TV Ratings: Why Fox News Suffered Its Largest Pre-Election Month Drop in the Past Decade
Fox News remained the most-watched US cable news network in October 2026, but its audience fell more sharply than in any pre-election month over the past decade. The decline came as rivals MS NOW and CNN gained viewers year on year, making the figures a notable shift in an election cycle that appeared to favour Democrats.
Fox averaged 1.68 million primetime viewers and 1.01 million across the full day, still ahead of MS NOW and CNN; its programme The Five led cable news with 2.7 million daily viewers. Compared with October 2025, Fox’s primetime audience fell 28 per cent and its full-day audience 27 per cent, while its 25-54 audience dropped by more than 30 per cent. Analysts have pointed to President Trump’s low approval ratings and the political climate as possible factors, though ratings data cannot establish why viewers tuned in or away.
In short
- Fox News kept its cable news lead despite a record pre-election audience drop.
- Primetime viewers fell 28 per cent year on year.
- CNN and MS NOW gained viewers in key demographics.
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The case for
The sharp decline may suggest that Fox’s audience was less engaged during a political climate that appeared to favour Democrats, perhaps amid dissatisfaction with President Trump or reduced interest in the network’s coverage. Rivals’ year-on-year gains make it reasonable to see the figures as a meaningful change in viewing habits, even though ratings alone cannot identify the cause.
The case against
A ratings decline does not by itself show that viewers rejected Fox’s politics or coverage: audience figures can shift for many reasons, and the data cannot establish why people tuned in or away. Fox remained the most-watched cable news network, with its leading programme drawing 2.7 million daily viewers, so the figures also support the view that it retained a substantial audience despite the fall.
Explained simply
Fox News is a US television network focused on news and politics. It competes with other cable news channels, including CNN and MS NOW, for viewers across the day and during evening prime-time programmes. Ratings measure how many people watch, but do not explain their reasons.
The figures are being discussed in the run-up to US elections, when news channels often cover campaigns, candidates and voters’ concerns. President Donald Trump’s approval ratings and the broader political climate may shape what audiences want to watch, but audience figures alone cannot show what caused a change.
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