FOX News Channel (FNC) closed August continuing to exert its dominance in television this summer (June-August), beating broadcast networks NBC, ABC and CBS in weekday primetime for the second consecutive summer and topping ABC and CBS throughout the month, according to data from Nielsen Media Research. FNC delivered the top 147 cable news telecasts for the month with viewers and was number one in cable among Asians, Hispanics and upscale viewers throughout total day.
Since the start of summer, FNC’s reign over broadcast networks NBC, ABC and CBS marked it as the second highest-rated network in all of television, averaging 2.56 million viewers in weekday primetime. The network led NBC (2.5 million viewers), ABC (2.3 million viewers) and CBS (2 million viewers), which delivered its lowest-rated August on record.
During the month, the network also outpaced ABC (2.3 million viewers), which posted its lowest-rated month in weekday primetime, averaging 368,000 viewers among the 25-54 demo. In total day, FNC drew 1.4 million viewers. FNC commanded nearly 60% of the cable news share with viewers across total day and primetime.
Throughout the month, ABC and CBS posted historic lows across key dayparts. ABC recorded its lowest-rated primetime month this century among adults 25-54, averaging just 344,000 viewers. CBS delivered its lowest-rated August weekday primetime ever with under 2.1 million viewers. CBS Mornings also hit its second-lowest month ever, averaging 1.6 million viewers, while CBS Evening News remained under 4 million viewers for the fifth straight month.
FNC’s number one show The Five secured 3.3 million viewers, leading all of cable across the board. The Five also surpassed broadcast programs including NBC’s American Ninja Warrior (2.7 million viewers) and more than doubled CBS Mornings (1.6 million viewers). At 8 PM/ET, Jesse Watters Primetime led all of primetime, commanding 2.9 million viewers. Notably, the program scored its highest-rated night of the month, as well as the number one cable news primetime telecast throughout the month, on August 24th during Watters’ interview with Democratic Michigan Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed. The viral interview drew nearly 3.4 million viewers.
FNC’s Hannity remained dominant with 2.3 million viewers, easily surpassing MS NOW on Mondays during the hour in which The Rachel Maddow Show drew only 2 million viewers. Tuesday-Friday at 9 PM/ET, The Briefing with Jen Psaki averaged 1.1 million viewers. The Ingraham Angle (7 PM/ET) posted 2.3 million viewers, with host Laura Ingraham continuing her reign as the highest rated woman in cable news.
FNC’s hit late-night program Gutfeld! continued to dominate all of late-night television across the board. With 2.5 million viewers, Gutfeld! walloped ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live! (1.7 million viewers), NBC’s The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon (1.4 million viewers), Late Night with Seth Meyers (799,000 viewers) and Comedy Central’s The Daily Show (602,000 viewers) across the board.
The network’s nightly newscast Special Report with Bret Baier (6 PM/ET) averaged over 2.4 million viewers, continuing to close the gap with the broadcast competition. In August, Special Report led CBS Evening News in 11 top markets across the country, including Chicago, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Detroit, Orlando, Raleigh, Indianapolis, Austin and West Palm. The Will Cain Show at 4 PM/ET saw 1.9 million viewers.
FNC’s signature morning show FOX & Friends (6-9 AM/ET) finished the month with 1.2 million viewers and remained the number one cable news program in the mornings with both categories for the 66th consecutive month, again beating CNN and MS NOW combined in viewers. While CBS Mornings posted its second-lowest rated month of all time, FOX & Friends led the broadcast program in 18 major markets throughout August, including New York, Chicago, Dallas, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Washington DC, Boston, Tampa, Detroit, Orlando, Cleveland, Raleigh, Indianapolis, Austin, West Palm, Milwaukee, Jacksonville and Ft. Myers. FOX & Friends also beat ABC in 11 markets, including Washington DC, Tampa, Jacksonville, New Orleans, Ft. Myers, Greensboro, Indianapolis, Tulsa and Birmingham and defeated NBC’s The Today Show in markets including Boston, Charlotte, Jacksonville and Tulsa during August.
