The week of May 18, 2026, marked a pivotal moment in the evolving landscape of U.S. Cable news, with major networks navigating shifting viewer habits ahead of the Memorial Day holiday. Nielsen data revealed mixed performance across the top basic cable networks—Fox News, MS NOW, and CNN—with each experiencing distinct gains and declines in both total viewership and the critical Adults 25-54 demo. These results highlight the competitive dynamics shaping the industry as networks vie for dominance in a fragmented media environment.
Network Performance: Growth and Declines
Fox News maintained its stronghold in primetime, averaging 2.26 million total viewers and 207,000 in the Adults 25-54 demo. While total viewership declined by 1% compared to the prior week, the network saw a 2% increase in the demo, underscoring its continued appeal to younger, more affluent audiences. During total day viewing, Fox News grew by 2% in total viewers but lost 3% in the demo, finishing first in total viewers and second in the demo.
MS NOW, the news network launched by Microsoft and the New York Times, showed resilience in primetime, posting a 2% rise in total viewers to 918,000 but a steep 7% drop in the demo. Its total day performance mirrored this trend, with a 1% decline in total viewers and a 10% drop in the demo. Despite these challenges, MS NOW retained third place in primetime viewership and third in total day viewership, albeit slipping in the demo rankings.
CNN faced a more pronounced decline in primetime, with total viewership falling 10% to 598,000, though the demo grew 4% to 108,000. Total day numbers also dropped, with a 2% decrease in total viewers and a 3% decline in the demo. Despite these setbacks, CNN remained fifth in primetime viewership and fourth in total day viewership.
Year-Over-Year Trends: A Mixed Picture
When compared to the same period in 2025, the networks displayed divergent trajectories. Fox News struggled, posting a 7% decline in total viewers and an 18% drop in the demo. Its total day numbers also fell, with a 4% decline in total viewers and a 21% drop in the demo. In contrast, MS NOW surged, with a 16% increase in total viewers and a 35% rise in the demo during primetime, while its total day numbers grew by 10% and 24%, respectively. CNN experienced explosive growth, with a 55% increase in primetime total viewers and a 64% rise in the demo, alongside 27% and 20% gains in total day viewership.
Programming Highlights: Fox News Dominates
FOX News dominated the most-watched programming chart, securing 13 of the 15 spots. *The Five* led the pack with 3.543 million total viewers, while *The Rachel Maddow Show* (MS NOW) ranked eighth with 1.863 million viewers. *The Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell* (MS NOW) and *CNN NewsNight* (CNN) rounded out the top 15. In the Adults 25-54 demo, *The Five* averaged 324,000 viewers, with MS NOW’s *The Rachel Maddow Show* ranking eighth at 163,000 and CNN’s *CNN NewsNight* at 150,000.
Key Takeaways
- FOX News remains the leader in primetime viewership but faces challenges in maintaining demo growth.
- MS NOW continues to gain traction, particularly among younger audiences, despite fluctuations in performance.
- CNN’s year-over-year growth highlights its ability to attract new viewers, though short-term declines persist.
- Programming strategies and target demographics will be critical in determining each network’s trajectory.