This is TVNewser’s basic cable network ranker and cable news report for the week of June 1, 2026.
MS NOW began the month on solid footing as it was the only cable news network to finish with gains in total viewers and the Adults 25-54 demo during primetime and total day.
This was the week that saw the news networks devote extended coverage on Tuesday night to the primary elections taking place in multiple states. Interest in the various primary races, especially those in California, led the cable news network to continue live coverage into the overnight hours.
Fox News was still the most-watched network in total viewers between 1 a.m. and 3 a.m. ET, but MS NOW finished ahead of Fox News in the prized demo during those two hours. MS NOW had 156,00 vs. Fox News’ 134,00 demo viewers at 1 a.m. ET, and during the 2 a.m. ET hour, MS NOW had 174,000 demo viewers, while Fox News finished with 81,000 demo viewers.
NETWORKS:
According to Nielsen Big Data + Panel, for the week of June 1, Fox News averaged 2.3 million total viewers and 203,000 A25-54 viewers during primetime. The network was flat in total viewers and grew by +11% in the demo compared to the week prior (the week beginning May 25).
During total day viewing, Fox News averaged 1.432 million total viewers and 130,000 A25-54 viewers. Based on its average from the previous week’s measurements, the network slipped by -1% in total viewers and was flat in the demo.
Fox News was first in total primetime viewership and moved from third to second in demo viewership among all basic cable networks. During total day, it continued to be No. 1 in total viewers and No. 2 in the total day demo.
MS NOW averaged 976,000 total viewers and 102,000 viewers in the A25-54 demo for the week that just concluded. The network was up +11% in total viewers and +2% in the demo compared to its primetime average the week prior.
During total day, MS NOW averaged 603,000 total viewers and 64,000 demo viewers. It grew +9% in total viewers and +12% in the demo compared to the network’s average the week prior.
Among all basic cable networks, MS NOW remained third in total primetime viewers and 12th in the demo, tied with Freeform, HGTV, and A&E. It moved up from third to second in total viewers and finished in eighth place in the total day demo.
CNN averaged 637,00 total primetime viewers and 116,000 A25-54 viewers during primetime for the week of June 1. The network saw gains of +8% in total viewers and +7% in the demo compared to the previous week.
During total day, the network had 439,000 total viewers and 69,000 viewers in the demo. CNN was up +2% in total viewers and flat in the demo during this daypart.
