This is TVNewser’s basic cable network ranker and cable news report for the week of May 4, 2026.
CNN stood out from its peers as it was the only cable news network to record week-to-week growth in total viewers and the Adults 25-54 demo during primetime.
Meanwhile, Fox News remained the most-watched news network in both measured categories. It finished ahead of ESPN in total viewers during primetime for the third straight week, despite the sports network having NBA and NHL playoff action.
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According to Nielsen big data + panel for the week of May 4, Fox News averaged 2.469 million total viewers and 222,000 A25-54 viewers during primetime. The network was down -5% in total viewers and -7% in the demo compared to the week prior (the week beginning April 27).
During total day viewing, Fox News averaged 1.57 million total viewers and 147,000 A25-54 viewers. Based on its average from the previous week’s measurements, the network saw declines of -4% in total viewers and -3% in the demo.
Fox News continued to rank first in total primetime viewership and third in demo viewership among all basic cable networks. During total day, it also finished first in total viewers and was No. 2 in the total day demo.
MS NOW finished below the 1 million total viewer mark, averaging 972,000 total viewers and 91,000 viewers in the A25-54 demo for the week that just concluded. The network was down -6% in total viewers and -13% in the demo compared to its primetime average the week prior.
During total day, MS NOW averaged 606,000 total viewers and 62,000 demo viewers. It was down -6% in total viewers and -9% in the demo compared to the network’s average the week prior.
Among all basic cable networks, MS NOW was third in total primetime viewers and dropped to 17th from 14th in the demo. It finished third in total viewers and slipped one spot to ninth in the total day demo.
CNN averaged 683,00 total primetime viewers and 126,000 A25-54 viewers during primetime for the week of May 5. The network grew by +8% in total viewers and +25% in the demo compared to the previous week.
During total day, the network had 484,000 total viewers and 80,000 viewers in the demo. CNN declined by -1% in total viewers but saw gains of +11% in the demo during this daypart.
Among all cable networks, CNN moved from sixth to fifth in total viewers and jumped from 15th to seventh in the demo during primetime. It remained at No. 4 in total day among total viewers and sixth in the demo.
When looking at these networks’ performance during the same period a year ago:
