Week of July 13 Cable News Ratings: Cable Nets See Growth
This is TVNewser’s basic cable network ranker and cable news report for the week of July 13, 2026.
The scarcity of FIFA World Cup matches in the tournament’s final stages provided a chance for viewers to return to familiar territory as all three cable news networks recorded week-to-week growth in total viewers and the Adults 25-54 demo during primetime and total day.
Fox News, MS NOW, and CNN saw double-digit growth in both measured categories during primetime. Fox News in particular had over +40% growth in the advertiser-coveted demo during this daypart.
NETWORKS:
According to Nielsen big data + panel for the week of July 13, Fox News averaged 2.459 million total viewers and 234,000 A25-54 viewers during primetime. The network was up +17% in total viewers and +43% in the demo compared to the week prior (the week beginning July 6).
During total day viewing, Fox News averaged 1.474 million total viewers and 135,000 A25-54 viewers. Based on its average from the previous week’s measurements, the network saw gains of +3% in total viewers and +6% in the demo.
Fox News continued to rank first in total primetime viewership and was in the top spot in demo viewership among all basic cable networks. During total day, it also finished first in total viewers and in the total day demo.
MS NOW averaged 1.15 million total viewers and 104,000 viewers in the A25-54 demo for the week that just concluded. The network was up +12% in total viewers and +11% in the demo compared to its primetime average the week prior.
During total day, MS NOW averaged 693,000 total viewers and 61,000 demo viewers. It was up +14% in total viewers and +3% in the demo compared to the network’s average the week prior.
Among all basic cable networks, MS NOW was second in total primetime viewers and 13th in the demo. It was also in second place in total viewers and was ninth in the total day demo.
CNN averaged 711,000 total primetime viewers and 113,000 A25-54 viewers during primetime for the week of July 13. The network grew by +22% in total viewers and +19% in the demo compared to the previous week.
During total day, the network had 477,000 total viewers and 67,000 viewers in the demo. CNN grew by +8% in total viewers and +16% in the demo during this daypart.
Among all cable networks, CNN was fourth in total viewers and 10th in the demo during primetime. It was No. 3 in total day among total viewers and No. 7 in the demo.
When looking at these networks’ performance during the same period a year ago:
- During primetime, Fox News was up by +1% in total viewers but down by -10% in the A25-54 demo. During total day, the network posted losses of -5% in total viewers and -29% in the demo—the only network with declines within this yearly comparison.
- MS NOW was up by +30% in total viewers and +21% in the demo. During total day, the network was up +31% in total viewers and +17% in the demo.
- In primetime, CNN grew by +47% in total viewers and +27% in the demo. During total day, it rose by +30% in total viewers and +10% in the demo.
PROGRAMMING:
Fox News had 13 out of the 15 spots of the most-watched cable news shows of the week, with The Five, which celebrated its 15th anniversary, on top with 3.37 million total viewers at 5 p.m. ET. MS NOW was represented in the chart by The Rachel Maddow Show, airing only on Mondays at 9 p.m. ET, which ranked seventh with 2.146 million total viewers, and The Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell, airing weeknights at 10 p.m. ET, with 1.439 million total viewers at No. 15.
Hannity, airing weeknights at 9 p.m. ET, secured the top spot in the Adults 25-54 demo, averaging 344,000 viewers. Fox News held 12 of the 15 top spots in the demo, with MS NOW’s The Rachel Maddow Show landing in seventh place with 172,000 demo viewers. CNN was represented in the chart by two shows: CNN NewsNight with Abby Phillip, which airs weeknights at 10 p.m. ET with 162,000 demo viewers in ninth place, and The Source with Kaitlan Collins, airing weeknights at 9 p.m. ET, placing it in 14th with 139,000 demo viewers.
July 13, 2026 (Nielsen Big Data + Panel):
Prime Time
| Fox News | MS NOW | CNN | |
| • Total Viewers: | 2,459,000 | 1,150,000 | 711,000 |
| • A25-54: | 234,000 | 104,000 | 113,000 |
Total Day
| Fox News | MS NOW | CNN | |
| • Total Viewers: | 1,474,000 | 693,000 | 477,000 |
| • A25-54: | 135,000 | 61,000 | 67,000 |
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