CNN averaged 810,000 total primetime viewers and 135,000 A25-54 viewers during primetime for the week of March 30. The network was up by +8% and +2% in the demo compared to the previous week.
During total day, the network had 598,000 total viewers and 94,000 viewers in the demo. CNN saw gains of +8% in total viewers and +3% in the demo during this daypart.
Among all cable networks, CNN slid from fifth to sixth in total viewers and remained seventh in the demo during primetime. It moved up from No. 5 to No. 4 in total day among total viewers, but dropped from fifth to sixth in the demo.
When looking at these networks’ performance during the same period a year ago:
- During primetime, Fox News was down by -1% in total viewers and -10% in the A25-54 demo. During total day, the network posted declines of -1% in total viewers and -20% in the demo—it was the only network with depreciation in this yearly comparison.
- MS NOW was up by +2% in total viewers and +17% in the demo. During total day, the network was up +7% in total viewers and +19% in the demo.
- In primetime, CNN grew by +42% in total viewers and +18% in the demo. During total day, it rose by +33% in total viewers and +24% in the demo.
PROGRAMMING:
Fox News had 13 out of the 15 spots of the most-watched cable news shows of the week, with Hannity taking the top spot with 3.787 million total viewers weeknights at 9 p.m. ET. MS NOW was represented in the chart by two programs: The Rachel Maddow Show, airing only on Mondays at 9 p.m. ET, which ranked seventh with 2.436 million total viewers, and its Wednesday airing of President Trump’s address at 9 p.m. ET, with 1.75 million total viewers in 14th place.
Hannity, which airs weeknights at 9 p.m. ET on Fox News, was also No. 1 in the Adults 25-54 demo, averaging 453,000 viewers. Fox News had 12 of the 15 top spots in the demo, with CNN’s Mission to the Moon coverage on Wednesday with 334,000 viewers in sixth place. MS NOW’s The Rachel Maddow Show, airing only on Mondays at 9 p.m. ET, finished in eighth place with 262,000 demo viewers, and MS NOW’s presidential address coverage on Wednesday night had it in 15th place with 195,000 demo viewers.
March 30, 2026 (Nielsen Big Data + Panel):
Prime Time
| Fox News | MS NOW | CNN | |
| • Total Viewers: | 2,763,000 | 1,260,000 | 810,000 |
| • A25-54: | 300,000 | 132,000 | 135,000 |
Total Day
| Fox News | MS NOW | CNN | |
| • Total Viewers: | 1,726,000 | 752,000 | 598,000 |
| • A25-54: | 179,000 | 82,000 | 94,000 |
