# MS NOW and CNN surge while Fox News stumbles

> Cable news ratings shift as MS NOW posts double-digit gains and CNN bounces back, while Fox News declines across all metrics.
- Title: MS NOW and CNN surge while Fox News stumbles · Adweek
- Summary: Cable news ratings shift as MS NOW posts double-digit gains and CNN bounces back, while Fox News declines across all metrics. MS NOW and CNN both grew…
- Keywords: cable news ratings, fox news, ms now, cnn, primetime viewership, adults 25-54 demo, the five, the rachel maddow show, nielsen ratings, september 2026, surge, while
- Source: Adweek — https://adweek.com/tvnewser/week-of-sept-14-2026-cable-news-ratings
- Author: Mark Mwachiro
- Published: 2026-09-24T21:35:13+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: cable news ratings, fox news, ms now, cnn, primetime viewership, adults 25-54 demo, the five, the rachel maddow show, nielsen ratings, september 2026
## MS NOW bounces back strong
MS NOW posted double-digit growth across all metrics, gaining 33% in primetime total viewers and 47% in the adults 25-54 demo compared to the prior week.
## MS NOW beats Fox in key demo
MS NOW defeated Fox News in the primetime demo during the 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. ET window on Thursday, September 17, marking a significant competitive win.
## Rachel Maddow Show leads Monday
The Rachel Maddow Show was the most-watched cable news program during the 9 p.m. ET hour on Monday, September 14, with 1.483 million total viewers.
## Fox News slides across the board
Fox News declined 9% in primetime total viewers and 10% in the demo week-over-week, while dropping from second to fourth place in demo rankings among all basic cable networks.
## CNN rebounds with steady growth
CNN grew 13% in primetime total viewers and 14% in the demo, reclaiming fourth place in total viewers and finishing 11th in the demo among all cable networks.
## The Five dominates cable news
Fox News held 12 of the 15 most-watched cable news shows, with The Five at 5 p.m. ET leading with 2.772 million total viewers and 270,000 in the demo.
## Year-over-year Fox faces headwinds
Compared to September 2026 a year ago, Fox News dropped 39% in primetime total viewers and 49% in the demo, while MS NOW gained 7% in viewers and 16% in the demo.
## Key takeaway

MS NOW and CNN both grew week-over-week while Fox News was the only major cable news network to post declines, signaling a potential shift in the competitive landscape.