This is TVNewser’s basic cable network ranker and cable news report for the week of Aug. 3, 2026.
CNN started off August as the only big three cable news network to have growth in total viewers and the Adults 25-54 demo during primetime and total day. Impressively, CNN and MSNBC saw double-digit growth in the prized demo during primetime, with both networks exceeding the 100,000-viewer mark.
Fox News, which continues to be the most-watched cable network in both measured categories, was the only one to see double-digit growth in the total day demo.
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According to Nielsen big data + panel for the week of Aug. 3, Fox News averaged 2.21 million total viewers and 211,000 A25-54 viewers during primetime. The network fell by -5% in total viewers but grew by +9% in the demo compared to the week prior (the week beginning July 27).
During total day viewing, Fox News averaged 1.411 million total viewers and 137,000 A25-54 viewers. Based on its average from the previous week’s measurements, the network declined by -4% in total viewers but was up +11% in the demo.
Fox News continued to rank first in total primetime viewership and was also in the top spot in demo viewership among all basic cable networks. During total day, it also finished first in total viewers and in the total day demo.
MS NOW averaged 995,000 total viewers and 103,000 viewers in the A25-54 demo for the week that just concluded. The network was flat in total viewers and up +18% in the demo compared to its primetime average the week prior.
During total day, MS NOW averaged 618,000 total viewers and 65,000 demo viewers. It was also flat in total viewers and grew by +7% in the demo compared to the network’s average the week prior.
Among all basic cable networks, MS NOW was second in total primetime viewers and finished 14th in the demo. It was also second in total viewers and ninth in the total day demo.
CNN averaged 667,000 total primetime viewers and 114,000 A25-54 viewers during primetime for the week of Aug. 3. The network had gains of +5% in total viewers and +13% in the demo compared to the previous week.
During total day, the network had 473,000 total viewers and 72,000 viewers in the demo. CNN had a +2% gain in total viewers and a +6% gain in the demo during this daypart—the only network with across-the-board gains in both dayparts.
Among all cable networks, CNN finished fourth in total viewers and ninth, tied with Adult Swim, in the demo during primetime. It was No. 3 in total day among total viewers and No. 5 in the demo, tied with FX.
