This is TVNewser’s basic cable network ranker and cable news report for the week of September 21, 2026.
Fox News, MS NOW, and CNN all experienced week-to-week gains in total viewers and the Adults 25-54 demo during primetime. However, Fox News was the odd one out during total day, as MS NOW and CNN also recorded growth in both measured categories.
CNN wrestled back its second-place position in the total day demo from MS NOW, overtaking the Versant-owned network courtesy of an additional 1,000 A25-54 viewers.
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According to Nielsen big data + panel for the week of Sept. 21, Fox News averaged 1.666 million total viewers and 149,000 A25-54 viewers during primetime. The network was up +3% in total viewers and +1% in the demo compared to the prior week (the week beginning September 14).
During total day viewing, Fox News averaged 1.065 million total viewers and 98,000 A25-54 viewers, dropping below the 100,000 mark. Based on its average from the previous week’s measurements, the network was flat in total viewers and down -6% in the demo.
Fox News remained in second place in total primetime viewership and moved from No. 4 to No. 3 in demo viewership among all basic cable networks. During total day, it remained first in total viewers and second in the total day demo.
MS NOW averaged 930,000 total viewers and 90,000 viewers in the A25-54 demo for the week that just concluded. The network grew by +2% in total viewers and +11% in the demo compared with its primetime average the prior week.
During total day, MS NOW averaged 580,000 total viewers and 55,000 demo viewers. It was up +2% in total viewers and the demo compared to the network’s average the prior week.
Among all basic cable networks, MS NOW remained third in total primetime viewers and was 11th in the demo, tied with FX. It also ranked third in total viewers and finished in eighth place in the total day demo.
CNN averaged 598,000 total primetime viewers and 98,000 demo viewers. It grew by +8% in total viewers and +11% in the demo compared to the previous week.
During total day, the network had 395,000 total viewers and 56,000 viewers in the demo. For CNN, this was growth of +5% in total viewers and +6% in the demo during this daypart.
Among all cable networks, CNN reclaimed fourth place in total viewers and was ninth in the demo during primetime, tied with Adult Swim. It remained at No. 4 in total day among total viewers and was No. 7 in the demo.
When looking at these networks’ performance during the same period a year ago:
