Fox News Channel led all major news networks in July, drawing the largest primetime audience among both broadcast and cable outlets, according to data from two separate reports. Fox News reported it averaged 2.6 million weekday primetime viewers, outperforming NBC (2.5 million), ABC (2.3 million), and CBS (1.9 million) in a release. Meanwhile, Deadline cited Nielsen figures showing Fox News averaged 2.33 million primetime viewers, down 3% from July 2025. The discrepancy may stem from different audience measurement methodologies or the inclusion of different time periods. Despite the decline, Fox News remained the top cable news network. MSNBC averaged 1.02 million viewers in primetime, up 18% from the prior year, while CNN posted 658,000 viewers, a 32% increase. The year-over-year gains for MSNBC and CNN came as Fox News saw a slight dip, though it still commanded the largest share of the cable news audience. The July ratings period included coverage of the 2026 midterm election campaigns and major political events. Fox News also highlighted its strength in total day viewership, though specific figures were not provided in the reports. The network's lead over its cable competitors remains substantial, but the narrowing gap suggests a more competitive landscape heading into the fall.