MS NOW RECORDS MOST-WATCHED QUARTER SINCE BEFORE 2024 ELECTION
Delivers Double-Digit Growth in Q1 Among Total Viewers and the Demo -
MS NOW Reaches 27 Million Democrats and Independents Each Week, 5 Million More Than Fox News -
MS NOW Viewers Watch for Nine Hours Each Week on Average, Nearly Doubling CNN -
‘Crooked on MS NOW’ Marks Strongest Series Launch in More Than Three Years, Best Demo Launch in More Than Four Years
(New York – April 1, 2026) – MS NOW delivered its most-watched quarter since before the 2024 Election, recording double-digit, year-over-year growth across both total viewers and the A25-54 demo in the first quarter of 2026, according to Nielsen Big Data + Panel ratings.
MS NOW averaged 1.4 million total viewers and 139,000 demo viewers in weekday primetime (Monday through Friday, 8 to 11 p.m.). MS NOW also averaged 911,000 total viewers across its live hours (Monday through Friday, 5 to 12 a.m.), up 19% versus the same quarter a year ago. March also marked MS NOW’s most-watched month since Oct. 2024. In total day (Monday through Sunday, 6 to 6 a.m.), MS NOW averaged 690,000 total viewers and 72,000 in the demo for Q1, up 20% and 36% year-over-year, respectively.
According to MRI-Simmons, in a typical week, MS NOW reaches 27 million Democrats and Independents, 5 million more than Fox News. Plus, MS NOW continues to have one of the most loyal and engaged audiences on television. The average MS NOW viewer watches the network for nine hours per week, up 16% year over year, and nearly doubles CNN in average time spent viewing. MS NOW also continues to be the most-watched cable network in Washington, D.C.
MS NOW Draws Largest Primetime Audience Since 2024 Election; Averages 1.4 Million Total Viewers
In weekday primetime (Monday through Friday, 8 p.m. to 11 p.m.), MS NOW averaged 1.4 million total viewers and 139,000 demo viewers, posting strong year-over-year growth (up 8% among total viewers and up 21% in the demo) and had its strongest quarterly performance since late 2024.
MS NOW’s live coverage of the State of the Union address and key primary contests helped drive viewership throughout the quarter, as audiences turned to MS NOW for in-depth analysis and breaking news coverage.
On the night of the State of the Union address (Tuesday, February 24), MS NOW ranked #2 across all of cable television during primetime coverage. After the State of the Union address concluded, MS NOW was the only cable news network with an uptick in viewership, as viewers flocked to the network for immediate reactions and analysis from MS NOW’s anchors and experts.
On the first night of the 2026 primaries (Tuesday, March 3), MS NOW averaged 46% more viewers than CNN in prime time and 22% more viewers across the full day. MS NOW was the #2 source for live primary coverage across all of television. Additionally, MS NOW had double-digit viewership growth compared to its coverage of the 2024 presidential primaries.
“The Rachel Maddow Show” (Mondays, 9 to 10 p.m.) delivered double-digit growth among both demos versus the prior year and topped CNN for the 16th consecutive quarter. In the demo, “The Rachel Maddow Show” had its most-watched quarter since Q3 2023.
MS NOW’s newest primetime programs continued to grow their audience. “The Briefing with Jen Psaki” and “The Weeknight” recorded their strongest quarters to-date among both demos. “The Weeknight” grew its audience by double-digits among both demos versus the prior year and since its launch.
“Morning Joe” Delivers Strongest Quarter Since 2024 Election, Leads CNN Across Both Demos in Q1 and March
“Morning Joe” (Monday through Friday, 6 a.m. to 10 a.m.) notched its most-watched quarter since Q4 2024 and most-watched month since the 2024 election. In Q1 2026, “Morning Joe” averaged 784,000 total viewers and 88,000 in the demo, up 15% among total viewers and 40% in the demo versus the prior year.
The program topped CNN across both total viewers and the key demo for the quarter and remains the #1 cable news morning program in Washington, D.C.
“The Tea, Spilled by Morning Joe” newsletter has already amassed more than 116,000 subscribers since its launch in late October.
“Way Too Early with Ali Vitali” also topped CNN among both total viewers and the demo for the quarter and delivered double-digit growth versus the prior year among both demos. March also marked the program’s best month since Ali Vitali became anchor of “Way Too Early.”
