This is TVNewser’s basic cable network ranker and cable news report for the week of July 6, 2026.
MS NOW finished the first full week of July as the only network with gains in total viewers and the Adults 25-54 demo during primetime and total day. Making it even more impressive was that the network was up by double digits in both measured categories during primetime.
Meanwhile, Fox News and CNN came down from their Independence Day celebration coverage highs to finish the week down across the board. However, Fox News was still the most-watched cable news network.
This week also featured the cable news networks covering the shocking news of South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham’s passing early Sunday morning. MS NOW was the first to break the news at 2:49 a.m. ET, followed by Fox News at 2:52 a.m. ET, and not too far behind at CNN at 2:53 a.m. ET.
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According to Nielsen big data + panel for the week of July 6, Fox News averaged 2.109 million total viewers and 164,000 A25-54 viewers during primetime. The network was down -15% in total viewers and -25% in the demo compared to the week prior (the week beginning June 29).
During total day viewing, Fox News averaged 1.429 million total viewers and 127,000 A25-54 viewers. Based on its average from the previous week’s measurements, the network was down -12% in total viewers and -17% in the demo.
Fox News remained in first place in total primetime viewership and slipped to third in demo viewership among all basic cable networks. During total day, it continued to be No. 1 in total viewers and was second in the total day demo.
MS NOW averaged 1.028 million total viewers and 94,000 viewers in the A25-54 demo for the week. The network grew by +11% in total viewers and +19% in the demo compared to its primetime average the week prior.
During total day, MS NOW averaged 606,000 total viewers and 59,000 demo viewers. It was up +2% in total viewers and +4% in the demo compared to the network’s average the week prior—the only network to gain viewers in both categories across the two measured dayparts.
Among all basic cable networks, MS NOW finished in second place in total primetime viewers and was 15th in the demo. It was No. 2 in total viewers and in ninth place in the total day demo.
CNN averaged 582,00 total primetime viewers and 95,000 A25-54 viewers during primetime for the week of July 6. The network saw declines of -13% in total viewers and -8% in the demo compared to the previous week.