FNC’s daytime lineup continued to dominate, led by two-hour morning news program America’s Newsroom with Bill Hemmer and Dana Perino (9-11 AM/ET), which saw 1.7 million viewers. The Faulkner Focus (11 AM/ET), Outnumbered (12 PM/ET) and America Reports with John Roberts and Sandra Smith (1-3 PM/ET) each garnered 1.6 million viewers, while Martha MacCallum’s The Story (3 PM/ET) averaged 1.7 million viewers. Notably, every daytime program on FNC outpaced NBC’s Today with Jenna and Sheinelle and ABC’s GMA3.
Source: Nielsen. Live+SD. Month of August 2026 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.
Throughout the month, ABC and CBS posted historic lows across key dayparts. ABC recorded its lowest-rated primetime month this century among adults 25-54, averaging just 344,000 viewers. CBS delivered its lowest-rated August weekday primetime ever with under 2.1 million viewers. CBS Mornings also hit its second-lowest month ever, averaging 1.6 million viewers, while CBS Evening News remained under 4 million viewers for the fifth straight month.
FNC’s number one show The Five secured 3.3 million viewers, leading all of cable across the board. The Five also surpassed broadcast programs including NBC’s American Ninja Warrior (2.7 million viewers) and more than doubled CBS Mornings (1.6 million viewers). At 8 PM/ET, Jesse Watters Primetime led all of primetime, commanding 2.9 million viewers. Notably, the program scored its highest-rated night of the month, as well as the number one cable news primetime telecast throughout the month, on August 24th during Watters’ interview with Democratic Michigan Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed. The viral interview drew nearly 3.4 million viewers.
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| Ratings Graphics Courtesy of RoadMN |
FNC’s Hannity remained dominant with 2.3 million viewers, easily surpassing MS NOW on Mondays during the hour in which The Rachel Maddow Show drew only 2 million viewers. Tuesday-Friday at 9 PM/ET, The Briefing with Jen Psaki averaged 1.1 million viewers. The Ingraham Angle (7 PM/ET) posted 2.3 million viewers, with host Laura Ingraham continuing her reign as the highest rated woman in cable news.
FNC’s hit late-night program Gutfeld! continued to dominate all of late-night television across the board. With 2.5 million viewers, Gutfeld! walloped ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live! (1.7 million viewers), NBC’s The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon (1.4 million viewers), Late Night with Seth Meyers (799,000 viewers) and Comedy Central’s The Daily Show (602,000 viewers) across the board.
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| Bret Baier |
FNC’s signature morning show FOX & Friends (6-9 AM/ET) finished the month with 1.2 million viewers and remained the number one cable news program in the mornings with both categories for the 66th consecutive month, again beating CNN and MS NOW combined in viewers. While CBS Mornings posted its second-lowest rated month of all time, FOX & Friends led the broadcast program in 18 major markets throughout August, including New York, Chicago, Dallas, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Washington DC, Boston, Tampa, Detroit, Orlando, Cleveland, Raleigh, Indianapolis, Austin, West Palm, Milwaukee, Jacksonville and Ft. Myers. FOX & Friends also beat ABC in 11 markets, including Washington DC, Tampa, Jacksonville, New Orleans, Ft. Myers, Greensboro, Indianapolis, Tulsa and Birmingham and defeated NBC’s The Today Show in markets including Boston, Charlotte, Jacksonville and Tulsa during August.
FNC’s daytime lineup continued to dominate, led by two-hour morning news program America’s Newsroom with Bill Hemmer and Dana Perino (9-11 AM/ET), which saw 1.7 million viewers. The Faulkner Focus (11 AM/ET), Outnumbered (12 PM/ET) and America Reports with John Roberts and Sandra Smith (1-3 PM/ET) each garnered 1.6 million viewers, while Martha MacCallum’s The Story (3 PM/ET) averaged 1.7 million viewers. Notably, every daytime program on FNC outpaced NBC’s Today with Jenna and Sheinelle and ABC’s GMA3.
Source: Nielsen. Live+SD. Month of August 2026 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.