This is TVNewser’s basic cable network ranker and cable news report for the week of April 13, 2026.
The three cable news networks saw declines in total viewers and Adults 25-54 during primetime and total day due to a slower news cycle than the previous week. Meanwhile, Fox News continued its dominant streak as the most-watched network in both measured categories.
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According to Nielsen big data + panel for the week of April 13, Fox News averaged 2.711 million total viewers and 246,000 A25-54 viewers during primetime. The network was down -11% in total viewers and -21% in the demo compared to the week prior (the week beginning April 6).
During total day viewing, Fox News averaged 1.715 million total viewers and 161,000 A25-54 viewers. Based on its average from the previous week’s measurements, the network registered declines of -5% in total viewers and -9% in the demo.
Fox News continued to rank first in total primetime viewership and climbed to second from fourth in demo viewership among all basic cable networks. During total day, it finished first in total viewers and remained No. 2 in the total day demo.
MS NOW averaged 1.215 million total viewers and 127,000 viewers in the A25-54 demo for the week that just concluded. The network fell by -5% in total viewers and by -13% in the demo compared to its primetime average the week prior.
During total day, MS NOW averaged 729,000 total viewers and 75,000 demo viewers. It was down by -5% in total viewers and -9% in the demo compared to the network’s average the week prior.
Among all basic cable networks, MS NOW rose from third to second in total primetime viewers but dropped one spot to ninth in the demo. It stayed in second place in total viewers and seventh in the total day demo.
CNN averaged 753,000 total primetime viewers and 132,000 A25-54 viewers during primetime for the week of April 13. The network decreased by -36% in total viewers and -39% in the demo compared to the previous week.
During total day, the network had 549,000 total viewers and 83,000 viewers in the demo. CNN was down -17% in total viewers and -22% in the demo during this daypart.
Among all cable networks, CNN finished fourth in total viewers and dropped from fifth to eighth in the demo during primetime. It continued to hold onto the No. 3 spot in total day among total viewers and remained in fifth in the demo.
When looking at these networks’ performance during the same period a year ago:
