July 1, 2026
(New York – July 1, 2026) – With the midterm elections quickly approaching and a frenzied summer of breaking news, audiences continue to turn to MS NOW. Plus, with a newly introduced lineup across all dayparts, the network had double-digit year-over-year growth in June and during the first half of 2026. Halfway through the year, MS NOW remains one of the most engaging news destinations on television and digital platforms.
In June, MS NOW ranked #2 among all cable networks and delivered its seventh consecutive month of year-over-year growth. MS NOW posted double-digit gains in primetime and total day among both total viewers and Adults 25-54, according to Nielsen Big Data + Panel ratings. In total day, MS NOW had a 12% increase among total viewers and 24% increase among Adults 25-54 compared to June 2025. Meanwhile, CNN and Fox News had double-digit year-over-year declines among both demos.
In the first half of 2026, MS NOW had year-over-year increases in prime and total day. MS NOW averaged 1.3 million total viewers (up 8% year over year) and 135,000 A25-54 viewers (up 23%) in weekday prime (Monday-Friday, 8 p.m. to 11 p.m.). During weekday live programming (Monday-Friday, 5 a.m. to 12 a.m.), MS NOW averaged 891,000 total viewers (up 17%) and 91,000 Adults 25-54 (up 36%). In total day (Monday-Sunday, 6 a.m. to 6 a.m.), MS NOW averaged 672,000 total viewers (up 17%) and 69,000 demo viewers (up 35%). According to MRI-Simmons, MS NOW reaches 31 million unique television viewers each week.
This month, MS NOW debuted several new titles across its mornings, dayside, and primetime programming slate, including “Money, Power, Politics with Stephanie Ruhle,” “On the Line with Alicia Menendez,” “The Moment with Katy Tur,” “The 11th Hour with Ali Velshi,” and “Connect with Jacob Soboroff,” in addition to Symone Sanders Townsend and Michael Steele being joined by new co-anchor Luke Russert on “The Weeknight.” In the first two weeks of launch, all new programs delivered viewership increases among total viewers and double-digit increases in the demo compared to the same month last year.
MS NOW Drew 1.3 Million Primetime Viewers; “The Weeknight” and “The Briefing with Jen Psaki” Record Double-Digit Growth Since 2025 Launch
In weekday primetime (Monday-Friday, 8 to 11 p.m.), MS NOW averaged 1.3 million total viewers in the first half of 2026, with year-over-year growth of 8% among total viewers and 23% among the demo.
"The Rachel Maddow Show" averaged 2.2 million total viewers in the first half of 2026 while posting year-over-year growth among total viewers and the demo, and topped CNN across-the-board. Year-to-date, “The Rachel Maddow Show” has topped CNN among both demos in every month of the year so far.
The just-launched "The 11th Hour with Ali Velshi” averaged 789,000 total viewers in its first two weeks, up 14% and 34% in demo viewers, respectively, from June 2025.
MS NOW's primetime programs continue to grow viewership more than a year since launch. "The Weeknight" averaged 1.1 million total viewers in the first half of 2026. In June, “The Weeknight” delivered double-digit, year-over-year growth and topped CNN among both demos. Meanwhile, "The Briefing with Jen Psaki" averaged 1.2 million total viewers in the first half of 2026 and delivered year-over-year growth among both demos in June. “The Briefing” also topped CNN among total viewers in June.
Across the remainder of the lineup, "Deadline: White House," "The Beat with Ari Melber," "All In with Chris Hayes," "The Last Word with Lawrence O'Donnell," and "The 11th Hour" posted year-over-year audience growth in June. Plus, “Deadline: White House,” "The Beat," "The Weeknight," “All In with Chris Hayes,” and "The Rachel Maddow Show" topped CNN among both total viewers and the demo for the month.
“Morning Joe” and “Way Too Early with Ali Vitali” Continue to Outpace CNN Among Both Demos; “Money, Power, Politics with Stephanie Ruhle” Marks Double-Digit Growth Among Total and Demo Viewers Versus June 2025
“Morning Joe” (Monday-Friday, 6 to 10 a.m.) averaged 782,000 total viewers in the first half of 2026, up 24% among total viewers and 59% among the demo from the first half of 2025.
At the top of the 6 a.m. hour, more A25-54 viewers start their day with MS NOW than any other cable network. “Morning Joe” also continues to top CNN among total viewers and the demo, all while remaining the #1 cable news morning program in Washington, D.C.
"Way Too Early with Ali Vitali" continued to top CNN in June and year-to-date among both total viewers and the demo while delivering double-digit year-over-year growth.
Earlier this month, MS NOW launched "Money, Power, Politics," a new morning program hosted by Stephanie Ruhle. In its first two weeks, the program averaged 715,000 total viewers, growing 23% among total viewers and 25% among the demo versus June 2025. Additionally, compared to the last time Ruhle anchored at 9 a.m., the program was up 7% among total viewers.
MS NOW’s Dayside Programming Delivers Double-Digit Year-Over-Year Growth Among Total and Demo Viewers
MS NOW's dayside programming (Monday-Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.) is averaging 677,000 total viewers through the first half of 2026, representing year-over-year growth of 20% among total viewers and 31% among the demo.
