Last month, MS NOW received props for not losing any viewers in total viewers or the demo. In July, the network unfortunately is getting the wrong kind of attention as it was the only one with month-to-month declines in either of the measured categories, while Fox News and CNN registered growth across both dayparts.
With the later rounds of the FIFA World Cup as the only major live sporting event to contend with, the cable networks managed to hold their own, as they did not lose any total viewers during primetime and total day. Meanwhile, Fox News and CNN’s dedicated coverage of America’s 250th Independence Day celebrations earlier in the month brought in viewers interested in partaking in the festivities.
According to Nielsen big data + panel, Fox News had 2.332 million total viewers in primetime and 204,000 viewers in the Adults 25-54 demo in July. During total day, it had 1.492 million total viewers and 136,000 viewers in the demo.
Compared to its June 2026 performance, Fox News was up +3% in total viewers and +4% in the A25-54 demo during primetime. While in total day, the network grew by +3% in total viewers and +2% in the demo when compared to the previous month.
Looking at Fox News’ performance against the same month in 2025, it declined by -3% in total viewers and -21% in the demo during primetime. While in total day, it was down by -2% in total viewers and -26% in the demo—the only network with declines within this comparison.
The network finished July in first place among total viewers and the demo during primetime. During total day, it remained in first place in total viewers and was No. 2 in the demo.
MS NOW finished in second place among the news networks in total viewers in primetime and total day, with 1.017 million and 633,000 viewers, respectively, in July. The network in the A25-54 demo had 89,000 viewers in primetime and 57,000 viewers during total day.
Compared to June, MS NOW was flat in total viewers and down -7% in the A25-54 demo during primetime. During total day, it was also flat in total viewers and fell by -7% in the demo.
Looking at its performance in July 2025, MS NOW was up +18% in total viewers and +10% in the demo during primetime. It was also up +19% in total viewers and +10% in the demo during total day.
MS NOW was the No. 2 cable network during primetime and during total day among total viewers. It finished 16th in the demo during primetime and 10th in the demo during total day.
During primetime in July, CNN had 658,000 total viewers and 102,000 A25-54 viewers. Looking at total day, the network had 463,000 total viewers and 62,000 demo viewers.
Compared to the previous month, CNN saw gains of +8% in total viewers and +5% in demo viewers during primetime. It also grew by +6% in total viewers and +2% in the demo during total day.
When looking at its performance to the same month in 2025 during primetime, CNN was up +32% in total viewers and +11% in the demo. It was up +25% during total day and was flat in the demo.
CNN finished in fourth place during primetime and was in third during total day in total viewers among all cable networks. Its position in the demo saw it finish 11th in primetime and ninth in total day.
Looking at the June performance of the other news nets:
- NewsNation – The network’s primetime viewership averaged 141,000 total viewers and 15,000 demo viewers, respectively. Cuomo was the top show for the network in total viewers and the demo with 230,000 and 24,000 viewers, respectively.
- Fox Business – Kudlow was the network’s top show in total viewers with 256,000. Barron’s Roundtable claimed first place in the demo with 182,000 viewers.
- CNBC – Fast Money Halftime Report was the most-watched program in total viewers, with 269,000, as well as in the A25-54 demo, with 70,000 viewers.
- Newsmax – Rob Schmitt Tonight was the network’s top show in total viewers with 308,000, and it tied with Carl Higbie Frontline for first in the Adults 25-54 demo with 15,000 viewers.
- Fox News – The Five was the most-watched program in total viewers with 3.309 million at 5 p.m. ET. It also claimed the top spot in the advertiser-coveted A25-54 demo, with 300,000 viewers.
- MS NOW – The most-watched show in total viewers and the demo continued to be The Rachel Maddow Show with 1.979 million and 173,000 viewers, respectively, at 9 p.m. ET on Mondays.
- CNN – Anderson Cooper 360 was the network’s top performer in total viewers with 739,000 total viewers, and CNN NewsNight with Abby Phillip led the way in the A25-54 demo, with 125,000 viewers.
Among Total Viewers
- The Five – Fox News (3,309,000)
- Jesse Watters Primetime – Fox News -(2,976,000)
- Gutfeld! – Fox News – (2,633,000)
- Hannity – Fox News – (2,554,000)
- Special Report with Bret Baier – Fox News – (2,519,000)
- The Ingraham Angle – Fox News – (2,374,000)
- The Rachel Maddow Show – MS NOW – (1,979,000)
- The Will Cain Show – Fox News – (1,973,000)
- America’s Newsroom – Fox News – (1,840,000)
- Outnumbered – Fox News – (1,804,000)
- The Story with Martha MacCallum – Fox News (1,743,000)
- The Faulkner Focus – Fox News – (1,742,000)
- America Reports – Fox News – (1,621,000)
- Fox News @Night – Fox News – (1,547,000)
- The Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell – MS NOW – (1,360,000)
- The Five – Fox News – (300,000)
- Jesse Watters Primetime – Fox News – (267,000)
- Gutfeld! – Fox News – (249,000)
- Hannity – Fox News – (238,000)
- Special Report with Bret Baier – Fox News – (224,000)
- The Ingraham Angle – Fox News – (206,000)
- The Rachel Maddow Show – MSNBC – (173,000)
- America’s Newsroom – Fox News – (166,000)
- The Faulkner Focus and Outnumbered – Fox News – (163,000)
- The Will Cain Show – Fox News – (161,000)
- Fox News @Night – Fox News – (156,000)
- The Story with Martha MacCallum – Fox News – (140,000)
- America Reports – Fox News – (139,000)
- CNN NewsNight with Abby Phillip – CNN – (125,000)
July 2026 Cable News Ratings (Nielsen Big Data + Panel):
July'26 Cable Ranker P25-54 BDP by Adweek
Mark Mwachiro
Mark Mwachiro is a TVNewser contributor who has been writing for the blog since March 2022. Based out of New York, Mark has also contributed to ADWEEK.
Source: Adweek
