Fox News in 2026: Ratings Dominance, Legal Battles, and Network Evolution

History and Founding: The Rise of a Conservative Giant

Fox News launched on October 7, 1996, with a mission to provide an alternative to what its founders perceived as a liberal bias in mainstream media. Under the leadership of Roger Ailes and the financial backing of Rupert Murdoch’s News Corporation, the network adopted the slogan "Fair and Balanced," a mantra it used for nearly two decades before retiring it in 2017.

The network’s growth was explosive. By the early 2000s, it had surpassed CNN in viewership, driven by the popularity of personalities like Bill O'Reilly and Sean Hannity. The channel’s formula combined breaking news coverage during the day with opinion-driven commentary in primetime, a model that has since been emulated across the cable news spectrum.

Ownership and Corporate Structure in 2026

Following the 2019 sale of 21st Century Fox’s entertainment assets to Disney, Fox News became the flagship asset of the newly formed Fox Corporation. As of January 2026, the company’s leadership structure is defined by the Murdoch family’s continued influence:

2025-2026 Ratings and Market Position

Entering 2026, Fox News has solidified its position as the most-watched network in cable news. Data from 2025 reveals a widening gap between FNC and its primary competitors.

• Total Viewership: In 2025, Fox News averaged approximately 2.72 million primetime viewers, marking its highest-rated non-election year in history.
• Comparative Performance: While Fox grew its audience by 14% in 2025, competitors faltered. MS NOW (formerly MSNBC) saw viewership drop by 25%, and CNN declined by 15%.
• Top Programs: Fox News shows occupied the top 12 spots in cable news ratings. The Five continued its unprecedented run as the #1 show in cable news, largely due to its unique roundtable format that airs at 5:00 PM ET.

Current Primetime Lineup and Key Personalities

The network’s success is anchored by its stable of high-profile opinion hosts who dominate the evening hours. As of January 2026, the key lineup includes:

• The Five (5 PM ET): A roundtable discussion featuring Greg Gutfeld, Dana Perino, Jesse Watters, Jeanine Pirro, and a rotating liberal co-host (often Jessica Tarlov or Harold Ford Jr.).
• Special Report with Bret Baier (6 PM ET): The network’s flagship hard news program, often beating broadcast network news in key markets.
• Jesse Watters Primetime (8 PM ET): Watters has cemented his status as a populist conservative voice, consistently ranking among the top three shows.
• Hannity (9 PM ET): Sean Hannity remains the longest-running primetime host in cable news history, offering staunch support for conservative political movements.
• Gutfeld! (10 PM ET): Greg Gutfeld’s late-night style comedy/talk show frequently outperforms traditional broadcast late-night shows like The Tonight Show.

Legal Battles: Dominion and Smartmatic

While ratings soar, Fox News continues to navigate high-stakes legal challenges regarding its coverage of the 2020 US Presidential Election.

The Dominion Settlement

In April 2023, Fox News agreed to pay $787.5 million to Dominion Voting Systems to settle a defamation lawsuit just as the trial was set to begin. The settlement acknowledged the court’s earlier rulings that certain statements broadcast about Dominion were false.

The Smartmatic Lawsuit (2026 Update)

As of January 2026, the $2.7 billion defamation lawsuit filed by Smartmatic is proceeding toward trial in New York State Supreme Court. Recent developments include:

• Trial Status: In late 2025, a New York judge denied Fox’s motion to delay the trial, rejecting arguments that federal charges against Smartmatic executives should halt the civil defamation case.
• Allegations: Smartmatic alleges Fox News knowingly broadcast lies about its voting technology to retain viewers who were defecting to Newsmax after the 2020 election.
• Fox’s Defense: The network maintains that its coverage was protected by the First Amendment, arguing they were reporting on newsworthy allegations made by the sitting President and his legal team.

Digital Strategy: Fox Nation and Beyond

Fox Corporation has adopted a distinct streaming strategy compared to competitors like Disney+ or Peacock. Rather than aiming for mass-market scale with hundreds of millions of subscribers, Fox Nation operates as a "super-niche" service.

Key Digital Stats (2026):

• Subscribers: Fox Nation has grown to between 2.5 million and 3.0 million subscribers.
• Content Strategy: The platform focuses on lifestyle, documentary, and entertainment content that appeals to the Fox superfan. This includes Kevin Costner’s Yellowstone: One-Fifty and exclusive specials from Tucker Carlson's successor lineup.
• Niche Sports: In early 2026, Fox Nation expanded its live sports offerings by securing exclusive rights to Real American Freestyle wrestling, driving a significant spike in subscriber sign-ups.