New York – October 29, 2026 -- FOX News Channel (FNC) averaged 1.1 million total-day viewers in October, finishing as the number one cable network and the only one averaging more than 1 million, according to Nielsen data released by FOX News Media.

FNC held more than 50% of the cable news audience in total day and primetime, beating CNN and MS NOW combined. It captured 99 of the top 100 cable news telecasts and has swept cable news in total day and primetime for 68 consecutive months. It also outperformed ESPN despite the return of college football and Monday Night Football, and is pacing to be its highest-rated midterm year in total-day viewers.

FNC leads CNN and MS NOW in total viewers and the 25-54 demo

In total day, FNC drew 1,101,000 viewers and 98,000 adults 25-54, against 588,000 and 62,000 for MS NOW and 402,000 and 60,000 for CNN. In primetime (8-11 PM), FNC posted 1,675,000 viewers and 145,000 in the demo. MS NOW logged 925,000 and 95,000, and CNN 598,000 and 107,000.

MS NOW recorded its lowest October total-day and primetime viewership ahead of a midterm election since 2014. Its 25-54 performance was the lowest since before 2002.

CBS Mornings and 60 Minutes post their weakest Octobers on record

Both programs logged their lowest-rated October in program history. CBS Mornings fell below 1.8 million viewers for the fifth consecutive month.

FOX & Friends finished with nearly 1 million viewers and beat CBS Mornings in 15 major markets, including Atlanta, Washington, D.C., Tampa, Orlando, Detroit and Cleveland. Special Report with Bret Baier averaged more than 2 million viewers and led CBS Evening News in five markets: Atlanta, Detroit, Raleigh-Durham, Norfolk and Birmingham.

FOX News tops MS NOW by 840 million YouTube views year-to-date

FOX News has generated more than 3.8 billion YouTube video views this year, according to Emplifi. That is more than 840 million, or 28%, ahead of MS NOW, and more than 1.4 billion ahead of CNN.

In the third quarter, FOX News Digital led news competitors with 4.6 billion multiplatform views and 10 billion multiplatform minutes, per Comscore.

The Five leads cable news at 2.7 million viewers

The top five cable news programs in total viewers were all FNC shows: The Five (2,707,000), Jesse Watters Primetime (2,344,000), Special Report (2,022,000), Gutfeld! (1,983,000) and The Ingraham Angle (1,940,000). The Five also led the 25-54 demo with 238,000, followed by Gutfeld! with 191,000.

Hannity drew more than 1.8 million viewers at 9 PM/ET, ahead of MS NOW's Monday airing of The Rachel Maddow Show at 1.7 million. In late night, Gutfeld! drew 2 million viewers against 1.3 million for NBC's The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon. CBS's Comics Unleashed drew 906,000 and Late Night with Seth Meyers 863,000.

Weekend programs add 1 million-viewer shows

Saturday in America was the most-watched weekend cable news show with more than 1.1 million viewers. Sunday Night in America with Trey Gowdy drew 1 million viewers, the top cable news show in Sunday primetime. Sunday Morning Futures also averaged 1 million viewers.