August is typically a slow news month as audiences soak up what’s left of the summer season. The ratings reflect that, with all three networks recording declines in total viewers during primetime and total day.
The story was a little bit different in the prized Adults 25-54 demo, as CNN bucked the trend and finished in the plus column during primetime and total day. One possible reason for CNN’s sizzling August performance in the demo is its 10 p.m. ET show, CNN NewsNight with Abby Phillip, the network’s top show in that category. Phillip’s panel show has become appointment viewing because of its fiery political debates. In addition to CNN NewsNight, CNN’s coverage of the primary elections on August 4 and August 11 yielded strong results for the network in the demo, finishing among its top three nights for the month in the demo.
Fox News
According to Nielsen big data + panel, Fox News had 2.127 million total viewers in primetime and 188,000 viewers in the Adults 25-54 demo in August. During total day, it had 1.35 million total viewers and 119,000 viewers in the demo.
Compared to its July 2026 performance, Fox News was down -9% in total viewers and -8% in the A25-54 demo during primetime. In total day, the network fell -10% in total viewers and -13% in the demo compared with the previous month.
Looking at Fox News’ performance against the same month in 2025, it declined by -8% in total viewers and -21% in the demo during primetime. While in total day, it was down by -7% in total viewers and -26% in the demo—the only network with declines within this comparison.
The network finished August in first place among total viewers and was second in the demo during primetime. During total day, it remained in first place in total viewers and was No. 2 in the demo.
MS NOW
MS NOW finished second among news networks in total viewers in primetime and total day, with 940,000 and 597,000 viewers, respectively, in August. The network in the A25-54 demo had 84,000 viewers in primetime and 57,000 viewers during total day.
Compared to July, MS NOW was down -8% in total viewers and -6% in the A25-54 demo during primetime. During total day, it was also down -6% in total viewers and was flat in the demo.
Looking at its performance in August 2025, MS NOW was up +20% in total viewers and +17% in the demo during primetime. It was also up +19% in total viewers and +24% 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 18th in the demo during primetime and 11th in the demo during total day.
CNN
During primetime in August, CNN had 624,000 total viewers and 109,000 A25-54 viewers. Looking at total day, the network had 437,000 total viewers and 66,000 demo viewers.
Compared to the previous month, CNN fell by -5% in total viewers but grew by +7% in demo viewers during primetime. It was down by -6% in total viewers but up +6% in the demo during total day.
When looking at its performance to the same month in 2025 during primetime, CNN was up +41% in total viewers and +40% in the demo. It was up +31% during total day and was up +25% in the demo.
CNN finished fifth in primetime and fourth in total day in total viewers among all cable networks. In the demo, it finished 11th in primetime and seventh in total day, tied with FX.
Looking at the August performance of the other news nets:
- NewsNation – The network’s primetime viewership averaged 122,000 total viewers and 13,000 demo viewers. Cuomo was the top show for the network in total viewers and the demo with 193,000 and 23,000 viewers, respectively.
- Fox Business – Kudlow was the network’s top show in total viewers, with 264,000, and in the demo, with 17,000 viewers.
- CNBC – Fast Money Halftime Report was the most-watched program in total viewers, with 284,000, and in the A25-54 demo, with 64,000 viewers.
- Newsmax – Rob Schmitt Tonight was the network’s top show in total viewers, earning 300,000, and Carl Higbie Frontline was first in the Adults 25-54 demo, having 18,000 viewers.
PROGRAMMING
- Fox News – The Five was the most-watched program in total viewers, with 3.283 million at 5 p.m. ET. It also claimed the top spot in the advertiser-coveted A25-54 demo, with 293,000 viewers.
- MS NOW – The most-watched show in total viewers and the demo continued to be The Rachel Maddow Show with 1.963 million and 169,000 viewers, respectively, at 9 p.m. ET on Mondays.
- CNN – CNN NewsNight with Abby Phillip was the network’s top performer in total viewers, grabbing 725,000. Meanwhile, it also led the A25-54 demo with 152,000 viewers.
Among Total Viewers
- The Five – Fox News – (3,283,000)
- Jesse Watters Primetime – Fox News – (2,873,000)
- Gutfeld! – Fox News – (2,510,000)
- Special Report with Bret Baier – Fox News – (2,407,000)
- Hannity – Fox News – (2,338,000)
- The Ingraham Angle – Fox News – (2,263,000)
- The Rachel Maddow Show – MS NOW – (1,963,000)
- The Will Cain Show – Fox News – (1,848,000)
- The Story with Martha MacCallum – Fox News – (1,685,000)
- America’s Newsroom – Fox News – (1,671,000)
- Outnumbered – Fox News – (1,627,000)
- The Faulkner Focus – Fox News – (1,616,000)
- America Reports – Fox News – (1,556,000)
- Fox News @Night – Fox News – (1,319,000)
- The Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell – MS NOW – (1,221,000)
Among Adults 25-54
- The Five – Fox News – (293,000)
- Gutfeld! – Fox News – (255,000)
- Jesse Watters Primetime – Fox News – (251,000)
- Hannity – Fox News – (217,000)
- Special Report with Bret Baier – Fox News – (182,000)
- The Ingraham Angle – Fox News – (179,000)
- The Rachel Maddow Show – MSNBC – (169,000)
- CNN NewsNight with Abby Phillip – CNN – (152,000)
- America’s Newsroom, The Faulkner Focus and Outnumbered – Fox News – (144,000)
- The Will Cain Show – Fox News – (143,000)
- Fox News @Night – Fox News – (135,000)
- The Story with Martha MacCallum – Fox News – (132,000)
- America Reports – Fox News – (127,000)
August 2026 Cable News Ratings (Nielsen Big Data + Panel):
Fox News MS NOW CNN • Total Viewers: 2,127,000 940,000 624,000 • A25-54: 188,000 84,000 109,000
Total Day
Fox News MS NOW CNN • Total Viewers: 1,350,000 597,000 437,000 • A25-54: 119,000 57,000 66,000
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