Fox News viewership is in freefall as the conservative news network grapples with the fallout from Donald Trump’s faltering popularity.
According to the media newsletter Status, which obtained Nielsen ratings ahead of their release Wednesday, October 2026 will be Fox News’ lowest-rated month since December 2023.
Ahead of closely-watched midterms like the 2026 contest, networks would normally be expected to gain viewers as audiences tune in for coverage of consequential races, the report noted.
Among viewers ages 25 to 54, the demographic advertisers covet most, “the picture is even worse.” Fox News is set to post its lowest-rated month in that group in 25 years, averaging just 98,000 viewers. That’s a 27% drop in total viewers from last October and a 32% plunge in the 25-54 demo. Fox News still dominates cable overall, even beating ESPN in total day despite the return of football, but the declines stand out “given the political moment.”
Weekday prime time show numbers hosted by mainstays Sean Hannityity and Laura Ingraham are just as bleak. According to Status, the Rupert Murdoch-controlled network is set for its lowest-rated prime-time month in both total viewers and the 25-54 demo since December 2023.
According to Oliver Darcy of Status, while TV ratings aren’t a scientific measure of voter enthusiasm, “the eye-popping decline in Fox News’ audience should be a flashing warning sign for Trump and his Republican allies as voters prepare to head to the polls.”
Meanwhile, progressive-leaning MS NOW is averaging 588,000 total day viewers, up 16% from last year, which suggests “enthusiasm has shifted to Democrats.” CNN is averaging 402,000, up 3%.
Darcy noted, “Trump’s favorite morning show, ‘Fox & Friends,’ is also struggling. October will mark Fox News’ second straight month with less than 1 million total viewers between 6 a.m. and 9 a.m. It will also mark the second consecutive month with less than 100,000 viewers in the 25-54 demo. The numbers make October 2026 the show’s lowest-rated month among total viewers in more than 11 years, since July 2015.”
The report continued, “Fox News executives are, of course, highly attuned to what rates and what does not,” adding, “the network conspicuously started declining to air Trump’s rallies live. It was a notable shift for the outlet, which has often treated the president’s speeches as must-see television, though it has started airing them closer to the midterms, including on Tuesday evening. The decision appeared reflective not only of Trump’s record low approval numbers, but also of his ability to draw an audience. Indeed, if Trump’s rallies were a big ratings draw, Fox News would likely be thrilled to air them live as the network once did.”
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