February 25, 2026
MS NOW added 89,000 average minute viewers since February 2025, making it one of the fastest-growing networks in cable television. MS NOW recorded the second largest audience increase behind only VERSANT’s USA Network with its Winter Olympics coverage.
MS NOW reached 13 million Americans in a typical week, and the average MS NOW viewer watched the network for nine hours a week, up 16% year-over-year. MS NOW also nearly doubled CNN in average time spent viewing, underscoring the network’s position as one of the most loyal and engaged news audiences on television.
In February, MS NOW was once again the #1 cable network in the influential Washington, D.C. market in total day.
In weekday primetime (Monday through Friday, 8 to 11 p.m.), MS NOW averaged 1.4 million total viewers and 161,000 Adults 25-54, marking its strongest month since November 2024 in the demo. Compared to February 2025, primetime was up 20% among Adults 25-54, with double-digit demo growth across the programming lineup.
MS NOW’s newest primetime programs – “The Weeknight” and “The Briefing with Jen Psaki” – delivered their best months since launch.
“The Weeknight” posted double-digit growth among both demos compared to February 2025, averaging 1.2 million total viewers and up 40% among Adults 25-54 versus its predecessor in the time slot. Since its May 2025 debut, the program has grown its demo audience by triple-digits.
“The Briefing with Jen Psaki” delivered its best month since launch among both demos, averaging 1.3 million total viewers, and has grown its demo audience by double-digits since its May 2025 debut.
Plus, “The Rachel Maddow Show” (Mondays 9 to 10 p.m.) ranked #1 in its time slot among Adults 25-54, outperforming Fox News’ Hannity in the demo and more than doubling CNN’s audience among total viewers. “The Rachel Maddow Show” recorded its strongest demo performance since August 2023 and strongest total viewer performance since September 2024.
“The Beat with Ari Melber” and “The Weeknight” both topped CNN among Adults 25-54 during their respective time slots. All weekday primetime programs continue to lead CNN among total viewers.
“Morning Joe” (Monday through Friday, 6 to 10 a.m.) delivered its most-watched month since the 2024 presidential election, averaging 810,000 total viewers, with double-digit, year-over-year increases. “Morning Joe” topped CNN in the demo from 6-10 a.m. and remains the most-watched cable news morning program in the influential Washington, D.C. market.
Joe Scarborough’s exclusive interview with the Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Feb. 20 drove headlines across every major news outlet, including the Associated Press, Reuters, The New York Times, The Washington Post, and more. Immediately following the interview, during the commercial break, the White House responded to Araghchi’s comments.
“Way Too Early” also topped CNN among Adults 25-54 and total viewers, marking its strongest performance since November 2024. It was also the best monthly performance for “Way Too Early” since Ali Vitali became host of the program.
In February, “MS NOW Reports” (Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.) delivered its highest-rated month among A25-54 and total viewers since October 2024. During dayside hours, MS NOW averaged 741,000 total viewers and 79,000 Adults 25-54, up 23% among total viewers and 41% in the demo versus February 2025.
MS NOW Reports substantively covered major stories, including Chris Jansing’s interview with Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) after Trump Border Czar Tom Homan announced that the ICE enforcement surge in Minneapolis would end, and Ana Cabrera’s panel on the Supreme Court’s decision to rebuke President Trump’s tariffs. MS NOW Reports had special coverage of AG Pam Bondi’s hearing, including interviews with Epstein survivors and key lawmakers from the hearing, including Danielle Bensky and Rep. Robert Garcia.
MS NOW weekend programming (Saturday through Sunday, 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.) delivered its most-watched month since October 2024, averaging 553,000 total viewers. Year-over-year, weekend viewership was up 13% among total viewers and 30% among Adults 25-54.
“The Weekend” (Saturday through Sunday, 7 to 10 a.m.), hosted by Jonathan Capehart, Eugene Daniels, and Jackie Alemany, delivered its best month since expanding to three hours in May 2025, up 31% among total viewers and 107% among Adults 25-54.
