Here Are the Cable News Ratings for March 2026

The start of the United States’ military action against Iran was the top story for March. News of the conflict led to viewership growth across all three cable networks. Fox News and CNN recorded month-to-month gains across the board with total viewers and the Adults 25-54 demo, while MS NOW experienced a slight decline in the prized demo during primetime.

Fox News

According to Nielsen big data + panel, Fox News in March had 2.994 million total viewers in primetime and 323,000 viewers in the Adults 25-54 demo. During total day, it had 1.897 million total viewers and 197,000 viewers in the demo.

Compared to its February 2026 performance, Fox News grew by +15% in total viewers and +24% in the A25-54 demo during primetime viewing hours. While in total day, the network saw gains of +10% in total viewers and +17% in the demo when compared to the previous month.

Looking at Fox News’ performance against the same month in 2025, it was down by -4% in total viewers and by -18% in the demo during primetime. While in total day, it had a +2% gain in total viewers but fell by -18% in the demo—it was the only network within this yearly comparison to record declines.

The network finished March 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 moved back to second from third in the demo.

MS NOW

MS NOW finished in second place in total viewers in primetime and total day, with 1.262 million and 757,000 viewers, respectively, in March. The network in the A25-54 demo had 130,000 viewers in primetime and 80,000 viewers during total day.

Compared to February, MS NOW was up +11% in total viewers but dipped by -1% in the A25-54 demo during primetime. During total day it grew by +7% in total viewers and +1% in the demo.

Looking at its performance in March 2025, MS NOW was up +7% in total viewers and +19% in the demo during primetime. It was also up +20% in total viewers and +33% in the demo during total day.

MS NOW returned to third place during primetime and was No. 3 during total day with total viewers. It dropped to 11th place, tied with Comedy Central, from No. 8 in the demo during primetime and ranked eighth in the demo during total day.

CNN

During primetime in March, CNN had 898,000 total viewers and 175,000 A25-54 viewers. Looking at total day, the network had 638,000 total viewers and 110,000 demo viewers.

Compared to the previous month, CNN was up +11% in total viewers and +14% in the demo during primetime. It also grew by +13% in total viewers and +18% in the demo during total day.

When looking at its performance to the same month in 2025 during primetime, it was up by +52% in total viewers and +45% in the demo. In total day, CNN grew by +48% and +41% in total viewers and the demo, respectively.

CNN continued to be in the No. 5 position during primetime and moved to fourth during total day in total viewers. Its position in the demo saw it become the No. 5 cable network in primetime and total day.

Looking at the March performance of the other news nets:

NewsNation – The network’s primetime viewership averaged 191,000 total viewers and 30,000 demo viewers, respectively. Cuomo was the top show for the network in total viewers and the demo with 255,000 and 39,000 viewers, respectively.
Fox Business – Varney & Company took the top spot in total viewers with 305,000, while Kudlow finished in first place in the demo with 16,000 viewers.
CNBC – Fast Money Halftime Report was the most-watched program in total viewers, with 265,000, and Squawk on the Street took the top spot in the A25-54 demo, with 67,000 viewers.
Newsmax – Rob Schmitt Tonight was the net’s top show in total viewers and the demo with 382,000 and 32,000 viewers, respectively.

PROGRAMMING

Fox News – The Five was the most-watched program in total viewers with 3.971 million at 5 p.m. ET and in the advertiser-coveted demo of A25-54 with 354,000 viewers.
MS NOW – The most-watched show in total viewers and the demo continued to be The Rachel Maddow Show with 2.27 million and 251,000 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 878,000, and it was the network’s No. 1 show in the A25-54 demo with 164,000 viewers.

Among Total Viewers

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

Among Adults 25-54

The Five – Fox News – (354,000)
Gutfeld! – Fox News – (351,000)
Jesse Watters Primetime – Fox News – (338,000)
Hannity – Fox News – (301,000)
Special Report with Bret Baier – Fox News – (289,000)
The Ingraham Angle – Fox News – (282,000)
The Rachel Maddow Show – MSNBC – (251,000)
The Will Cain Show – Fox News – (220,000)
Fox News @Night – Fox News – (216,000)
The Story with Martha MacCallum – Fox News – (205,000)
The Faulkner Focus – Fox News – (204,000)
America Reports – Fox News – (203,000)
Outnumbered – Fox News – (201,000)
America’s Newsroom – Fox News – (191,000)
Anderson Cooper 360 – CNN – (164,000)

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

	Fox News	MS NOW	CNN
• Total Viewers:	2,994,000	1,262,000	898,000
• A25-54:	323,000	130,000	175,000

Total Day

	Fox News	MS NOW	CNN
• Total Viewers:	1,897,000	757,000	638,000
• A25-54:	197,000	80,000	110,000

March’26 Cable Ranker P25-54 BDP by Adweek

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