MS NOW RECORDS DOUBLE-DIGIT YEAR-OVER-YEAR VIEWERSHIP INCREASES IN MAY; DELIVERS SIX CONSECUTIVE MONTHS OF GROWTH

(New York - June 3, 2026) - Millions of Americans remained glued to MS NOW's news coverage and analysis in May, with the typical viewer watching the network for nine hours per week, ranking as the #2 network in all of television for time spent viewing.

MS NOW delivered its sixth consecutive month of year-over-year growth this past month, posting double-digit gains across key dayparts among both total viewers and the A25-54 demo, according to Nielsen Big Data + Panel ratings.

In weekday primetime (Monday through Friday, 8 to 11 p.m.), MS NOW is averaging 1.34 million total viewers and 138,000 demo viewers so far this year. During weekday live programming (Monday through Friday, 5 to 12 a.m.), MS NOW is averaging 900,000 total viewers this year and posted a 17% year-over-year gain in May. Plus, across total day (Monday through Sunday, 6 a.m. to 6 a.m.), MS NOW had double-digit audience gains in May, up 12% among total viewers and 39% among the demo year over year. According to MRI-Simmons, MS NOW reaches 31.1 million unique television viewers each week.

Averages 1.34 Million Primetime Viewers Year-to-Date, Posts Double-Digit Demo Gains; "The Weeknight" Increased Its Demo Audience by 110% Since Launch

In weekday primetime (Monday through Friday, 8 to 11 p.m.), MS NOW is averaging 1.34 million total viewers and 138,000 demo viewers. In May, MS NOW's primetime audience is up 9% in total viewers and 39% in the demo, compared to May 2025.

One year after launching, MS NOW's newest primetime programs - "The Weeknight" and "The Briefing with Jen Psaki" - continue to grow their respective audiences. "The Briefing with Jen Psaki" averaged 1.2 million total viewers and 118,000 demo viewers, up 74% in the demo year over year. "The Weeknight" averaged 1.0 million total viewers and 122,000 demo viewers in May, delivering 110% viewership growth in the demo year over year. The program also topped CNN among total viewers and the demo.

"The Rachel Maddow Show" averaged 2.0 million total viewers and 206,000 demo viewers, posting year-over-year growth among both demos while topping CNN in total viewers and the demo. Across the rest of the primetime lineup, "The Beat with Ari Melber" and "The 11th Hour with Stephanie Ruhle" delivered year-over-year growth and topped CNN among both demos.

MS NOW's primetime coverage of the May 19 primaries in Georgia, Kentucky, and Pennsylvania nearly doubled CNN's audience with 1.24 million total viewers.

"Morning Joe" Continues to Outpace CNN Across Both Demos; "Way Too Early" Posts Double-Digit Demo Growth

"Morning Joe" (Monday through Friday, 6 to 10 a.m.) is averaging 776,000 total viewers and 87,000 demo viewers year-to-date, while posting double-digit year-over-year growth among demo viewers and topping CNN among both total viewers and the demo in May.

Year to date, "Morning Joe" remains the #1 cable news morning program in Washington, D.C.

"Way Too Early with Ali Vitali" posted double-digit year-over-year growth among demo viewers and topped CNN among total viewers and the demo.

MS NOW's Dayside Programming Delivers Double-Digit Year-Over-Year Total Viewer Growth Across Every Hour

MS NOW's dayside programming (Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.) is averaging 686,000 total viewers and 69,000 demo viewers in 2026. In May, the daypart posted 11% growth among total viewers and 8% growth in the demo versus a year ago.

Weekend Programming Posts Strong Audience Growth

MS NOW weekend programming (Saturday through Sunday, 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.) is averaging 568,000 total viewers and 56,000 demo viewers in 2026. Compared to May 2025, monthly viewership was up 21% among total viewers and 60% in the demo.

MS NOW Records More YouTube Views Than ABC News, CBS News, and NBC News Combined; Reaches 2.5 Billion Views Across YouTube and TikTok Year to Date

MS NOW continues to lead the pack as one of the most influential news organizations on non-linear platforms, recording over 2.5 billion combined views across YouTube and TikTok so far this year.

Year-to-date, MS NOW has recorded 1.5 billion YouTube views, more than ABC News (561 million), CBS News (255 million), and NBC News (476 million) combined.

Top-performing YouTube videos in May include: Chris Hayes' talker on President Trump's Gold Cards and Hayes' reaction to a fourth grader's letter to Republican congresswoman; Ali Velshi on Hawaii's ban of dark money in elections; Jen Psaki and Rachel Maddow's reactions to work being done on the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool; and Kevin Frey's reporting on congressional reaction to President Trump's proposed memorial arch.

Top-performing TikTok videos in May include: JM Rieger's fact-check of President Trump on gas prices; Ari Melber's reaction to angry MAGA supporters over Trump phones; Rachel Maddow on Trump's "concerted targeting" of Black Americans; and Alex Tabet's reporting on the response to President Trump saying "I don't think about Americans' financial situation."

Year-to-date, page views on MS NOW's website and app are up 20% versus this time last year. MS NOW recorded its best May on record for article performance, with article page views up 35% year-over-year, driven in part by the expansion of MS NOW's original reporting.

In May, the most-viewed pieces on ms.now include: op-ed on interaction between Pope Leo and Marco Rubio; MS NOW's reporting on the Texas GOP runoff; Matthew Bartlett's writeup on the Republican 2028 nomination; and Zeeshan's Aleem's op-ed on the impact of President Trump's remarks on not thinking about Americans' financial situation.

MS NOW Records More Than 11 Million Audio Downloads in May; Original Podcasts Up 59% Year Over Year

MS NOW generated more than 11 million total audio downloads in May, with strong performance among original podcasts. Up 59% versus this time last year, MS NOW originals performance was driven by "The Best People with Nicolle Wallace" and the new "Why Is This Happening? The Chris Hayes Podcast" series "The AI End Game: Power, Profit, and Progress."

"Deadline: White House" was MS NOW's most-downloaded podcast for the month, recording significant growth in May, with downloads up 51% year-over-year.

TV Source: Nielsen, Big Data + Panel, Live+SD, Persons 2+ and Adults 25-54. Total Day = M-Su 6 a.m. to 6 a.m, Live Programming = M-F 5 a.m.-12 a.m., Primetime = M-F 8 p.m.-11p.m. May 2026: [4/27/26-5/31/26]. Time period wins based on regularly scheduled programming. Engagement based on average weekly viewers, M-Su 6 a.m.-6 a.m. LPM = Washington, D.C., April 2026, P2+, M-F 6 a.m.-10 a.m. Weekly Reach = MRI-Simmons, Winter 2026 USA Survey (n=52,323 Adults 18+), # of unique viewers, television networks watched in the past 7 days.

Digital Source: YouTube data based on YouTube Studio Analytics, May 1 - May 31, 2026. YouTube video views. Competitor data from ListenFirst. TikTok data based on ListenFirst, May 1 - May 31, 2026. TikTok video views. Audio data based on Simplecast Analytics, May 1 - May 31, 2026.

For more information, contact:

Claudia Meyer-Samargia

[email protected]