |
