Fox News Ratings Disaster as Viewers Switch Off Trump’s Favorite Network
What To Know
- Fox News saw significant year-over-year declines, dropping 19% in total viewers and 43% in the key demo across primetime.
- MS NOW was the only major network to grow its audience compared to June 2025.
- Strong sports competition from events like the NBA and NHL finals and the FIFA World Cup impacted all networks.
The cable news ratings for June 2026 are in, and while Fox News remained comfortably in the No. 1 spot in total viewers, President Trump‘s favorite network was down significantly compared to the same period last year.
According to AdWeek, citing Nielsen big data + panel numbers, Fox News averaged 2.26 million total viewers in primetime and 197,000 viewers in the coveted Adults 25-54 demographic for the month of June. In total day, the network averaged 1.451 million total viewers and 133,000 demo viewers.
Fox News was down 5 percent in total viewers and down 6 percent in the demo during primetime compared to May 2026. And it was a similar story across total day, with a 5 percent drop in total viewers and a 6 percent drop in the key demo.
The year-over-year declines were even more noticeable, with the network dropping 19 percent in total viewers and a massive 43 percent in the demo during primetime compared to June 2025. In total day, Fox News was down 15 percent in total viewers and 40 percent in the demo.
It should be noted that all networks faced strong sports competition in June, including the NBA and NHL finals and the start of the FIFA World Cup. However, despite this, one network actually grew its primetime numbers in both total viewers and the key demo. In June last year, Fox News and CNN ratings were likely boosted by reporting of the first major wave of US and Israel military strikes on Iran.
MS NOW, which ranked second, averaged 1.015 million total viewers and 96,000 demo viewers in primetime in June. During total day, the network averaged 636,000 total viewers and 61,000 demo viewers.
Compared to last month, MS NOW was up 8 percent in total viewers and up 3 percent in the demo during primetime. Across total day, the network gained 7 percent in total viewers and was flat in the key demo.
Year over year, MS NOW grew 6 percent in total viewers and 1 percent in the demo during primetime compared to June 2025. It was also up 7 percent in total viewers and 2 percent in the demo during total day, making it the only network with growth in this yearly comparison.
CNN, meanwhile, averaged 610,000 total viewers and 97,000 demo viewers in primetime for the month of June. In total day, the network averaged 436,000 total viewers and 61,000 demo viewers.
Compared to May 2026, CNN was down 4 percent in total viewers and down 12 percent in the demo during primetime. The network also dropped 5 percent in total viewers and 14 percent in the demo across total day.
CNN was also down compared to June 2025, with a 5 percent decline in total viewers and a 28 percent decline in the demo in primetime. In total day, it was down 2 percent in total viewers and 27 percent in the demo.
Across the other networks, NewsNation averaged 130,000 total viewers and 12,000 demo viewers in primetime, with Cuomo as the network’s top show with 222,000 total viewers and 22,000 demo viewers.
Varney & Company landed in the top spot in total viewers for Fox Business with 283,000 and tied with Kudlow for the number one spot in the demo with 12,000 viewers.
CNBC’s Fast Money Halftime Report was the network’s most-watched program with 283,000 total viewers and 70,000 demo viewers.
Meanwhile, Rob Schmitt Tonight was Newsmax’s most-watched show in total viewers with 298,000, while Carl Higbie Frontline landed the top spot in the demo with 17,000 viewers.
Conversation17 Comments
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J
I see that, just like your idol, Obama is living rent-free in your head as well. I'm sure you hate thinking about him, but with so many people posting and sharing pics of him all over, you probably can't escape seeing him. So sorry about that!!
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A
A lot of it is to do with the rise of alternative media like Tucker Carlson why bother with Fox when you have better quality programmes from X and You Tube. That questions how badly the country has been run. Rather than simply blaming the left. As the right is equally useless at running America. Tucker asks why is that? Fox News blames the Democrats.But the younger generation doesn't buy what the older generation is selling them. Hence turning to Tucker Carlson and the Young Turks and other independents.
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J
DON'T FORGET THE REASON fox FIRED TUCKER: (big head syndrome)
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S
I agree with you that there’s a lot of Republicans especially the rhinos that should find different jobs. Donald Trump thank you very much for saving this country. If we left it up to Kamala Harris or Obama or Joe Biden, we’d be a Third World country as we speak.
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A
Tucker asks why is that??? Does it seem odd that the person that was fired by FOX for the lies he said on air that was part of the reason Fox settled with Dominio Voting Systems for $787.5 Million and Smartmatic who just lost their reqest for a stay against fox for their suit for $2.7B. The revealing insights their emails show on how they KNEW they were lying and promoting false claims make it scary that we as citizens would even consider him a viable candidate.
I happen to be a 72 YO woman who remembers when Congress had a much better reputation, because the members beleived in their responsibility to be the checks and balance to a president (of both parties)
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A
for those that haven't watched any content on MSNOW but are satisfied to write an opinion of their trustworthness. I suggest you check them out again. though you will hear opinions stated they are very conscientious to report facts. When someone lies, no matter who they are or what party they belong to, they call them on it. it should be noted that there has been some moves and new programming and new reporters that are there now and it might be possible the shift/change of programming may getting peoples attention.
One last point. there are at least three people... Nicole Wallace (GW Bush Administration), Joe Scarborough (Former Rep Rep for Florida, and to the best of my knowledge still represents himself as a Republican) and Michael Steel (Former Lt Governor of Maryland and The Former Head of the RNC, he too still says he is a Republican) that have a daily program that were Republican or still are.
Full disclosure, I was Republican, until the day I heard teh Access Holleywood tape. I was also of the mind during the Clinton Administration when Bill Clinton was impeached by the Republicans in congress. It was then as it is now that I believe the single MOST important factor, that seems forgetten by many now, is the strength of the person's character. This is so overlooked by news outlets and it should not be that way.
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N
Their pro isreal talking points have everything to do with it.
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S
God bless Israel❤️
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K
Yeah right!
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R
I WAS A LOYAL FOX CHANNEL, " was" but they cut us off suddenly unless we pay I guess. Sorry I will miss Greg and Laura.
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N
Here we thought you liked elected representatives who "grab em by the pusssy"...
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S
The author of the article does not write the title- the editors do. The writer has no control over that.
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D
This is creative writing. Is there a point to this? Ridiculous.
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S
If Fox were to fire "I am so good" Hannity, they would get a lot of their folks back
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J
Newsmax is the most honest media outlet and the journalist there are not interested in
becoming celebrities like Fox has become.
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J
I also watch Newsmax and like it they remind me of the reporting style of Walter Cronkite WHo i wish was still around I have not forgotten watching him live when he reported the killing of JFK
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S
J, I totally agree with you on Newsmax. I could not stand to watch Steve Doocy, not one more hour with his negative facial expressions when you mentioned Trump he should not have been on this program this long. I will watch it once some of these people are gone take Ainsley with you,
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