Here Are the Cable News Ratings for January 2026

The first month of 2026 saw all three cable news networks start with positive momentum compared to December 2025. Gains were recorded by all news networks in total viewers and the Adults 25-54 demo during primetime and total day.

This was a result of an active news cycle in January, which began with military action in Venezuela and continued with the ongoing unrest in Minnesota stemming from ICE’s presence and the cold winter weather, drawing eyeballs to the networks, with Fox News and CNN recording double-digit growth across the board.

Fox News

According to Nielsen big data plus panel, Fox News in January had 2.046 million total viewers in primetime and 197,000 viewers in the Adults 25-54 demo. During total day, it had 1.442 million total viewers and 142,000 viewers in the demo.

Compared to its December 2025 performance, Fox News grew by +11% in total viewers and +24% in the A25-54 demo during primetime viewing hours. While in total day, the network saw gains of +14% in total viewers and +29% in the demo when compared to the previous month. 

Looking at Fox News’ performance against the same month in 2025, it was down by -26% in total viewers and by -44% in the demo during primetime. While in total day, it was down by -25% in total viewers and -44% 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 second place among total viewers and was No. 2 in the demo during primetime. During total day, it dropped from first to second place in total viewers and was the No. 2 network in the demo. 

MS NOW

MS NOW ranked second among the most-watched cable news networks in January in primetime and total day, with 887,000 and 586,000 total viewers, respectively. The network in the A25-54 demo had 76,000 viewers in primetime and 55,000 viewers during total day. 

Compared to December, MS NOW was up +1% in total viewers and +6% in A25-54 during primetime. During total day, it grew by +4% in total viewers and +17% in the demo.

Looking at its performance vs. January 2025, MS NOW was up +21% in total viewers and in the demo during primetime. It was also up +16% in total viewers and +22% in the demo during total day.

MS NOW remained in third during primetime and total day with total viewers. It finished No. 15 in the demo during primetime, and it ranked 11th in the demo during total day.

CNN

During primetime in January, CNN had 660,000 total viewers and 135,000 A25-54 viewers. When looking at total day, the network had 508,000 total viewers and 96,000 demo viewers.

Compared to the previous month, CNN was up +35% in total viewers and +96% in the demo during primetime. It also grew by +29% in total viewers and +81% in the demo during total day. 

When looking at its performance to the same month in 2025 during primetime, CNN was up by +26% in total viewers and +14% in the demo. In total day, the network grew by +21% and +20% in total viewers and the demo, respectively. 

CNN finished in the No. 4 position during primetime, and it was also fourth in total day in total viewers. Its position in the demo was No. 5 in primetime and third place in total day.

Looking at the January performance of the other news nets:

  • NewsNation—The network’s primetime viewership averaged 108,000 total viewers and 18,000 demo viewers, respectively. NewsNation’s primetime lineup was up +13% among Adults 25-54 in January 2026 compared to January 2025.
  • Fox Business—Varney & Company took the top spot in total viewers with 300,000, while Making Money with Charles Payne finished in first place in the demo with 17,000 viewers. 
  • CNBC—Squawk on the Street was the most-watched program in total viewers and in the A25-54 demo with 252,000 and 63,000 viewers, respectively. 
  • Newsmax—Rob Schmitt Tonight was the net’s top show in total viewers and the demo with 345,000 and 28,000 viewers, respectively.

PROGRAMMING

  • Fox News—The Five was the most-watched program in total viewers (3.732 million at 5 p.m. ET). The Five was also on top in the advertiser-coveted A25-54 demo, with 328,000 viewers.
  • MS NOW—The most-watched show in total viewers and the demo continued to be The Rachel Maddow Show (1.881 million and 156,000 viewers, respectively) at 9 p.m. ET on Mondays. 
  • CNN—CNN’s weekend newscast, CNN Newsroom, was the network’s top performer in total viewers, with 730,000, while Anderson Cooper 360 was the network’s No. 1 show in the A25-54 demo with 133,000 viewers. 

Among Total Viewers 

  1. The Five – Fox News (3,732,000)
  2. Jesse Watters Primetime – Fox News – (3,011,000)
  3. Gutfeld!  – Fox News – (2,759,000)
  4. Special Report with Bret Baier – Fox News – (2,706,000)
  5. The Ingraham Angle – Fox News – (2,540,000)
  6. Hannity – Fox News – (2,467,000) 
  7. The Will Cain Show – Fox News – (2,221,000)
  8. The Story with Martha MacCallum – Fox News – (1,937,000)
  9. Outnumbered – Fox News – (1,929,000)
  10. The Rachel Maddow Show – MSNBC – (1,881,000)
  11. The Faulkner Focus – Fox News – (1,876,000)
  12. America Reports – Fox News – (1,865,000)
  13. America’s Newsroom – Fox News – (1,830,000)
  14. Fox News @Night – Fox News – (1,405,000)
  15. Deadline: White House with Nicole Wallace (5 p.m. ET) – MS NOW – (1,210,000)

Among Adults 25-54 

  1. The Five – Fox News – (328,000)
  2. Gutfeld! – Fox News –  (314,000)
  3. Jesse Watters Primetime – Fox News – (275,000)
  4. Special Report with Bret Baier – Fox News – (257,000)
  5. Hannity – Fox News – (240,000)
  6. The Ingraham Angle – Fox News – (234,000)
  7. The Will Cain Show – Fox News – (209,000)
  8. The Story with Martha MacCallum – Fox News – (184,000)
  9. America Reports – Fox News – (181,000)
  10. Outnumbered  – Fox News – (180,000)
  11. The Faulkner Focus – Fox News – (178,000)
  12. Fox News @Night – Fox News – (173,000)
  13. America’s Newsroom – Fox News – (164,000)
  14. The Rachel Maddow Show – MSNBC – (156,000)
  15. Anderson Cooper 360 – CNN- (133,000)

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

Fox News MS NOW CNN
• Total Viewers: 2,046,000 887,000   660,000
• A25-54: 197,000 76,000   135,000

Total Day

Fox News MS NOW CNN
• Total Viewers: 1,442,000 586,000   508,000
• A25-54: 142,000 55,000   96,000

Jan’26 Cable Ranker P25-54 BDP by Adweek

Recommended videos

https://www.adweek.com/tvnewser/here-are-the-cable-news-ratings-for-january-2026/