MS NOW Programming Shakeup Comes as Network Formerly Known as MSNBC Grapples With Elderly Audience

The left-wing network, MS NOW, may be riding high, coming in second place in the cable news network ratings after a tumultuous year. But while the network is experiencing a bump in total viewers, its number of younger viewers – under age 55 – lags behind even CNN.In February, MS NOW saw its highest ratings since the 2024 election. And the uptick in viewers — which comes as a welcome surprise after the network lost roughly half of its audience following the last presidential election — seems to be continuing amid America’s strikes on Iran. For the week of March 2, the latest available data, Fox News came in first place with an average of 3.11 million primetime total viewers and 362,000 in the coveted 25-54-year-old demographic. For the total day, Fox averaged 2.04 million viewers with 220,000 in the key demo. MS NOW came in second place with an average of 1.35 million total primetime viewers, but just 160,000 viewers in the 25-54 demo. For the total day, MS NOW averaged 796,000 and 91,000 viewers in the key demo. Those numbers represented a 15 percent increase in primetime viewers compared to the same week last year, a 43 percent increase in demo viewers compared to last year.The president of MS NOW, Rebecca Kutler, credited the current lineup for the uptick in ratings, which she implemented last year after firing a far-left star, Joy Reid. However, for much of the last year, the new lineup has floundered. The resurgence in ratings comes as 2026 has seen several major headlines, such as the daring raid that captured Nicolas Maduro, shootings of American citizens by federal immigration officials, the suspected kidnapping of Nancy Guthrie (the mother of NBC star Savannah Guthrie), and America’s strikes on Iran. Ms. Kutler announced another shakeup earlier this week, saying that she believes the changes — which include shifting an anti-Trump personality, Stephanie Ruhle, from her primetime slot to a less prestigious daytime slot and ousting anti-Trump host Ana Cabrera — will “make what is already a successful lineup even stronger in the future.”Yet, the network’s high ratings may be tempered by ranking dead last in number of younger viewers.During the week of March 2, CNN came in third place with 1.04 million total primetime viewers and 220,000 in the key demo. Meanwhile, for the total day, CNN averaged 724,000 total viewers and 135,000 in the 25-54 demo.

MS NOW Programming Shakeup Comes as Network Formerly Known as MSNBC Grapples With Elderly Audience

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