“The Weekend: Primetime” (Saturday through Sunday, 6 to 9 p.m.), hosted by Ayman Mohyeldin, Catherine Rampell, Antonia Hylton, and Elise Jordan, also posted its strongest month since launch, up 46% among total viewers and 104% in the demo versus May 2025.
MS NOW grew 50% year-over-year on YouTube in February. Year-to-date, MS NOW has more than 617 million YouTube video starts, more than ABC News (226 million), CBS News (103 million), and NBC News (180 million) combined.
MS NOW continues to lead the pack as one of the most influential news organizations on non-linear platforms, recording over one billion combined views across YouTube and TikTok so far this year.
Top performing YouTube videos in February include: Michael Steele’s reaction to President Trump’s social post on the Obamas; Jen Psaki and Joe Scarborough’s takes on Pam Bondi’s Epstein testimony; Chris Hayes’ reaction to six Republicans joining Democrats on vote to strip President Trump’s tariffs on Canada; and Ana Cabrera’s breaking news coverage on Trump-related files missing from the DOJ’s Epstein file release.
Top performing TikTok videos in February include: Morning Joe’s coverage of the latest Epstein file release and Pam Bondi’s Epstein testimony; The Weekend’s reaction to Democrats flipping a red Texas Senate district; and Alex Witt’s reporting on a new Super Bowl PSA from Epstein survivors.
MS NOW’s website and app are having their strongest start to a year for article page views, with January up 20% year-over-year and February pacing similarly. Growth in digital article page views has been driven in part by the expansion of MS NOW’s original reporting.
In February, the most-viewed pieces on site include: Michael Steele’s op-ed on Pam Bondi’s Epstein testimony; Steve Benen’s MaddowBlog on Pete Hegseth; PRRI affiliated scholar Leah Payne on Kid Rock’s alternative Super Bowl halftime performance airing on a Christian channel; breaking news coverage on the kidnapping of Nancy Guthrie; and civil rights attorney Charles F. Coleman Jr.’s op-ed on President Trump’s “obsession” with the Obamas.
MS NOW’s audio portfolio is pacing to record 11.4 million total downloads in February, driven by strong showcast performance and recent launches.
Several MS NOW showcasts recorded double-digit download increases year-over-year, with The Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell up 77%, Deadline: White House up 66%, and All In with Chris Hayes up 19%. The Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell was also the network’s most-downloaded daily showcast in February.
The network launched MS NOW Presents: Clock It in February, a new original podcast from Symone Sanders Townsend and Eugene Daniels that invites listeners in to their off-the-clock conversations. Sanders Townsend and Daniels analyze the moments when politics and culture blend into each other as they happen, point out the political strategies at play, and break down how to win the war of ideas, memes, and streams.
TV Source: Nielsen, Big Data + Panel, Live+SD, Persons 2+ and Adults 25–54. MS NOW programming = M-F 5 a.m -12 a.m. Total Day = M-Su 6 a.m.–6 a.m. Primetime= M-F 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. Weekday live programming = M-F 6a-12a; Su,M-Th 5a-6a. February 2026: 1/26/26–2/22/26. Time period wins based on regularly scheduled cable news programming. Engagement based on 6-minute reach qualifier. Program Averages and wins based on regular time slot programs only, excluding specials. Year-over-year stats vs. February 2025: 1/27/25-2/23/25. Engagement: Nielsen, NPower, Reach & Frequency, M-Su 6 a.m.-6 a.m., 6-min viewing qualifier, 1/26/26-2/22/26, Avg. Weekly. Local Points: Nielsen, NPower, Panel Only Ratings Analysis Program Report, LPM = Washington, D.C., 1/26/26-2/22/26., P2+, M-F 6 a.m, to 10 a.m., M-Su 6 a.m. to 6 a.m., excluding sports programming.
Digital Source: YouTube Studio Analytics; ListenFirst; Comscore Media Metrix Multi-Platform; Simplecast Podcast Downloads. Adobe Analytics
PRESS CONTACT:
Claudia Meyer-Samargia
