The cable news landscape saw a generally positive trend in viewership during the week of February 9, 2026, but the gains weren’t evenly distributed. While CNN experienced double-digit growth across the board, MS NOW bucked the trend, posting week-to-week declines in a key demographic. However, total viewer numbers increased for all three major networks, signaling continued interest in cable news programming. Understanding these shifts in cable news ratings requires a closer look at the individual network performances and the programming driving those numbers.
Fox News continued its dominance, averaging 2.768 million total viewers during primetime, a 5% increase from the previous week. The network likewise saw a 4% bump in viewers aged 25-54, a demographic highly sought after by advertisers. In total day viewing, Fox News averaged 1.841 million viewers, with a 7% increase in both total viewers and the 25-54 demo. This performance solidified Fox News’ position as the leader in total primetime viewership and allowed it to climb to second place in total day demo viewership. The network’s consistent performance underscores its strong brand loyalty and the appeal of its programming lineup.
CNN’s Double-Digit Gains
CNN experienced the most significant gains of the three networks, with a 19% increase in primetime total viewers and a 14% increase in the 25-54 demo compared to the previous week. Total day viewership also rose, climbing 16% in both total viewers and the key demographic. These gains moved CNN to fourth place in total day viewership and fifth in primetime viewership among all cable networks. The network’s resurgence suggests a growing appetite for its coverage and analysis, potentially driven by current events or shifts in the political climate.
MS NOW Faces a Slight Dip
MS NOW was the only network to experience a decline in viewership within the Adults 25-54 primetime demo, falling 5% compared to the previous week, despite a 3% increase in total primetime viewers. Total day numbers showed a more positive trend, with a 6% increase in total viewers and a 5% increase in the demo. However, the primetime demo decline is a notable point for the network, which, according to Wikipedia, positions itself as offering “modern liberal-leaning political commentary.” MS NOW remained third in total primetime viewers but slipped to eighth place, tied with Comedy Central, in the key demo.
Programming Highlights and Top Performers
Fox News dominated the list of most-watched cable news shows, securing 14 of the top 15 spots. “The Five” led the pack with 4.126 million total viewers at 5 p.m. ET, followed by “Jesse Watters Primetime” with 3.770,000 viewers. MS NOW’s sole entry on the list was “The Rachel Maddow Show,” which aired only on Mondays at 9 p.m. ET and drew 2.227 million total viewers. “Jesse Watters Primetime” also topped the charts in the 25-54 demo, averaging 377,000 viewers. MS NOW’s “The Rachel Maddow Show” landed in eighth place in the demo with 253,000 viewers, while CNN’s “CNN NewsNight with Abby Phillip” garnered 188,000 demo viewers.
| Fox News | MS NOW | CNN | |
| • Total Viewers: | 2,768,000 | 1,126,000 | 895,000 |
| • A25-54: | 285,000 | 127,000 | 162,000 |
| Fox News | MS NOW | CNN | |
| • Total Viewers: | 1,841,000 | 720,000 | 613,000 |
| • A25-54: | 187,000 | 79,000 | 99,000 |
Week 2-9-26 Cable Ranker P25-54 BDP by Adweek
Looking Back: Year-Over-Year Comparisons
Comparing these numbers to the same week in 2025 reveals some interesting trends. Fox News experienced declines in both total viewers (-8%) and the 25-54 demo (-24%) during primetime. MS NOW, conversely, saw increases of 4% in total viewers and 19% in the demo during primetime. CNN demonstrated the most dramatic year-over-year growth, with an 84% increase in primetime total viewers and a 59% increase in the 25-54 demo. These shifts suggest a dynamic market where audience preferences and news cycles can significantly impact viewership.
The cable news landscape remains competitive, with networks constantly vying for audience attention. The week of February 9, 2026, demonstrated the resilience of Fox News, the resurgence of CNN, and the challenges faced by MS NOW in maintaining its primetime demo viewership. The next set of ratings data, expected in late February, will provide further insight into whether these trends continue and how networks respond to the evolving media environment.
What do you think is driving these changes in cable news viewership? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
