Fox News, MS NOW, CNN all slide in Nielsen cable news ratings for week of July 20

August 1, 2026 · Adweek

2.28 million viewers watched Fox News in primetime for the week of July 20, down 7% from the week of July 13, according to Nielsen's big data and panel measurement compiled by Adweek's TVNewser. The demo also fell 14%, to 201,000 Adults 25-54 viewers. Fox News' total day average came to 1.434 million viewers and 129,000 in the demo, down 3% and 4%. MS NOW's primetime average dropped to 965,000 viewers and 80,000 in the demo, down 16% and 23%, with total day at 630,000 viewers and 51,000 in the demo, down 9% and 16%. CNN's primetime average fell 6%, with 95,000 in the demo, down 16%, and 468,000 total day viewers with 63,000 in the demo, down 2% and 6%. Fox News kept the top spot in total primetime viewers and total day viewers and demo, slipping one spot to second in primetime demo among all basic cable networks; MS NOW dropped from 13th to 19th in the primetime demo ranking, and CNN slid from 10th to 13th.

Campaigns weighted toward cable news inventory are buying into a softer live audience base than two weeks ago, with MS NOW's 23% primetime demo decline the steepest of the three networks and CNN's slide to 13th place in the primetime demo ranking worth flagging in negotiations. Fox News' hold on 96 of the top 100 cable newscasts keeps it the default reach buy in the category. TVNewser points to the summer season and a lack of major political stories as possible factors behind the drop across all three networks, a hedge worth weighing before locking in scatter or upfront pricing off a single week's ratings.