This is TVNewser’s basic cable network ranker and cable news report for the week of May 25, 2026.
All three cable news networks came out of the Memorial Day Holiday weekend with some semblance of good news. However, it was MS NOW that finished the week on a better footing, as it was the only one to show gains in one of the measured categories during primetime and total day.
MS NOW recorded week-to-week growth in the advertiser-coveted Adults 25-54 demo during primetime and total day. Fox News was the only network to finish in the positive column in total viewers during primetime, while CNN had gains in the demo during total day.
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According to Nielsen big data + panel, for the week of May 25, Fox News averaged 2.299 million total viewers and 183,000 A25-54 viewers during primetime. The network was up +2% in total viewers but fell by -12% in the demo compared to the week prior (the week beginning May 18).
During total day viewing, Fox News averaged 1.448 million total viewers and 130,000 A25-54 viewers. Based on its average from the previous week’s measurements, the network registered declines of -4% in total viewers and -6% in the demo.
Fox News moved back to first in total primetime viewership and remained third in demo viewership among all basic cable networks. During total day, it finished first in total viewers and continued to be No. 2 in the total day demo.
MS NOW averaged 881,000 total viewers and 100,000 viewers in the A25-54 demo for the week that just concluded. The network was down -4% in total viewers but up +23% in the demo compared to its primetime average the week prior.
During total day, MS NOW averaged 554,000 total viewers and 57,000 demo viewers. It was down -4% in total viewers but had a +2% gain in the demo compared to the network’s average the week prior.
Among all basic cable networks, MS NOW remained third in total primetime viewers and was 17th in the demo. It also finished in third place in total viewers and remained in 11th place, tied with the Disney Channel, in the total day demo.
CNN averaged 590,00 total primetime viewers and 108,000 A25-54 viewers during primetime for the week of May 25. The network declined by -1% in total viewers but was flat in the demo compared to the previous week.
During total day, the network had 432,000 total viewers and 69,000 viewers in the demo. CNN declined by -2% in total viewers but grew by +3% in the demo during this daypart.
Among all cable networks, CNN dropped from fifth to sixth in total viewers, tied with the History Channel, and was in 14th in the demo during primetime. It was No. 4 in total day among total viewers and slipped from eighth to ninth in the demo.