Every hour of the daypart posted double-digit, year-over-year gains during June among total viewers.
MS NOW’s just-launched program "On the Line with Alicia Menendez" averaged 627,000 total viewers in its first two weeks on air. Compared to June 2025, the program grew 26% among total viewers and 34% in the demo.
“The Moment with Katy Tur” also recorded year-over-year growth, averaging 748,000 total viewers, up 26% and 11% in demo viewers, respectively, from June 2025.
On Thursday, June 18, MS NOW’s special coverage of the grand opening of the Obama Presidential Center averaged 1.1 million total viewers from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., up 84% and 112% in demo viewers from May norms, respectively. Viewership peaked at 1.3 million total viewers in the 3 p.m. hour during former President Obama’s speech.
Launch of “Connect with Jacob Soboroff” Drives Double-Digit Demo Gains Versus June 2025
MS NOW weekend programming averaged 558,000 total viewers during the first half of 2026, up 23% among total viewers and 49% in the demo versus the same period in 2025.
"Connect with Jacob Soboroff," MS NOW’s just-launched weekend program, averaged 537,000 total viewers in its first two weeks, posting year-over-year gains in total viewers and in the demo.
MS NOW Generates More YouTube Views in June Than Any Other News Organization; Continues to Record More Views Than ABC News, CBS News and NBC News Combined
MS NOW continues to lead the pack as one of the most watched and most influential news organizations on non-linear platforms, recording over 2.9 billion combined views across YouTube and TikTok so far this year.
Year-to-date, MS NOW has recorded nearly 1.8 billion YouTube views, more than ABC News (649 million), CBS News (282 million), and NBC News (560 million) combined. In June, MS NOW recorded more YouTube views than any other news organization, generating nearly 254 million views, almost 32 million more than #2 Fox News.
Most viewed YouTube videos in June include: MS NOW’s livestream of the removal of President Trump’s name from and unveiling of the tarp around the Kennedy Center, Ari Melber’s break down of Lesley Groff’s testimony related to the Epstein files, Sen. Jon Ossoff’s remarks on "The Briefing with Jen Psaki” on the Trump family’s business dealings, Nicolle Wallace on the ‘Great American State Fair,’ and Alex Tabet’s reporting on Ohio voters’ disappointment on the handling of the economy.
Top TikTok videos in June include: Jacob Soboroff’s interview with New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani on the Knicks Championship win, Julia Jester’s reporting on the Reflecting Pool, Knicks fans’ reaction to President Trump’s NBA Finals game attendance, JM Rieger’s fact-check of President Trump on engaging in foreign wars, Rachel Maddow’s first-look at the Obama Presidential Center, and Michele Norris’ exclusive sit down with former President Obama on the opening of his presidential center in Chicago.
Year-to-date, page views on MS NOW’s website and app are up 6% versus this time last year. MS NOW recorded its best June on record for article performance, with article page views up 17% year-over-year, driven in part by the expansion of MS NOW’s original reporting.
In June, the most-read pieces on ms.now include: Steve Benen’s writeup on the Great American State Fair, Michael Steele’s op-ed on the UFC fight at the White House, Symone Sanders Townsend’s analysis of President Trump’s appearance at the NBA Finals, and James Downie’s op-ed on the Reflecting Pool.
MS NOW Records More Than 11 Million Audio Downloads in June; Original Podcasts Up 10% Year Over Year
MS NOW generated more than 11 million total audio downloads in June, with strong performance among original podcasts. Up 13% versus this time last year, MS NOW originals' performance was driven by “The Best People with Nicolle Wallace,” “Main Justice,” and “Why Is This Happening? The Chris Hayes Podcast.”
“Morning Joe” was MS NOW’s most-downloaded podcast for the month, recording significant growth in June, with downloads up 58% year-over-year.
TV Source: Nielsen, Big Data + Panel, Live+SD, Persons 2+ and Adults 25-54. Total Day = M-Su 6 a.m. to 6 a.m, Live Programming = M-F 5 a.m.-12 a.m., Primetime = M-F 8 p.m.-11p.m. 1H2026: [12/29/25-6/28/26, 2Q 2026: [3/30/26-6/2/26], June: [6/1/26-6/28/26]. Time period wins based on regularly scheduled programming. LPM = Washington, D.C., 1H 2026, P2+, M-F 6 a.m.-10 a.m. ‘Start of day’ claim based on M-F 6:00 a.m.-6:15 a.m. average. New show program averages 6/13/26-6/25/26 averages,.
Digital Source: YouTube data based on YouTube Studio Analytics, June 1 – June 30, 2026. YouTube video views. Competitor data from ListenFirst. TikTok data based on ListenFirst, June 1 – June 30, 2026. TikTok video views. Audio data based on Simplecast Analytics, June 1 – June 30, 2026.
For more information, contact:
Claudia Meyer-Samargia
Claudia.Meyer-Samargia@versantmedia.com
Olivia Sieff
