FOX News Channel (FNC) finished the week of January 19 averaging 2.6 million weekday primetime viewers leading CBS’ 2.2 million viewers, according to Nielsen Big Data + Panel. Throughout total day (6 AM-6 AM/ET), FNC posted 1.5 million viewers and 148,000 in the 25-54 demo and in primetime saw 2.2 million viewers and 209,000 in the 25-54 demo. For the week, FNC held 56% share of cable news viewers in primetime and drew 90 of the top 100 telecasts in all of cable.
The Five averaged nearly 3.6 million viewers and drew 311,000 in the 25-54 demo, leading cable news with total viewers and capturing a 64% share of cable news for the hour. At 6 PM/ET, Special Report with Bret Baier averaged 2.7 million viewers and 243,000 in the 25-54 demo. The Ingraham Angle saw 2.4 million viewers and 205,000 in the 25-54 demo at 7 PM/ET. Jesse Watters Primetime commanded 3.1 million viewers and 264,000 in the 25-54 demo at 8 PM/ET. At 9 PM/ET, Hannity posted 2.5 million viewers and 233,000 in the 25-54 demo, while FOX News @ Night with Trace Gallagher averaged 1.5 million viewers at 11PM/ET.
FNC’s late-night hit Gutfeld! (weekdays, 10 PM/ET) averaged 2.8 million viewers and delivered 311,000 in the 25-54 demo, leading all late-night competition in total viewers and the 25-54 demo. It also continued to outpace the broadcast competition including CBS’ The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (2.1 million viewers; 286,000 A25-54), ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live! (1.9 million viewers; 247,000 A25-54) and NBC’s The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon (1.1 million viewers; 236,000 A25-54).
FNC continued to see its daytime programs outperform the broadcast competition. The Story with Martha MacCallum (weekdays, 3PM/ET; 1,943,000 viewers) and The Will Cain Show (weekdays, 4 PM/ET; 2.1 million viewers) outpaced CBS Mornings (1,897,000 viewers). America’s Newsroom (weekdays, 9AM-11AM/ET; 1.8 million viewers), The Faulkner Focus (weekdays, 11AM-12PM/ET; 1.8 million viewers), Outnumbered (weekdays, 12 PM/ET; 1.7 million viewers), and America Reports (weekdays, 1-3 PM/ET; 1.8 million viewers), all led ABC’s GMA 3 (1,.5 million viewers), NBC’s Today with Jenna and Sheinelle (1.5 million viewers), and NBC’s NBC News Daily (1.4 million viewers).
On Saturday: FNC posted the top 5 cable news programs of the day. Anchored by Aishah Hasnie, the extended version of FOX News Live, due to the breaking news in Minnesota anchored by Aishah Hasnie (Saturday, 12 - 3PM/ET) was the most-watched show of the day with nearly 2 million viewers and 190,000 viewers A25-54 Kayleigh McEnany’s Saturday in America (Saturday, 10 AM - 12 PM/ET) dominated its time slot drawing 1.9 million viewers, and 160,000 viewers with the 25-54 demo.. FOX Report with Jon Scott (Saturday, 3-5PM/ET) drew 1.8 million viewers while an extended version of The Big Weekend Show (Saturday, 5-9 PM/ET) drew nearly 1.9 million viewers. My View with Lara Trump (Saturdays, 9 PM/ET) nabbed over 1.4 million viewers.
On Sunday: The Sunday Briefing (Sunday, 11 AM/ET) hosted by Peter Doocy was the number one cable news show of the day with nearly 1.9 million viewers. Maria Bartiromo’s Sunday Morning Futures (Sunday, 10 AM/ET) drew nearly 1.8 million viewers and delivered 163,000 in the 25-54 demo. In primetime, One Nation with Brian Kilmeade (Sundays, 10 PM/ET) led the way with 1.3 million viewers.
Source: Nielsen. Big Data + Panel. Week of 1-19-26 ratings data. Average audience for cable news networks Monday-Sunday based on Total Day and Prime (6a-6a, 8P-11P), P2+, P25-54. Cable News/Broadcast Program averages exclude repeats and include the corresponding program name.
The TV ratings for the broadcast evening newscasts (based on Nielsen Live+Same Day Big Data Plus Panel Program Ratings) for the week of January 19, 2026, are as follows:
The primetime TV ratings for the week of January 19–25, 2026 (Monday–Sunday, based on Nielsen Live+Same Day Big Data + Panel averages where available, focusing on total viewers P2+ and key demos like adults 25-54) show a mix of sports influence, news dominance, and typical broadcast/cable patterns.
FNC’s late-night hit Gutfeld! (weekdays, 10 PM/ET) averaged 2.8 million viewers and delivered 311,000 in the 25-54 demo, leading all late-night competition in total viewers and the 25-54 demo. It also continued to outpace the broadcast competition including CBS’ The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (2.1 million viewers; 286,000 A25-54), ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live! (1.9 million viewers; 247,000 A25-54) and NBC’s The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon (1.1 million viewers; 236,000 A25-54).
FNC continued to see its daytime programs outperform the broadcast competition. The Story with Martha MacCallum (weekdays, 3PM/ET; 1,943,000 viewers) and The Will Cain Show (weekdays, 4 PM/ET; 2.1 million viewers) outpaced CBS Mornings (1,897,000 viewers). America’s Newsroom (weekdays, 9AM-11AM/ET; 1.8 million viewers), The Faulkner Focus (weekdays, 11AM-12PM/ET; 1.8 million viewers), Outnumbered (weekdays, 12 PM/ET; 1.7 million viewers), and America Reports (weekdays, 1-3 PM/ET; 1.8 million viewers), all led ABC’s GMA 3 (1,.5 million viewers), NBC’s Today with Jenna and Sheinelle (1.5 million viewers), and NBC’s NBC News Daily (1.4 million viewers).
