Fox News Channel swept primetime cable ratings for the week of April 13-19, 2026, claiming all 10 of the top cable programs, while CBS delivered the strongest primetime performance among the broadcast Big Three (ABC, NBC, and CBS) with multiple original series cracking Nielsen’s national top 10.
Nielsen’s linear TV rankings (Persons 2+, Live + Same Day) showed CBS dramas and reality programs driving broadcast primetime, with ABC benefiting from NBA playoffs and CBS news programs also performing strongly overall. NBC’s primetime entertainment slate did not crack the top 10 broadcast list. Evening news programs across the networks dominated overall combined viewership, but the cable primetime category highlighted Fox News’ ongoing dominance.
📺Broadcast Networks (ABC, NBC, CBS) Primetime Highlights
CBS led with several high-viewership primetime originals:
- Tracker (CBS) – 7.95 million viewers (No. 2 overall broadcast).
- Marshals (CBS) – 7.381 million viewers (No. 3).
- 60 Minutes (CBS) – 6.689 million viewers (No. 4).
- Survivor (CBS) – 5.288 million viewers (No. 9).
- Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage (CBS) – 5.878 million viewers (No. 6 in total-day broadcast).ABC placed an NBA Playoffs game (Rockets vs. Lakers) at No. 10 among broadcast programs with 5.212 million viewers.
ABC and NBC evening news programs led overall combined and total-day lists but fall outside strict primetime (8-11 p.m.) slots. No NBC entertainment or sports programs appeared in the top 10 broadcast rankings for the week.
📺Significant Cable Channels – Primetime
Fox News Channel overwhelmingly led cable primetime, occupying every spot in Nielsen’s top 10 cable programs (all in the 8-11 p.m. window).
Key performers included:
- The Five episodes (Monday–Friday) – ranging from 3.688 million to 4.068 million viewers (Nos. 1–6).
- Jesse Watters Primetime episodes – ranging from 3.466 million to 3.804 million viewers (Nos. 4, 7, 8, 10).
- Special Report with Bret Baier – 3.471 million viewers (No. 9).No other cable networks (such as ESPN, TNT, USA, or MSNBC) appeared in the cable primetime top 10, underscoring Fox News’ continued leadership in the category.
Nielsen data for the week continued trends from the 2025-26 season, where CBS scripted series and Fox News talk programs consistently draw the largest audiences in their respective categories.
These figures represent Nielsen’s national Big Data + Panel measurement for U.S. audiences and are subject to final adjustments.