By Fatma Younis
Fox News is on track for its lowest-rated month since December 2023, with viewership dropping sharply ahead of the midterm elections, according to preliminary Nielsen data.
Ratings Decline
In October 2026, the network averaged 1.1 million total viewers, a 27 percent decline from the same month last year. The key 25-54 demographic fell 32 percent to 98,000 viewers, its lowest level in 25 years. Despite the slide, Fox still outperforms all other cable networks, including ESPN, and draws 3.8 million annual YouTube views.
Political Context
The ratings slump coincides with President Donald Trump's record-low approval ratings, raising concerns for Republicans as Democrats are projected to gain congressional seats. Trump has publicly criticized Fox on Truth Social for interviewing Democratic Senate candidates such as Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan and Charles Booker in Kentucky, accusing the network of being too politically correct. He has urged supporters to watch the right-leaning Right Side Broadcast Network instead.
Competitor Gains
Meanwhile, liberal-leaning networks have seen modest growth. MSNBC averaged 588,000 daily viewers, up 16 percent year-over-year, while CNN rose 3 percent. Fox News was contacted for comment on the Nielsen figures.
