This is TVNewser’s basic cable network ranker and cable news report for the week of Feb. 2, 2026.
Fox News started off the month of February as the only cable news network to see week-to-week gains in total viewers and the Adults 25-54 demo during primetime and total day. This was Fox News’ highest-rated week of the year in total viewers and the demo since September 2025.
Meanwhile, MS NOW and CNN both registered across-the-board declines in both measured categories during both dayparts for the just concluded week.
NETWORKS:
According to Nielsen big data + panel for the week of February 2, Fox News averaged 2.633 million total viewers and 275,000 A25-54 viewers during primetime. The network was up +3% in total viewers and +12% in the demo compared to the week prior (the week beginning January 26).
Fox News averaged 1.725 million total viewers and 175,000 A25-54 viewers in total day viewing. Based on its average for the previous week’s measurements, it was up +4% in total viewers and +9% in the demo.
Fox News ranked first in total primetime viewership and was the No. 2 network in demo viewership among all basic cable networks. In total day, it finished in first place in total viewers and dropped from second to third in the total day demo.
MS NOW averaged 1.095 million total viewers and 134,000 viewers in the A25-54 demo for the week that just concluded. The network dropped by -12% in total viewers and -11% in the demo compared to its average the week prior during primetime.
During total day, MS NOW averaged 680,000 total viewers and 75,000 demo viewers. This translated to a -10% decline in total viewers and a -15% decline in the demo compared to the network’s average the week prior.
Among all basic cable networks, MS NOW remained third in total primetime viewers and sixth in the demo. It was No. 2 in total viewers and seventh in the total day demo.
CNN averaged 753,000 total primetime viewers and 142,000 A25-54 viewers during primetime for the week of Feb. 2. The network was down by -9% and -16% in the demo compared to the previous week.
In total day, the network had 527,000 total viewers and 85,000 viewers in the demo. CNN fell by -11% in total viewers and -19% in the demo during this daypart.
Among all cable networks, CNN ranked fourth in total viewers and fifth in the demo during primetime. It dropped to No. 5 from No. 4 in total day among total viewers and slid one spot to sixth in the demo.
When looking at these networks’ performance during the same period a year ago:
During primetime, Fox News was down by -14% in total viewers and -31% in the A25-54 demo. During total day, the network saw decreases of -15% in total viewers and -32% in the demo. MS NOW was down -5% in total viewers but grew by +14% in the demo. During total day, the network was up +4% in total viewers and in the demo. In primetime, CNN grew by +48% in total viewers and +23% in the demo. During total day, it rose by +26% in total viewers and +9% in the demo—it was the only network to see gains across the board within this yearly comparison.
PROGRAMMING:
Fox News had 13 out of the 15 spots of the most-watched cable news shows of the week, with The Five on top with 4.081 million total viewers at 5 p.m. ET. MS NOW was represented in the chart by The Rachel Maddow Show on Mondays at 9 p.m. ET, remaining in seventh place with 2.399 million total viewers. The Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell, which aired at 10 p.m. ET, was the other non-Fox News show in the chart, landing in 15th place with 1.543 million total viewers.
The Five, which airs at 5 p.m. ET on Fox News weekdays, regained the top spot in the Adults 25-54 demo, averaging 364,000 viewers. Fox News held 12 of the 15 top spots in the demo, with MS NOW’s The Rachel Maddow Show on Mondays at 9 p.m. ET finishing in fourth place with 312,000 demo viewers. CNN had one show in the chart, led by CNN NewsNight with Abby Phillip at 10 p.m. ET, with 186,000 demo viewers.
February 2, 2026
Prime Time
Fox News MS NOW CNN • Total Viewers: 2,633,000 1,095,000 753,000 • A25-54: 275,000 134,000 142,000
Total Day
Fox News MS NOW CNN • Total Viewers: 1,725,000 680,000 527,000 • A25-54: 175,000 75,000 85,000