How News Networks Are Gearing Up for a Wild Midterm Election Night

Election Night remains one of television’s most-watched events, but news networks face challenges in drawing viewers to their coverage as traditional audiences dwindle. In 2022, an estimated 25.4 million people tuned in to primetime coverage of the midterms, a decline from 36.1 million in 2018, though these figures do not account for digital viewership.

The upcoming 2026 midterms hold potential as a major media moment, driven by political discontent, low approval ratings for President Trump, and several high-profile contentious races. Networks are investing heavily in election coverage despite overall declining ratings and a fragmented audience. NBC News is planning 13 hours of continuous broadcast coverage, CBS News is launching a separate streaming show without reducing television resources, Fox News is developing technology for long-term use, and MSNOW is preparing for its first midterms with a dedicated newsroom.

The investments aim to integrate production costs across multiple platforms while finding new revenue streams from digital products. Experts suggest that these efforts are not solely focused on the one night’s ratings, but rather on creating a multiyear strategy for political reporting, programming, and technology.