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| Rating Graphics Courtesy of RoadMN |
On Saturday: FNC posted the top 5 cable news programs of the day. Anchored by Aishah Hasnie, the extended version of FOX News Live, due to the breaking news in Minnesota anchored by Aishah Hasnie (Saturday, 12 - 3PM/ET) was the most-watched show of the day with nearly 2 million viewers and 190,000 viewers A25-54 Kayleigh McEnany’s Saturday in America (Saturday, 10 AM - 12 PM/ET) dominated its time slot drawing 1.9 million viewers, and 160,000 viewers with the 25-54 demo.. FOX Report with Jon Scott (Saturday, 3-5PM/ET) drew 1.8 million viewers while an extended version of The Big Weekend Show (Saturday, 5-9 PM/ET) drew nearly 1.9 million viewers. My View with Lara Trump (Saturdays, 9 PM/ET) nabbed over 1.4 million viewers.
On Sunday: The Sunday Briefing (Sunday, 11 AM/ET) hosted by Peter Doocy was the number one cable news show of the day with nearly 1.9 million viewers. Maria Bartiromo’s Sunday Morning Futures (Sunday, 10 AM/ET) drew nearly 1.8 million viewers and delivered 163,000 in the 25-54 demo. In primetime, One Nation with Brian Kilmeade (Sundays, 10 PM/ET) led the way with 1.3 million viewers.
Source: Nielsen. Big Data + Panel. Week of 1-19-26 ratings data. Average audience for cable news networks Monday-Sunday based on Total Day and Prime (6a-6a, 8P-11P), P2+, P25-54. Cable News/Broadcast Program averages exclude repeats and include the corresponding program name.
📺BROADCAST EVENING NEWS
- ABC World News Tonight (with David Muir): Averaged 9,000,000 total viewers, 1,089,000 adults 25-54, and 755,000 adults 18-49. It ranked as the No. 1 newscast across broadcast and cable in total viewers and the key demographics, reclaiming the top spot. Notably, Monday's edition (January 19) drew 10.885 million total viewers, its biggest night in nearly six years.
- NBC Nightly News: Averaged 6,856,000 total viewers (with Saturday edition at 7,509,000 in some top 10 listings), 998,000 adults 25-54, and 673,000 adults 18-49. It placed second overall.
- CBS Evening News (with Tony Dokoupil): Averaged 4,865,000 total viewers, 675,000 adults 25-54, and 502,000 adults 18-49. It trailed in third place, consistent with reports of ongoing low ratings for the program in January 2026.
ABC led significantly, beating NBC by about 2.1 million viewers (its widest margin in nearly six years) and CBS by over 4 million on some nights. CBS continued to face challenges in viewership under its new anchor format.
📺PRIMETIME RATINGS
Broadcast Networks (ABC, NBC, CBS Primetime Averages)Primetime averages for the week (typically 8–11 PM ET, Mon–Sun) were not uniformly detailed in weekly aggregates for these exact dates, but cross-referenced data from Nielsen top 10s, network reports, and industry sources indicate:
- ABC: Led broadcast primetime with strong showings from NBA broadcasts (e.g., Saturday NBA on ABC noted as a strong start to 2026) and scripted/reality programming like 9-1-1: Nashville and Celebrity Wheel of Fortune (reruns or episodes hitting season highs in some daily reports). ABC often topped nights with sports and entertainment, averaging around 3.99 million in broader January weekday primetime context, but weekly specifics highlight dominance in select slots (e.g., NBA games drawing 2–2.5 million on key nights). ABC World News Tonight (evening lead-in) averaged 9 million total viewers for the week, boosting overall momentum.
- NBC: Solid but trailing, with NBA on NBC (e.g., Monday Jan 19 games like Mavericks-Knicks at ~2.2 million) and shows like Happy’s Place or Law & Order variants. Primetime averaged lower than ABC in many reports, with NBC Nightly News at ~6.856 million (Saturday edition higher at 7.509 million). NBC placed second in many nightly comparisons.
- CBS: Third place overall, with lower primetime traction amid scripted reruns (e.g., FBI, NCIS: Origins) and news. CBS Evening News averaged ~4.865 million. Fox News reports noted CBS primetime weekday offerings at ~2.2 million in January context, trailing Fox News itself on some metrics.
Cable Channels (Top Performers in Primetime):
Cable was dominated by news and sports, with Fox News Channel (FNC) leading overall cable in many metrics:
- Fox News Channel: Dominant in cable primetime, averaging 2.046–2.4 million viewers (weekday/monthly context, but strong weekly carryover). Shows like The Five (top cable program, often 3+ million), Jesse Watters Primetime, Gutfeld!, and Hannity topped cable lists and outdrew many broadcast programs. FNC beat CBS in weekday primetime in some reports and held massive share (60% of cable news).
- Other Key Cable: ESPN: Strong from sports (e.g., College Football Bowl Studio postgame at 12.698 million in top 10 overall, NBA/MLK Day boosts).
- MSNBC (rebranded MS NOW in some contexts): Lower, around 589,000–887,000 in primetime averages (monthly/weekly trends).
- CNN: Trailing further, ~660,000 in primetime.
- Other notables: Hallmark (solid on Saturday with Caught by Love), TBS/TLC lower in 10 PM hour (~0.5 million range).