When looking at these networks’ performance during the same period a year ago:
- During primetime, Fox News was down -12% in total viewers and -23% in the A25-54 demo. During total day, the network was down -11% in total viewers and -27% in the demo—the only network with declines within this yearly comparison.
- MS NOW was up by +16% in total viewers and +15% in the demo. During total day, the network was up +18% in total viewers and +30% in the demo.
- In primetime, CNN grew by +34% in total viewers and +37% in the demo. During total day, it rose by +25% in total viewers and +21% in the demo.
PROGRAMMING:
Fox News had 13 out of the 15 spots of the most-watched cable news shows of the week, with The Five leading the way with 3.227 million total viewers at 5 p.m. ET. MS NOW was represented in the chart by The Rachel Maddow Show, airing Monday nights at 9 p.m. ET, with 2.007 million total viewers at No. 7, and The Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell, airing weeknights at 10 p.m., taking 15th place with 1.29 million total viewers.
Gutfeld!, airing weeknights at 10 p.m. ET on Fox News, leaped over The Five to take the No. 1 spot in the Adults 25-54 demo, averaging 294,000 viewers. Fox News held 13 of the 15 top spots in the demo, with MS NOW represented by The Rachel Maddow Show, which drew 211,000 viewers in the No. 4 position. CNN had CNN NewsNight with Abby Phillip, airing five days a week at 10 p.m. ET, finishing with 163,000 viewers to take the No. 9 position.
August 10, 2026 (Nielsen Big Data + Panel):
Prime Time
| Fox News | MS NOW | CNN | |
| • Total Viewers: | 2,064,000 | 924,000 | 624,000 |
| • A25-54: | 188,000 | 85,000 | 115,000 |
Total Day
| Fox News | MS NOW | CNN | |
| • Total Viewers: | 1,326,000 | 584,000 | 443,000 |
| • A25-54: | 120,000 | 57,000 | 68,000 |
