The cable news ratings for the week of May 18, 2026, show a mixed bag of results, particularly as the Memorial Day holiday weekend approaches. In primetime viewership, all three major networks experienced fluctuations, while only Fox News saw growth during the total day segment.
Cable News Ratings Overview
According to Nielsen data for the week of May 18, the following are the viewer statistics:
| Network | Total Viewers (Primetime) | A25-54 Viewers (Primetime) | Total Viewers (Total Day) | A25-54 Viewers (Total Day) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fox News | 2,260,000 | 207,000 | 1,501,000 | 138,000 |
| MS NOW | 918,000 | 81,000 | 578,000 | 56,000 |
| CNN | 598,000 | 108,000 | 439,000 | 67,000 |
Fox News Performance
Fox News averaged 2.26 million total viewers in primetime, representing a slight decline of 1% from the previous week. However, it saw a 2% increase in the crucial A25-54 demographic.
In the total day ratings, Fox News excelled with 1.5 million viewers, marking a 2% increase overall, although the A25-54 demographic declined by 3%. It maintained its position as the leader in total day viewership and ranked second in the A25-54 demo.
MS NOW and CNN Results
MS NOW attracted 918,000 viewers in primetime, a 2% increase from the prior week, despite a 7% decrease in the A25-54 demographic. During total day, its viewers averaged 578,000, showing a slight drop of 1% in total viewers and a 10% decrease in the demo.
CNN had 598,000 total viewers in primetime, down 10% from the previous week. It experienced a modest increase of 4% in the A25-54 demographic. Their total day viewership stood at 439,000, with a 2% decline in total viewers and a 3% drop in the demo.
Year-on-Year Comparison
In a year-on-year perspective, Fox News saw a decline of 7% in total viewers and 18% in the A25-54 demographic. Conversely, MS NOW and CNN significantly increased their viewership. MS NOW saw a 16% bump in total viewers and a 35% increase in the demo. CNN experienced a remarkable growth of 55% in total viewers and 64% in the A25-54 demographic.
Top Programs of the Week
- The Five (Fox News): 3.54 million viewers at 5 PM ET, leading both total viewers and A25-54 demo with 324,000 viewers.
- The Rachel Maddow Show (MS NOW): 1.86 million viewers at 9 PM ET, placing eighth in total viewers.
- The Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell (MS NOW): 1.36 million viewers at 10 PM ET, ranked 15th.
- CNN NewsNight with Abby Phillip: 150,000 demo viewers, ranked 14th in the A25-54 demographic.
Overall, the cable news ratings for the holiday weekend present an intriguing mix of outcomes, suggesting a shifting landscape for viewer preferences as the summer approaches.
