Observed Signal · Mar 30, 2026 · Ratings Report · Source: Adweek · Impact: 2/5 · Sentiment: Positive
Artemis II, Trump Address Lift Cable News Ratings
Nielsen’s week-of-March-30, 2026 measurements show major live events — Artemis II launch coverage and President Donald Trump’s primetime address — boosted basic cable news viewership. Fox News led total-viewer audiences for both live events and for the week’s primetime average, while MS NOW and CNN also posted weekly gains versus the prior week and year‑ago comparisons. Fox News dominated the most-watched program list, with Hannity ranking No. 1. MS NOW’s Rachel Maddow Show and its Wednesday presentation of the presidential address appeared among the top programs. The report gives detailed primetime and total day averages (total viewers and Adults 25-54 demo) for Fox News, MS NOW and CNN and summarizes week-over-week and year-over-year percentage changes.
Weekly Nielsen ratings identify short-term audience shifts tied to major live events, affecting TV ad inventory value and media planning but not representing an industry‑shifting structural change.
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Key Takeaways & Evidence Grounding
- Nielsen (Big Data + Panel) reported primetime averages for week of March 30, 2026: Fox News 2.763 million total viewers and 300,000 A25-54.
- MS NOW averaged 1.26 million primetime total viewers and 132,000 A25-54 for the week.
- CNN averaged 810,000 primetime total viewers and 135,000 A25-54 for the week.
- During Artemis II live coverage (6-7 p.m. ET) Fox News drew 4.0 million total viewers and 493,000 A25-54; during President Trump’s address (9-9:30 p.m. ET) Fox News drew 6.654 million total viewers and 1.002 million A25-54.
- Fox News held 13 of the 15 most-watched cable news program slots for the week; Hannity was the top program with 3.787 million total viewers.
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Artemis II Coverage Lifts Cable News Ratings
Nielsen Big Data + Panel metrics for the week of April 6, 2026 show primetime viewership gains across the three major U.S. cable news networks following Friday’s return of Artemis II and coverage of the War with Iran. Fox News led in total primetime viewers (3.05 million average) and held the majority of the week's most-watched programs, while CNN saw the largest week-over-week percentage gains in primetime (up 46% in total viewers and 60% in A25-54) largely driven by Artemis II coverage. MS NOW posted modest weekly gains and moved up in primetime rank among basic cable networks. Jesse Watters Primetime was the single most-watched cable news program (4.1 million total viewers) and topped the A25-54 demo for the week.
April 2026 U.S. Cable News Ratings
Adweek reports Nielsen-based cable news ratings for April 2026. Major news events in April (including NASA’s Artemis II mission and developments related to the Iran war) influenced viewing. Fox News led cable in total viewers for both primetime (2.861 million) and total day (1.752 million) despite month-over-month declines in April. MS NOW and CNN posted growth in some audience measures: MS NOW finished second in total viewers (primetime 1.256 million) and grew in the A25-54 demo versus year-ago figures, while CNN showed sizable year-over-year gains (primetime total viewers up ~75%). The report lists top programs by total viewers and Adults 25-54 demo and cites Nielsen’s Big Data + Panel methodology as the source.
June 2026 Cable News Ratings: Fox Leads, MS NOW Gains
Adweek published Nielsen Big Data + Panel cable-news ratings for June 2026. Fox News led in total viewers for both primetime (2.26 million) and total day (1.451 million) while ranking third in the Adults 25-54 demo for primetime. MS NOW posted month-over-month and year-over-year gains in several measured categories—becoming the only network with across-the-board year-over-year growth—and averaged 1.015 million primetime viewers. CNN averaged 610,000 primetime viewers and showed declines versus May 2026 and June 2025. The report also lists top-performing programs (The Five, Jesse Watters Primetime, The Rachel Maddow Show, etc.) and program-level A25-54 rankings used by advertisers and buyers.
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