Here Are the Cable News Ratings for February 2026

February continued the positive momentum for the cable news networks, as all three saw growth in primetime total viewers and the Adults 25-54 demo. The frigid winter weather throughout the month, one of February’s big stories, also kept viewers indoors, leading to increased viewership.

Fox News and MS NOW had gains during total day in both measured categories. Fox News accounted for all the top 100 cable news telecasts of the month.

Meanwhile, CNN experienced a month-to-month decline in the demo during total day.

Fox News

According to Nielsen big data + panel, Fox News in February had 2.612 million total viewers in primetime and 260,000 viewers in the adults 25-54 demo. During total day, it had 1.718 million total viewers and 168,000 viewers in the demo.

Compared to its January 2026 performance, Fox News grew by +28% in total viewers and +32% in the A25-54 demo during primetime viewing hours. While in total day, the network saw gains of +19% in total viewers and +18% in the demo when compared to the previous month.

Looking at Fox News’ performance against the same month in 2025, it was down by -15% in total viewers and by -33% in the demo during primetime. While in total day, it was down by -14% in total viewers and -33% in the demo—it was the only network within this yearly comparison to record declines across the board in both measured categories.

The network finished January in first place among total viewers and was No. 3 in the demo during primetime. During total day, it remained in first in total viewers and dropped to third from second in the demo.

MS NOW

MS NOW remained the No. 2 cable news network in total viewers in primetime and total day, with 1.136 million and 708,000 viewers, respectively, in February. The network in the A25-54 demo had 131,000 viewers in primetime and 79,000 viewers during total day.

Compared to January, MS NOW was up +28% in total viewers and +72% in A25-54 during primetime. During total day it grew by +21% in total viewers and +44% in the demo.

Looking at its performance in December 2024, MS NOW was up +1% in total viewers and +18% in the demo during primetime. It was also up +11% in total viewers and +20% in the demo during total day.

MS NOW slipped to fourth from third during primetime and was No. 3 during total day with total viewers. It finished No. 8 tied with Comedy Central in the demo during primetime, and ranked seventh in the demo during total day.

CNN

During primetime in December, CNN had 807,000 total viewers and 154,000 A25-54 viewers. Looking at total day, the network had 564,000 total viewers and 93,000 demo viewers.

Compared to the previous month, CNN was up +22% in total viewers and +14% in the demo during primetime. It also grew by +11% in total viewers but was down -3% in the demo during total day.

When looking at its performance to the same month in 2024 during primetime, it was up by +46% in total viewers and +26% in the demo. In total day, CNN grew by +30% and +13% in total viewers and the demo, respectively.

CNN finished in the No. 5 position during primetime and total day in total viewers. Its position in the demo was No. 6 in primetime and total day.

Looking at the January performance of the other news nets:

NewsNation – The network’s primetime viewership averaged 169,000 total viewers and 29,000 demo viewers, respectively. Cuomo was the top show for the network in total viewers and the demo with 264,000 and 44,000 viewers, respectively.
Fox Business – Varney & Company took the top spot in total viewers with 318,000, while Making Money with Charles Payne finished in first place in the demo with 16,000 viewers.
CNBC – Fast Money Halftime Report was the most-watched program in total viewers and in the A25-54 demo with 252,000 and 66,000 viewers, respectively.
Newsmax – Rob Schmitt Tonight was the net’s top show in total viewers and the demo with 403,000 and 40,000 viewers, respectively.

PROGRAMMING

Fox News – The Five was the most-watched program in Total Viewers (4.002 million at 5 p.m. ET). Gutfeld! was the top show in the advertiser-coveted demo of A25-54 with 347,000 viewers.
MS NOW – The most-watched show in total viewers and the demo continued to be The Rachel Maddow Show (2.376 million and 286,000 viewers, respectively) at 9 p.m. ET on Mondays.
CNN – CNN’s Anderson Cooper 360 was the network’s top performer in total viewers, with 908,000, while CNN NewsNight with Abby Phillip was the network’s No. 1 show in the A25-54 demo with 187,000 viewers.

Among Total Viewers

The Five – Fox News (4,002,000)
Jesse Watters Primetime – Fox News – (3,437,000)
Special Report with Bret Baier – Fox News – (3,098,000)
Gutfeld! – Fox News – (3,036,000)
The Ingraham Angle – Fox News – (2,892,000)
Hannity – Fox News – (2,864,000)
The Rachel Maddow Show – MS NOW – (2,376,000)
The Will Cain Show – Fox News – (2,336,000)
Outnumbered – Fox News – (2,139,000)
The Faulkner Focus – Fox News – (2,130,000)
America Reports – Fox News – (2,080,000)
America’s Newsroom – Fox News – (2,073,000)
The Story with Martha MacCallum – Fox News (2,048,000)
Fox News @Night – Fox News – (1,780,000)
The Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell – MS NOW – (1,473,000)

Among Adults 25-54

Gutfeld! – Fox News – (347,000)
The Five – Fox News – (337,000)
Jesse Watters Primetime – Fox News – (329,000)
Special Report with Bret Baier – Fox News – (289,000)
The Rachel Maddow Show – MS NOW – (286,000) and Hannity – Fox News – (286,000)
The Ingraham Angle – Fox News – (284,000)
Fox News @Night – Fox News – (229,000)
Outnumbered – Fox News – (201,000) and The Will Cain Show – Fox News – (201,000)
America Reports – Fox News – (200,000)
The Faulkner Focus – Fox News – (199,000)
CNN NewsNight with Abby Phillip – CNN – (187,000)
The Story with Martha MacCallum – Fox News – (185,000) and America’s Newsroom – Fox News – (185,000)

February 2026 Cable News Ratings (Nielsen Big Data + Panel):

	Fox News	MS NOW	CNN
• Total Viewers:	2,612,000	1,136,000	807,000
• A25-54:	260,000	131,000	154,000

Total Day

	Fox News	MS NOW	CNN
• Total Viewers:	1,718,000	708,000	564,000
• A25-54:	168,000	79,000	93,000

Jan’26 Cable Ranker P25-54 BDP by Adweek