Cable News Ratings Week of June 1, 2026: Fox News Leads, MS NOW Grows
MS NOW recorded gains in total viewers and the Adults 25-54 demographic across both primetime and total day viewing for the week of June 1, 2026, according to Nielsen Big Data + Panel. While Fox News maintained the top spot for total viewership, it was the only network to show a decline in yearly comparisons.
How did cable news networks perform for the week of June 1?
Fox News averaged 2.3 million total viewers and 203,000 A25-54 viewers during primetime. Total viewership remained flat, though the demo grew by 11% compared to the week of May 25, according to Nielsen data.
MS NOW averaged 976,000 total viewers and 102,000 demo viewers in primetime, representing increases of 11% and 2%, respectively. During total day viewing, the network grew total viewers by 9% to 603,000 and the demo by 12% to 64,000.
CNN averaged 637,000 total primetime viewers and 116,000 demo viewers, up 8% and 7% over the previous week. Total day viewership for CNN rose 2% to 439,000, while the demo remained flat at 69,000.
Which programs led the cable news rankings?
Fox News dominated the weekly charts, holding 14 of the 15 most-watched cable news spots. The Five ranked first in both total viewers, with 3.345 million at 5 p.m. ET, and the A25-54 demo, with 318,000 viewers.
MS NOW appeared in the top total viewership list with The Rachel Maddow Show, which drew 1.951 million viewers on Monday to rank eighth. The same program ranked sixth in the demo with 207,000 viewers.
CNN’s CNN NewsNight with Abby Phillip ranked 10th in the demo with 160,000 viewers. MS NOW’s We The People 2026 ranked 13th in the demo with 144,000 viewers during its Tuesday 7 p.m. ET airing.
Why did viewership shift during the primary elections?
Networks extended coverage on Tuesday night to track primary elections in multiple states. According to the report, interest in races in California drove networks to continue live coverage into the overnight hours.
Fox News remained the most-watched network in total viewers between 1 a.m. and 3 a.m. ET. However, MS NOW led the A25-54 demo during those hours, posting 156,000 viewers at 1 a.m. ET against Fox News’ 134,000.
What are the long-term viewership trends for cable news?
Yearly comparisons show a decline for Fox News. In primetime, the network was down 3% in total viewers and 21% in the A25-54 demo compared to the same period last year. Total day losses were 2% in total viewers and 27% in the demo.
In contrast, MS NOW grew primetime total viewers by 1% and the demo by 11% year-over-year. Its total day figures rose 3% in total viewers and 12% in the demo.
CNN also saw yearly growth, with primetime total viewers up 3% and the demo up 7%. Its total day performance increased by 12% in total viewers and 5% in the demo.
What happens next for cable news ratings?
Networks may continue to prioritize overnight live coverage if primary election interest remains high. MS NOW could maintain its growth trajectory if it continues to lead in key demographics during special event reporting.
Fox News may attempt to reverse its yearly decline in the A25-54 demo, as it is currently the only network of the three to post annual losses across both primetime and total day metrics.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which network had the most-watched show of the week?
Fox News’ The Five was the most-watched show, averaging 3.345 million total viewers.
How did MS NOW perform in the A25-54 demo during the 2 a.m. hour?
MS NOW had 174,000 demo viewers, while Fox News had 81,000.
Which network was the only one to see a yearly decline?
Fox News was the only network to decline in the yearly comparison for both primetime and total day viewing.
Do you think live election coverage in specific states like California is driving the shift in late-night viewership?