Here Are the 2nd Quarter of 2026 Cable News Ratings

CNN

CNN averaged 711,000 total primetime viewers and 120,000 primetime demo viewers in Q2 2026. During total day, the network had 496,000 total viewers and 75,000 A25-54 viewers. 

Compared with the first quarter, CNN saw drops of -11% in total viewers and -23% in the demo in primetime. Looking at how it performed during total day, it fell by -14% in total viewers and -26% in the demo. 

When looking at its performance to the same quarter in 2025 during primetime, it was up by +32% in total viewers and +14% in the demo. In total day, CNN grew by +22% and +6% in total viewers and the demo, respectively. 

CNN was in fourth place in primetime among total viewers and ninth in the demo, tied with Comedy Central. During total day, CNN remained in the No. 4 spot in total viewers and was No. 7 in the demo. 

PROGRAMMING

• Fox News – The Five was the network’s most-watched program, averaging 3.575 million total viewers at 5 p.m. ET. It also took top honors in the demo, with 322,000 viewers.
• MS NOW – The Rachel Maddow Show at 9 p.m. ET was the network’s most-watched program in total viewers and the demo with an average of 2.17 million viewers and 231,000 viewers, respectively.
• CNN – Anderson Cooper 360 at 8 p.m. ET was the most-watched program, averaging 880,000 total viewers and 146,000 viewers in the demo.
• Newsmax – Rob Schmitt Tonight was the net’s top show, with 327,000 total viewers and 22,000 A25-54 viewers. For the quarter, Newsmax was down -9% in total viewers and -33% in the demo during primetime. It was also down -13% in total viewers and -18% in the demo during total day.
• NewsNation – Cuomo was the net’s top show in total viewers and A25-54. It had 254,000 and 32,000 viewers, respectively. The network dipped by -2% in total viewers and -27% in the demo during primetime during Q2 2026. It also fell by -6% in total viewers and -25% in the demo during total day.
• Fox Business – Varney and Company was the net’s top show in total viewers, with 298,000 viewers. Kudlow was in the top spot in the demo with 14,000 viewers. FBN dropped by -9% in total viewers and -13% the demo during primetime, while it was down -2% and flat in total viewers and the demo, respectively, during total day.  
• CNBC – Fast Money Halftime Report was the net’s top show in total viewers, with 279,000. In the A25-54 demo, it was also the No. 1 show with 75,000 viewers. The business network declined by -14% in total viewers and -28% in the demo during primetime. In total day, it was also down by -8% in total viewers and -12% in the demo.

Among Total Viewers 

1. The Five – Fox News (3,575,000)
2. Jesse Watters Primetime – Fox News – (3,232,000)
3. Gutfeld! – Fox News – (2,837,000)
4. Hannity – Fox News – (2,799,000) 
5. Special Report with Bret Baier – Fox News – (2,723,000)
6. The Ingraham Angle – Fox News – (2,578,000)
7. The Rachel Maddow Show – MS NOW – (2,170,000)
8. The Will Cain Show – Fox News – (2,164,000)
9. The Story with Martha MacCallum – Fox News – (1,909,000)
10. Outnumbered – Fox News – (1,895,000)
11. America’s Newsroom – Fox News – (1,890,000)
12. The Faulkner Focus – Fox News – (1,850,000)
13. America Reports – Fox News – (1,829,000)
14. Fox News at Night – Fox News – (1,536,000)
15. Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell – MS NOW – (1,380,000)