MS NOW, meanwhile, was the week’s standout performer. The network averaged 914,000 total viewers and 81,000 in the A25-54 demo during primetime. The most striking aspect of these numbers was the rate of growth: a +33% increase in total viewers and a staggering +47% jump in the demo compared to the network’s primetime average from the prior week. This upward trajectory continued into the total day daypart, where MS NOW averaged 568,000 total viewers and 54,000 in the demo, marking gains of +16% and +26%, respectively.
When measured against the entire basic cable landscape, MS NOW maintained its third-place standing in total primetime viewers and finished 13th in the primetime demo. Its total day performance was similarly consistent, ranking third in total viewers and securing ninth place in the total day demo. The network’s ability to post such high growth percentages suggests a successful stabilization of its audience following the fluctuations of the late summer season.
CNN also enjoyed a week of positive momentum, though its gains were more measured than those of MS NOW. During primetime, CNN averaged 552,000 total viewers and 88,000 in the demo, representing growth of +13% and +14%, respectively, over the previous week. In the total day category, the network drew 375,000 total viewers and 53,000 in the A25-54 demo, reflecting an increase of +7% in total audience and +8% in the demo.
These gains allowed CNN to reclaim fourth place in total viewers among all basic cable networks during primetime, while finishing 11th in the primetime demo. For total day viewing, CNN held firm at No. 4 in total viewers and No. 10 in the demo. While MS NOW edged out CNN in the total day demo this week, CNN’s primetime demo average of 88,000 remained slightly higher than MS NOW’s 81,000, underscoring the fierce, neck-and-neck competition between the two networks for the attention of younger news consumers.
PROGRAMMING
The individual program rankings for the week of September 14 further illustrated the dominance of Fox News’ weekday lineup, even as its overall network averages softened. Fox News occupied 12 of the top 15 spots for the most-watched cable news shows of the week. The Five continued its reign at the top of the charts, averaging 2.772 million total viewers in its 5 p.m. ET time slot. The program’s unique blend of roundtable discussion and political commentary remains the most potent weapon in Fox’s arsenal, consistently outperforming primetime offerings.
MS NOW’s presence in the top 15 was driven by its heavy hitters in the evening hours. The Monday night airing of The Rachel Maddow Show at 9 p.m. ET was the network’s highest-charting program, landing at No. 8 with 1.483 million total viewers. This single-night performance underscored the significant impact Maddow continues to have on the network’s weekly averages. Additionally, Lawrence O’Donnell’s The Last Word, which airs weeknights at 10 p.m. ET, secured the No. 14 spot with 1.195 million total viewers. Rounding out the top 15 was The Briefing with Jen Psaki, which averaged 1.119 million total viewers in the 9 p.m. ET slot from Tuesday to Friday.
