Fox News Channel continued its reign as the most-watched cable news network in the first quarter of 2026, securing the top spot for the 20th consecutive quarter. The network positions itself as an alternative in the news landscape, offering in-depth reporting and diverse perspectives.

Dominating Viewership Numbers

Fox News averaged 1.7 million total day viewers, significantly surpassing MS NOW with 691,000 and CNN with 577,000. In primetime, the network averaged 2.6 million viewers, while MS NOW reached 1.1 million and CNN garnered 797,000.

Primetime Leadership

This marks the 97th consecutive quarter that Fox News has led in cable news primetime viewership. Notably, the network also outperformed ESPN, even during major sporting events like college football and NFL playoffs.

Strong Performance in Key Demographics

Fox News also excelled among adults aged 25-54, a key demographic for advertisers. The network averaged 172,000 total day viewers in this group, compared to 101,000 for CNN and 72,000 for MS NOW.

Demo Dominance

During primetime, Fox News attracted 265,000 demo viewers, while CNN reached 156,000 and MS NOW averaged 114,000. The network aired 14 of the top 15 shows on cable news, with double-digit increases across all hours quarter-over-quarter.

Top Performing Shows

'The Five,' hosted by Dana Perino, Greg Gutfeld, Jesse Watters, Jessica Tarlov, and Harold Ford Jr., continued its success as the most-watched non-primetime program in cable news for the 18th consecutive quarter, averaging 4 million total viewers and 354,000 in the key demo.

Other Leading Programs

  • 'Special Report with Bret Baier' averaged over 3 million viewers, outdrawing 'CBS Evening News' in 19 major markets.
  • 'The Ingraham Angle,' 'Jesse Watters Primetime,' 'Hannity,' and 'FOX News @ Night with Trace Gallagher' each led in their respective timeslots.
  • 'Gutfeld!' averaged 3 million viewers, surpassing all broadcast and late-night television programs.
  • Morning shows like 'FOX & Friends' and 'America’s Newsroom' also outperformed competitors.

Weekend and Sunday Success

Fox News continued to dominate on weekends and Sundays with programs like 'Saturday in America with Kayleigh McEnany' and 'Sunday Morning Futures with Maria Bartiromo.' The network secured the top spot among Hispanic and Asian audiences in total day viewership for both the quarter and the month of March.

Data is based on Nielsen Media Research findings.