Week of May 18 Cable News Ratings: Holiday Weekend Brings a Mixed Bag

The week of May 18 brought a mixed bag of cable news ratings, with Fox News bucking the trend to emerge as the only network with gains during primetime and total day.

What Happened

Fox News outperformed the competition, posting a 12% increase in primetime viewership compared to the same week last year. The network's total day viewership also saw a 6% boost. Fox News's success can be attributed to its coverage of current events, including the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and the 2026 US Presidential Election.

Inside the Numbers

The other major cable news networks, however, experienced declines in primetime viewership. MSNBC saw a 14% drop, while CNN's viewership plummeted by 21%. The total day viewership for both networks also saw significant declines, with MSNBC down 8% and CNN down 15%.

• Fox News primetime increase: 12%
• Fox News total day increase: 6%
• MSNBC primetime decrease: 14%
• CNN primetime decrease: 21%

Why It Matters

The mixed bag of ratings reflects the changing landscape of cable news. With the rise of social media and online news sources, audiences are increasingly fragmented and difficult to reach. Networks are struggling to adapt to these changes and find new ways to engage their viewers.

The Takeaway

As the holiday weekend comes to a close, cable news networks are looking to the future and trying to find ways to regain their lost viewers. Fox News's success is a glimmer of hope, but it remains to be seen whether the network can sustain its gains in the long term.