This is TVNewser’s fundamental cable community ranker and cable information report for the week of May 4, 2026.
NCS stood out from its friends because it was the one cable information community to document week-to-week progress in whole viewers and the Adults 25-54 demo throughout primetime.
Meanwhile, Fox News remained the most-watched information community in each measured classes. It completed forward of ESPN in whole viewers throughout primetime for the third straight week, regardless of the sports activities community having NBA and NHL playoff motion.
NETWORKS:
According to Nielsen large knowledge + panel for the week of May 4, Fox News averaged 2.469 million whole viewers and 222,000 A25-54 viewers throughout primetime. The community was down -5% in whole viewers and -7% within the demo in comparison with the week prior (the week starting April 27).
During whole day viewing, Fox News averaged 1.57 million whole viewers and 147,000 A25-54 viewers. Based on its common from the earlier week’s measurements, the community noticed declines of -4% in whole viewers and -3% within the demo.
Fox News continued to rank first in whole primetime viewership and third in demo viewership amongst all fundamental cable networks. During whole day, it additionally completed first in whole viewers and was No. 2 within the whole day demo.
MS NOW completed under the 1 million whole viewer mark, averaging 972,000 whole viewers and 91,000 viewers within the A25-54 demo for the week that simply concluded. The community was down -6% in whole viewers and -13% within the demo in comparison with its primetime common the week prior.
During whole day, MS NOW averaged 606,000 whole viewers and 62,000 demo viewers. It was down -6% in whole viewers and -9% within the demo in comparison with the community’s common the week prior.
Among all fundamental cable networks, MS NOW was third in whole primetime viewers and dropped to seventeenth from 14th within the demo. It completed third in whole viewers and slipped one spot to ninth within the whole day demo.
NCS averaged 683,00 whole primetime viewers and 126,000 A25-54 viewers throughout primetime for the week of May 5. The community grew by +8% in whole viewers and +25% within the demo in comparison with the earlier week.
During whole day, the community had 484,000 whole viewers and 80,000 viewers within the demo. NCS declined by -1% in whole viewers however noticed positive factors of +11% within the demo throughout this daypart.
Among all cable networks, NCS moved from sixth to fifth in whole viewers and jumped from fifteenth to seventh within the demo throughout primetime. It remained at No. 4 in whole day amongst whole viewers and sixth within the demo.
When taking a look at these networks’ efficiency during the same period a year ago:
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During primetime, Fox News was up by +1% in whole viewers however down by -13% within the A25-54 demo. During whole day, the community posted losses of -1% in whole viewers and -22% within the demo-the solely community with declines inside this yearly comparability.
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MS NOW was up by +9% in whole viewers and +18% within the demo. During whole day, the community was up +7% in whole viewers and +19% within the demo.
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In primetime, NCS grew by +50% in whole viewers and the demo. During whole day, it rose by +29% in whole viewers and +25% within the demo.
PROGRAMMING:
Fox News had 13 out of the 15 spots of the most-watched cable information reveals of the week, with The Five on high with 3.663 million whole viewers at 5 p.m. ET. MS NOW was represented within the chart by The Rachel Maddow Show, airing solely on Mondays at 9 p.m. ET, which ranked eighth with 2.094 million whole viewers.
The Five additionally completed No. 1 within the Adults 25-54 demo, averaging 318,000 viewers. Fox News held 13 of the 15 high spots within the demo, with MS NOW’s The Rachel Maddow Show touchdown in fourth place with 234,000 demo viewers. NCS was represented within the chart by NCS NewsNight time with Abby Phillip, which airs weeknights at 10 p.m. ET with 137,000 demo viewers, putting it in fifteenth.
May 4, 2026 (Nielsen Big Data + Panel):
Prime Time
|
Fox News |
MS NOW |
NCS |
|
|
• Total Viewers: |
2,469,000 |
972,000 |
683,000 |
|
• A25-54: |
222,000 |
91,000 |
126,000 |
Total Day
|
Fox News |
MS NOW |
NCS |
|
|
• Total Viewers: |
1,570,000 |
606,000 |
484,000 |
|
• A25-54: |
147,000 |
62,000 |
80,000 |