ESPN, Fox News, & MS Now Are The Only TV Networks With Over 1 Million Viewers in the 10 PM Hour

Fox News Channel secured its position as the top news outlet for the hour, likely buoyed by its flagship program, “The Ingraham Angle,” hosted by Laura Ingraham. The episode delved into pressing national issues, including protests surrounding Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations at religious sites, discussions on former Vice President Kamala Harris’s political activities, the controversial proposal for the United States to purchase Greenland, developments in professional wrestling involving Triple H, and the emerging “Make America Healthy Again” initiative. These topics resonated with the channel’s core audience, reflecting ongoing debates in domestic policy and international affairs. Similarly, MSNBC held strong with “The Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell,” which focused on breaking developments in the Trump administration’s immigration policies, including reports of expanded detention facilities, a fatal shooting involving ICE agents and a U.S. citizen, and a high-profile raid on Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro. Such content appealed to viewers seeking in-depth analysis of current events, particularly in a politically charged environment following the 2024 election cycle.

While these four networks—ESPN, Fox News, MSNBC, and ESPN2—were the only ones to surpass one million viewers in the total audience metric, the rest of the field lagged significantly. TLC drew 513,000 viewers with lifestyle programming, followed by TBS at 485,000 and CNN at 438,000, the latter struggling to compete in the news arena despite its global reach. Home and Garden TV attracted 433,000, while Hallmark Channel and Investigation Discovery each hovered around 337,000 and 333,000, respectively. Lower down the list, channels like INSP (299,000), History (276,000), and TV Land (272,000) catered to niche interests but failed to break into broader appeal. Adult Swim and Food Network both pulled in about 262,000, indicating steady but limited engagement for animated and culinary content

Shifting to the adults 25-54 demographic, a key target for advertisers, ESPN again led overwhelmingly with 9.94 million viewers, emphasizing the championship game’s draw among younger adults. ESPN2 followed with 512,000, benefiting from its coverage of the 2026 Australian Open’s first-round matches, which featured early action from Melbourne Park despite the time difference. Fox News captured 223,000 in this demo, while MSNBC managed 171,000 through Adult Swim’s overlap or adjacent programming—wait, no, Adult Swim was separate at 171,000 for its own slot. Other notables included TBS at 166,000 and TLC at 129,000, but the drop-off was steep, with many channels like Nick-at-Nite (116,000) and MSNBC’s additional slots falling below 100,000.

This ratings snapshot illustrates the challenges facing traditional cable networks in an era of streaming dominance. Sports remain a powerhouse, as evidenced by ESPN’s performance, which not only boosted its own standings but also spilled over to ESPN2 through complementary tennis coverage. News channels like Fox News and MSNBC thrive on real-time controversies, such as immigration enforcement and foreign policy maneuvers, which keep viewers tuned in during uncertain times. However, entertainment-focused outlets continue to fragment, with audiences dispersing across platforms like Netflix and Hulu. The disparity highlights a polarization in viewing habits: event-driven content wins big, while everyday programming struggles to maintain momentum.

Looking ahead, industry analysts anticipate similar patterns in upcoming weeks, especially with ongoing sports seasons and political developments. The Australian Open’s progression on ESPN2 could sustain its numbers, while news networks gear up for potential congressional hearings on immigration reforms. For cable as a whole, these figures serve as a reminder that adaptability—through live events and topical relevance—is key to survival in a digital age. As viewership data evolves, networks like ESPN, Fox News, and MSNBC position themselves as indispensable, even as the overall cable bundle faces pressure from cord-cutting trends.

Via: Cord Cutters News