“MS NOW Reports” Records Strongest Quarter Since Summer 2024
In Q1, “MS NOW Reports” (Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.) delivered its strongest quarter since Q3 2024, recording double-digit growth in total viewers and the demo versus the prior year. During dayside hours, MS NOW averaged 710,000 total viewers and 72,000 in the demo, up 22% among total viewers and 38% in the demo versus the prior year.
Driven by breaking news coverage, MS NOW recorded key competitive wins during the quarter, leading CNN during key hours during coverage of the Supreme Court tariff decision. The 3 p.m. hour, anchored by Katy Tur, topped CNN among total viewers in the first quarter.
“Crooked on MS NOW” Marks Strongest Launch in Demo for New MS NOW Series in More Than Four Years, Brings New Audience to Saturday Nights
MS NOW weekend programming (Saturday through Sunday, 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.) posted double-digit, year-over-year growth across both total viewers and the demo, averaging 592,000 total viewers and 56,000 demo viewers, up 32% and 47% respectively compared to Q1 2025.
“The Weekend” continues to grow following its expansion, delivering its strongest performance since expanding in May 2025 and building audience across both demos. “Velshi” posted year-over-year growth across both demos and remains MS NOW’s most-watched weekend program.
The new series “Crooked on MS NOW” is expanding the network’s reach to new audiences. Across its first three episodes, half of viewers were new to MS NOW on Saturday nights, with nearly two-thirds of viewers under age 55 also new to the network. This marks the strongest launch for a new MS NOW series among total viewers in three years, and its strongest launch in the demo in more than four years.
MS NOW Records More YouTube Views Than All Three Broadcast Networks Combined; ms.nowMarks Strongest Quarter for Article Page Views Since Before 2024 Election
MS NOW has more views on YouTube than ABC News, CBS News, and NBC News combined. Year-to-date, MS NOW has recorded 975 million views, more than ABC News (390 million), CBS News (174 million), and NBC News (319 million) combined.
MS NOW continues to lead the pack as one of the most influential news organizations on non-linear platforms, recording over 1.6 billion combined views across YouTube and TikTok so far this year.
Top performing TikTok videos in Q1 include: Alex Tabet’s on-the-ground reporting from Minneapolison a couple who were pepper-sprayed by law enforcement while protesting, as well asTabet’s interviews with Trump votersin Florida on their reaction to gas prices and the war in Iran; Rachel Maddow’s instant analysis of Jack Smith’s testimony; Chris Jansing’s interview with a journalist about her ICE recruitment experience; andDavid Noriega’s reportingon GOP reaction to ICE and Border Patrol after killing of Alex Pretti.
MS NOW’s website and app are having their strongest quarter for article page views since Q3 2024, as well as its strongest Q1 on record and strongest March on record.Growth in digital article page views has been driven in part by the expansion of MS NOW’s original reporting.
MS NOW Records More Than 35 Million Podcast Downloads in Q1, “The Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell” is Top-Performing Daily Showcast
MS NOW records more than 35.8 million total downloads in Q1, up 3% year-over-year and driven by strong performance among original podcasts, which are up 66% versus this time last year.
Several MS NOW showcasts recorded double-digit download increases year-over-year, with “Morning Joe” up 11%, “The Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell” up 39%, “Deadline: White House” up 84%, and “All In with Chris Hayes” up 26%.
This quarter, the network launched “Clock It with Symone & Eugene,” a new original podcast from Symone Sanders Townsend and Eugene Daniels that invites listeners in to their off-the-clock conversations. The recent episode featuring Don Lemon recorded more than 400K additional views on YouTube.
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.1Q 2026: [12/29/25-3/29/26]. Time period wins based on regularly scheduled programming. Engagement: Nielsen, NPower, Panel Only R&F Time Period, M-Su 6 a.m.-6 a.m., 6-minute viewing qualifier, Avg Weekly,1Q 2026. Local Points: Nielsen, NPower, Big Data+Panel, Ratings Analysis Program Report, LPM = Washington, D.C., 1Q 2026, P2+, M-F 6 a.m.-10 a.m., M-Su 6 a.m.-6 a.m. Crooked on MS NOW comparison to all episodic taped series through four episodes. Democrats/Independents = MRI-Simmons, Fall 2025 USA Survey (n=50,743 Adults 18+), # of unique viewers by political party affiliation, television networks watched in last 7 days.
Digital Source: YouTube data based on YouTube Studio Analytics, March 1 – March 29, 2026. YouTube video views. Competitor data from ListenFirst. TikTok data based on ListenFirst, March 1 – March 29, 2026. TikTok video views. Podcast downloads based on Simplecast Podcast Downloads. Article page views based on Adobe Analytics.
