Fox News experienced a substantial decline in its television audience during October 2026, losing more than a quarter of its total viewers in the month. According to preliminary figures from Nielsen, the network is on track for its lowest total-day viewership since December 2023. Despite this significant drop, Fox News remains the most-watched cable news channel, maintaining a clear advantage over its primary competitors.
The data indicates that Fox News averaged 1.1 million total viewers for the month, representing a 27% decrease from the previous year. In the critical 25 to 54 demographic, which is highly valued by advertisers, the network attracted 98,000 viewers, marking a 32% decline. These figures highlight a continued trend of erosion in the network's live broadcast audience, even as it often draws larger crowds than several broadcast networks on individual nights.
This downturn occurs against a backdrop of general declines in television viewership. While the broader market has seen drops, Fox News has been losing viewers at a double-digit rate. In contrast, CNN and MS NOW have recently posted slight increases in their audiences. During the third quarter of 2026, Fox News total-day viewership fell by 16%, while the 25 to 54 demographic saw a 24% drop. Both CNN and MS NOW managed to secure small gains in their overall audience numbers during that same period.
Primetime performance also showed a marked decrease. In October, Fox News averaged approximately 2 million total viewers in the evening hours, down 28% from the same month last year. The 25 to 54 demographic in primetime fell by 36% to 183,000 viewers. The popular morning show, Fox & Friends, recorded its second consecutive month with fewer than 1 million total viewers. This result marks the show's lowest overall viewership since July 2015 and its lowest rating in the key demographic since June 2001.
Meanwhile, the daytime audiences of Fox News' rivals showed growth. MS NOW saw its daytime viewership rise by 16% to 588,000 total viewers in October. CNN also experienced a modest increase, with viewership up 3% to 402,000 during the same timeframe. These gains suggest a shift in viewer preferences among cable news audiences as the midterm elections approach.
A Fox News representative responded to the ratings data by highlighting the network's strong performance on digital platforms. In an email, the representative noted that Fox News holds a significant lead over other news outlets on YouTube. According to data from Emplifi, the network generated 3.8 billion views on the platform through October 27. This figure surpasses MS NOW, which recorded 3.0 billion views, and CNN, with 2.4 billion views. ABC News, NBC News, and CBS News trailed further behind with 1.4 billion, 1.2 billion, and 543,000 views, respectively.
Industry observers are watching the ratings decline with some concern, particularly as the nation prepares for the November 3 midterm elections. There is a perception that conservative viewers may be tuning out of the network at a faster rate compared to audiences of CNN and MS NOW. This trend could impact the network's influence during a crucial period when control of the Senate and House of Representatives is at stake.
President Donald Trump, whose relationship with Fox News has historically fluctuated, recently expressed dissatisfaction with the network's editorial stance. He complained that Fox has not been sufficiently supportive of Republican candidates. In a post on Truth Social on October 19, Trump wrote that the network spends more time defending Democrats and presenting their views than at any point in its history. He described the situation as ridiculous and suggested that Fox News is trying too hard to be politically correct.
The combination of falling linear TV ratings and high-profile criticism from a key political figure places additional pressure on Fox News to retain its audience. As the election day approaches, the network faces the challenge of balancing its traditional live broadcast strategy with its growing digital presence to maintain its position as the leading cable news outlet.
