This Is the First Quarter 2026 Cable News Ratings Report

CNN

CNN averaged 797,000 total primetime viewers and 156,000 primetime demo viewers in Q1 2025. During total day, the network had 576,000 total viewers and 101,000 A25-54 viewers. 

Compared with the fourth quarter, CNN was up +54% in total viewers and +88% in the demo in primetime. When looking at how it performed during total day, it was up +42% in total viewers and +66% in the demo. 

When looking at its performance to the same quarter in 2025 during primetime, it was up by +43% in total viewers and +29% in the demo. In total day, CNN grew by +35% and +28% in total viewers and the demo, respectively. 

CNN was in fifth place in primetime among total viewers and in the demo. During total day, CNN remained in the No. 4 spot in total viewers and was No. 5 in the demo. 

PROGRAMMING

• Fox News – The Five was the network’s most-watched program, averaging 3.971 million total viewers at 5 p.m. ET. It also took top honors in the demo, with 354,000 viewers.
• MS NOW – The Rachel Maddow Show at 9 p.m. ET was the network’s most-watched program in total viewers and the demo with an average of 2.27 million viewers and 251,000 viewers, respectively.
• CNN – Anderson Cooper 360 at 8 p.m. ET was the most-watched program, averaging 878,000 total viewers and 164,000 viewers in the demo.
• Newsmax – Rob Schmitt Tonight was the net’s top show in total viewers with 382,000 total viewers and in the A25-54 demo with 32,000 viewers. For the quarter, Newsmax was up +26% in total viewers and +29% in the demo during primetime. It was also up +17% in total viewers and +22% in the demo during total day.
• NewsNation – Cuomo was the net’s top show in total viewers and A25-54. It had 255,000 and 39,000 viewers, respectively. The network was up +54% in total viewers and +117% in the demo during primetime during Q1 2026. It was also up +60% in total viewers and +100% in the demo during total day.
• Fox Business – Varney and Company was the net’s top show in total viewers with 305,000 viewers. Kudlow was in the top spot in the demo with 16,000 viewers. FBN was up +38% in total viewers and +60% in the demo during primetime, while it was up +16% and +43% in total viewers and the demo, respectively, during total day.  
• CNBC – Fast Money Halftime Report was the net’s top show in total viewers with 265,000. In the A25-54 demo, Squawk on the Street was the No. 1 show with 67,000 viewers. The business net was up +62% in total viewers and +100% in the demo during primetime. While in total day, it was up +43% in total viewers and +74% in the demo.

Among Total Viewers 

1. The Five – Fox News – (3,971,000)
2. Jesse Watters Primetime – Fox News – (3,437,000)
3. Special Report with Bret Baier – Fox News – (3,033,000)
4. Gutfeld!  – Fox News – (3,025,000)
5. Hannity – Fox News – (2,884,000) 
6. The Ingraham Angle – Fox News – (2,873,000)
7. The Will Cain Show – Fox News – (2,388,000)
8. The Rachel Maddow Show – MS NOW – (2,270,000)
9. The Story with Martha MacCallum – Fox News – (2,168,000)
10. Outnumbered – Fox News – (2,152,000)
11. The Faulkner Focus – Fox News – (2,151,000)
12. America’s Newsroom – Fox News – (2,106,000)
13. America Reports – Fox News – (2,073,000)
14. Fox News at Night – Fox News – (1,663,000)
15. Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell – MS NOW – (1,418,000)