During the second quarter of 2026, FOX News Channel (FNC) dominated all of cable with viewers across total day and primetime and also finished June by leading CBS and NBC with weekday primetime viewers, according to Nielsen.
Additionally, FNC continued to outpace ESPN with viewers in a sports-heavy quarter as well as CNN and MS NOW combined with viewers and in the 25-54 demo across primetime and total day. As FNC continued to close the gap with the broadcast competition, Special Report with Bret Baier and FOX & Friends both lead CBS in major markets across the country as CBS slumped to historic lows in the quarter and month of June.
For the full quarter, FNC delivered 1.6 million total day viewers and in primetime, FNC notched 2.5 million viewers and 230,000 in the 25-54 demo. FNC commanded nearly 60% of the audience in both total day and primetime. It also secured the top spot in cable among Hispanic, Asian and upscale audiences in total day for both second quarter 2026 and the month of June. FNC also had the longest length of tune in total day and primetime throughout the second quarter.
For the full quarter, FNC delivered 1.6 million total day viewers and in primetime, FNC notched 2.5 million viewers and 230,000 in the 25-54 demo. FNC commanded nearly 60% of the audience in both total day and primetime. It also secured the top spot in cable among Hispanic, Asian and upscale audiences in total day for both second quarter 2026 and the month of June. FNC also had the longest length of tune in total day and primetime throughout the second quarter.
In June, FNC delivered 2,628,000 viewers in weekday primetime during June leading NBC (2,419,000 viewers) and CBS (2,049,000 viewers). In Monday - Sunday total day FNC commanded 1.5 million viewers and in primetime FNC drew 2.3 million viewers and 197,000 in the 25-54 demo.
Additionally, CBS continued its downward trajectory marking under 3.3 million viewers and 458,000 in the 25-54 demo in primetime, the network’s worst second quarter of the 21st century. CBS Evening News with Tony Dokoupil delivered its second worst second quarter of the century with 3.9 million viewers and 528,000 in the 25-54 demo. CBS Mornings slumped to just 1.7 million viewers, its lowest quarter in program history. In June, CBS (261,000 A25-54) and NBC (396,000 A25-54) each had their worst weekday primetimes in the demo of the 21st century.
Late-night sensation Gutfeld! continued to soar as CBS’ The Late Show with Stephen Colbert ended its run, drawing in 2.8 million viewers and 299,000 in 25-54 during the 10 PM/ET hour. Easily outpacing its cable news competition, Gutfeld! also outranked all broadcast and late-night television, including CBS’ The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (2.5 million viewers), ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live! (2.2 million viewers) and NBC’s The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon (1.3 million viewers), CBS’ Comics Unleashed (808,000 viewers) and Late Night with Seth Meyers (806,000 viewers). Gutfeld! reigned supreme in June with 2.6 million viewers, beating all late-night.
Several of FNC’s programs also continued to outperform broadcast programs throughout the quarter. At 5 PM/ET, FNC’s The Five extended its historic run as the first non-primetime program to rank as the most watched show in cable news for 19 consecutive quarters. The program secured 3.6 million viewers and 322,000 in the 25-54 demo. The Five led CBS’ NCIS: Origins (3.5 million viewers), CIA (3.5 million viewers) and ABC’s Inside the NBA (3.5 million viewers).
FNC’s flagship newscast, Special Report with Bret Baier (6 PM/ET), garnered more than 2.7 million viewers and 245,000 in the 25-54 demo. During the quarter, Special Report beat CBS Evening News in 18 major markets including New York, Chicago, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Washington, D.C., Tampa and others while continuing to close the gap with CBS Evening News.
In Q2 2026, FNC delivered 13 of the top 15 shows in cable news with viewers. At 7 PM/ET, The Ingraham Angle led the competition with 2.6 million viewers and 225,000 in 25-54. Jesse Watters Primetime drew more than 3.2 million viewers and 283,000 in 25-54 in the 8 PM/ET hour, leading ABC’s RJ Decker (3.1 million viewers) and ESPN’s Thursday and Friday coverage of the Masters (3.1 million viewers). At 9 PM/ET, Hannity dominated the competition with 2.8 million viewers and 262,000 in the 25-54 demo. At 11 PM/ET, FOX News @ Night with Trace Gallagher averaged 1.5 million viewers and 180,000 in 25-54.
During daytime, America’s Newsroom (9 - 11 AM/ET) with Dana Perino and Bill Hemmer lead its timeslot with 1.9 million viewers. At 11 AM/ET, The Faulkner Focus, helmed by Harris Faulkner, drew the largest audience with 1.9 million viewers. At 12 PM/ET, Outnumbered also saw 1.9 million viewers. From 1-3 PM/ET, America Reports with John Roberts and Sandra Smith was the most-watched program, averaging 1.8 million viewers, while The Story with Martha MacCallum drew the largest cable news audience at 3 PM/ET, nabbing 1.9 million viewers. At 4 PM/ET, FNC’s The Will Cain Show averaged 2.2 million viewers. Each daytime program surpassed CBS Mornings (1.7 million viewers), NBC’s Today with Jenna and Sheinelle (1.4 million viewers), ABC’s GMA3 (1.3 million viewers) and NBC News Daily (1.3 million viewers).
The FOX & Friends franchise remained the most-watched morning lineup in cable news throughout the quarter. FOX & Friends (6-9 AM/ET) amassed 1.3 million viewers. Notably, FOX & Friends beat CBS Mornings in 23 markets including New York, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Washington, D.C., Boston, Tampa, Detroit, and others. From 5-6 AM/ET, FOX & Friends FIRST outpaced the competition with 575,000 viewers.