Here Are the 3rd Quarter of 2026 Cable News Ratings

CNN

CNN averaged 608,000 total primetime viewers and 101,000 primetime demo viewers in Q3 2026. During total day, the network had 426,000 total viewers and 61,000 A25-54 viewers. 

Compared with the second quarter, CNN saw drops of -14% in total viewers and -16% in the demo in primetime. Looking at how it performed during total day, it fell by -14% in total viewers and -19% in the demo. 

When looking at its performance to the same quarter in 2025 during primetime, it was up +13% in total viewers and +16% in the demo. In total day, CNN grew +8% in total viewers and was flat in the demo. 

CNN slid from fourth place to fifth in primetime among total viewers and was 10th in the demo, tied with FX. During total day, CNN remained in the No. 4 spot in total viewers and was No. 8 in the demo. 

PROGRAMMING

• Fox News – The Five was the network’s most-watched program, averaging 3.146 million total viewers at 5 p.m. ET. It also took top honors in the demo, with 289,000 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 1.915 million viewers and 175,000 viewers, respectively.
• CNN –  CNN NewsNight with Abby Phillip at 10 p.m. ET was the most-watched program, averaging 686,000 total viewers and 134,000 viewers in the demo.
• Newsmax – Rob Schmitt Tonight was the net’s top show in total viewers, with 303,000 total viewers, and tied with Carl Higbie Frontline in the A25-54 demo with 17,000 viewers. For the quarter, Newsmax was down -7% in total viewers and -25% in the demo during primetime. It was also down -6% in total viewers and -22% in the demo during total day.
• NewsNation – Cuomo was the net’s top show in total viewers and A25-54. It had 198,000 and 22,000 viewers, respectively. The network dipped by -23% in total viewers and -32% in the demo during primetime during Q3 2026. It also fell by -25% in total viewers and -33% in the demo during total day.
• Fox Business – Kudlow was the net’s top show in total viewers, with 255,000. It tied with Barron’s Roundtable for the top spot in the demo with 12,000 viewers. FBN dropped by -6% in total viewers and -14% in the demo during primetime, while it was down -16% and -20% 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 265,000. In the A25-54 demo, it was also the No. 1 show with 63,000 viewers. The business network declined by -6% in total viewers and -3% in the demo during primetime. While in total day, it was also down by -6% in total viewers and -14% in the demo.

Among Total Viewers 

1. The Five – Fox News (3,146,000)
2. Jesse Watters Primetime – Fox News – (2,758,000)
3. Gutfeld!  – Fox News – (2,451,000)
4. Special Report with Bret Baier – Fox News – (2,330,000)
5. Hannity – Fox News – (2,307,000) 
6. The Ingraham Angle – Fox News  – (2,202,000)
7. The Rachel Maddow Show – MS NOW – (1,915,000)
8. The Will Cain Show – Fox News – (1,824,000)
9. America’s Newsroom – Fox News – (1,651,000)
10. Outnumbered – Fox News – (1,623,000)
11. The Story with Martha MacCallum – Fox News – (1,612,000)
12. The Faulkner Focus – Fox News – ( 1,591,000)
13. America Reports – Fox News – (1,524,000)
14. Fox News at Night – Fox News – (1,330,000)
15. Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell – MS NOW – (1,229,000)