Nielsen ratings for the week of April 20-26, 2026, showed CBS maintaining its edge among the Big Three broadcast networks in primetime viewership, though overall audiences remained challenged amid competition from cable, streaming, and sports programming.
CBS averaged the highest primetime audiences among ABC, NBC, and CBS, with network-wide figures around 3.8 million viewers in key dayparts, bolstered by strong scripted series such as Tracker (8.174 million viewers for recent episodes) and Marshals. ABC followed closely in some metrics but posted softer overall numbers, while NBC trailed slightly in weekday comparisons.
Evening news programs highlighted ABC’s continued dominance: ABC World News Tonight led with 8.537 million total viewers and 1.056 million in the key Adults 25-54 demographic for the week. NBC Nightly News placed second at 6.168 million viewers, and CBS Evening News averaged 3.771 million.
The week reflected broader April trends, where CBS and ABC recorded some of their lowest-rated Aprils this century in primetime, with CBS dipping below 4 million average viewers for the first time. Fox News Channel even outperformed ABC and NBC in weekday primetime for the month (3.224 million vs. ABC’s 3.125 million and NBC’s 3.047 million).
Cable Networks Led by Fox News in a Competitive Landscape
Fox News Channel dominated cable news and ranked among the top overall cable performers, averaging approximately 2.921 million primetime viewers for the week of April 20 and 2.861 million for the full month of April. It led in total viewers during primetime among cable news outlets.
MS NOW followed in second with about 1.269 million primetime viewers for the week and 1.256 million for April. CNN placed third at roughly 895,000–910,000 viewers.
Broader cable rankings placed established entertainment and news networks like TBS and others in the mix, but Fox News stood out for consistent strength in both primetime and total day.
Sports and major events (such as NBA playoffs appearing in later weeks) continued to draw significant audiences across cable and broadcast.
These figures, based on Nielsen Big Data + Panel (live + same day), underscore ongoing shifts in linear TV viewing, with news and established series providing stability amid fragmenting audiences. Full multiplatform and delayed viewing data typically add further lift to top programs.