Fox News Channel ended the second quarter with a strong ratings delivery in June, leading not just every network in cable TV in prime time, but outperforming CBS and NBC as well. In June, Fox had an average weekday prime time audience of 2.63 million viewers, compared to NBC’s 2.42 million viewers and CBS’s 2.05 million viewers.
For the second quarter, Fox News finished first among the cable news networks with 2.5 million viewers in prime time, well ahead of MS NOW (1.06 million viewers) and CNN (716,000 viewers). Among viewers 25-54, the key demographic valued by advertisers, FNC led in prime with 230,000 viewers, followed by CNN (121,000 viewers) and MS NOW (107,000 viewers).
MS NOW rises as Fox and CNN slip in June.
While the arrival of summer usually brings lower ratings across the board, recently-rebranded MS NOW was the only cable news network to see its ratings climb from May, up 8% among total viewers and up 3% in the key demo. Fox News was down 5% among total viewers and 6% in the key demo, while CNN saw a 2% drop among total viewers and a 13% decline in the key demo.
For the second quarter, all three networks were down from 1Q 2026, with MS NOW showing the smallest declines (down 5% among total viewers and 7% in the key demo), compared to Fox News (down 8% among total viewers and 13% in the key demo) and CNN (down 13% among total viewers and a big 26% in the key demo).
‘The Five’ remains the most-watched show in cable news.
FNC’s The Five continued its incredible run as the most-watched show in cable news, despite airing outside of prime time, when viewership is traditionally highest. In the second quarter, The Five finished first with an average total audience of 3.58 million viewers, followed by Jesse Watters Primetime (3.23 million viewers), Gutfeld! (2.84 million viewers), Hannity (2.8 million viewers), and Special Report with Bret Baier (2.72 million viewers)–all airing on Fox News.
In the key demo race, The Five led in the second quarter with 322,000 viewers, followed by Gutfeld! (299,000 viewers), Jesse Watters Primetime (283,000 viewers), Hannity (262,000 viewers), and Special Report with Bret Baier (245,000 viewers).
In June, The Five was most-watched with 3.39 million total viewers, followed by Jesse Watters Primetime (2.96 million viewers), Gutfeld! (2.64 million viewers), Special Report with Bret Baier (2.55 million viewers), and Hannity (2.41 million viewers).
In the key demo, The Five led in June with 318,000 viewers, followed by Gutfeld! (260,000 viewers), Jesse Watters Primetime (254,000 viewers), Special Report with Bret Baier (237,000 viewers) and Hannity (217,000 viewers).
The Five, the first show in cable news airing outside of prime time to become the top-rated program, has now held that title for 19 consecutive quarters. Its ratings dominance beat even prime time entertainment shows on the broadcast networks like CBS’ NCIS: Origins and CIA, and ABC’s Inside the NBA.
As Colbert wraps, Gutfeld fills the gap in late night.
The end of CBS’ The Late Show with Stephen Colbert left Fox News with the most-watched show in late night, with Gutfeld! drawing 2.8 million viewers, ahead of Colbert (2.5 million viewers), Jimmy Kimmel Live! (2.2 million viewers), The Tonight Show (1.3 million viewers), Colbert’s replacement Comics Unleashed (808,000 viewers) and Late Night with Seth Meyers (806,000 viewers).
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