Fox News Channel has maintained its top position in the cable television ratings as it approaches its 30th anniversary. In the third quarter of 2026, Fox News outperformed CBS in weekday primetime viewership and led all cable networks.
Fox News averaged 2.4 million viewers during weekday primetime, surpassing CBS and leading in viewership for the year to date. During total days, Fox News attracted 1.3 million viewers and was the only network to exceed one million viewers. MS NOW followed with 592,000 viewers, with ESPN, CNN, and HGTV trailing behind.
The Five, featuring Dana Perino, Greg Gutfeld, Jesse Watters, Emily Compagno, Jessica Tarlov, and Harold Ford Jr., remained the top cable news program, averaging 3.1 million viewers. It marked the 20th straight quarter as the leading cable news show. Other leading programs included Jesse Watters Primetime, Gutfeld!, Special Report with Bret Baier, Hannity, and The Ingraham Angle. Nearly all of the top 14 cable news shows were Fox offerings.
MS NOW’s The Rachel Maddow Show broke into the top shows, finishing seventh with 1.9 million viewers on fewer broadcasts than its competitors. CNN’s Newsnight was the network’s highest-rated show at number 24, averaging 686,000 viewers.
Fox News daytime programming, with shows such as America’s Newsroom, The Faulkner Focus, and Outnumbered, also performed strongly. Fox News @ Night with Trace Gallagher dominated its timeslot with 1.3 million viewers, while Gutfeld! surpassed all late-night shows, including Jimmy Kimmel Live! and The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon.
FOX & Friends led morning cable news with 1.1 million viewers, outperforming CBS Mornings in various markets. Weekend programming was also robust, with shows such as Saturday in America with Kayleigh McEnany and Sunday Morning Futures topping their respective days.
In the advertiser-favored 25-54 demographic, Fox News averaged 120,000 viewers during total days and 183,000 during primetime. The Five led with 289,000 demo viewers.
Brian Flood, media editor/reporter for Fox News Digital, can be contacted for story tips via email at [email protected] or on Twitter: @briansflood.