All three major cable news networks had something to tout for the week ending Dec. 6, 2020, according to Nielsen Media Research.
Fox News Channel topped cable news in prime time among total viewers once again. For Nov. 30 to Dec. 6, it averaged 2.71 million viewers. But this figure had the added honor of leading all of cable, including the “Monday Night Football”-fueled ESPN (2.55 million). One of the network’s highlights in prime time was the Dec. 5 edition of “Watters World” which featured Donald Trump’s campaign rally in Georgia for the Republican senate candidates David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler. The telecast averaged 3.18 million viewers — the most-watched cable news telecast of the weekend (Dec. 5-6).
CNN achieved its fifth straight week as the key demographic leader in cable news. The network averaged 294,000 adults 25-54; 465,000 in the same demo in prime time (also tops in cable news). For the week, Jake Tapper’s sit-down interview with President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris on Dec. 3 was CNN’s most-watched telecast (with 3.58 million viewers) and the top cable news telecast among adults 25-54 (866,000 viewers within the demo).
On Dec. 6, CNN (2.42 million viewers/567,000 A25-54) bested Fox News (1.46 million viewers/259,000 A25-54) in their simulcasts of the Georgia senate debate between incumbent Republican Sen. Kelly Loeffler and her Democratic opponent, Rev. Raphael Warnock.
MSNBC earned a rare victory in total day data (from 6 a.m. to 5:59 a.m. each day), not only among cable news but of all of cable as well. It averaged 1.34 million viewers for Nov. 30-Dec. 6. Four telecasts of “The Rachel Maddow Show” placed in the top-8 most-watched cable news telecasts in total viewers, including the top two spots; all five of Maddow’s weeknight telecasts placed in the top-11.
In total viewers, the three major cable news networks were also the three most-watched cable networks; they also made up three of the top four cable networks in prime time, with the aforementioned ESPN as runner-up to FNC at night.
In full, here are the cable news prime time averages for Nov. 30-Dec. 6, 2020:
Total Day (6 a.m.-5:59 a.m.)
- Fox News Channel: 1.287 million viewers; 198,000 adults 25-54
- CNN: 1.234 million viewers; 294,000 adults 25-54
- MSNBC: 1.344 million viewers; 197,000 adults 25-54
Prime Time (Nov. 30-Dec. 5 @ 8-11 p.m.; Dec. 6 @ 7-11 p.m.)
- Fox News Channel: 2.706 million viewers; 412,000 adults 25-54
- CNN: 1.891 million viewers; 465,000 adults 25-54
- MSNBC: 2.251 million viewers; 329,000 adults 25-54
Top 10 most-watched cable news programs in total viewers:
1. Rachel Maddow Show (MSNBC, Tue. 12/1/2020 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 4.150 million viewers
2. Rachel Maddow Show (MSNBC, Wed. 12/2/2020 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.750 million viewers
3. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Wed. 12/2/2020 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.579 million viewers
4. CNN Special Event: Biden-Harris Interview (CNN, Thu. 12/3/2020 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.579 million viewers
5. Hannity (FOXNC, Thu. 12/3/2020 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.563 million viewers
6. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Thu. 12/3/2020 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.527 million viewers
7. Rachel Maddow Show (MSNBC, Thu. 12/3/2020 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.435 million viewers
8. Rachel Maddow Show (MSNBC, Fri. 12/4/2020 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.412 million viewers
9. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Fri. 12/4/2020 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.341 million viewers
10. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Tue. 12/1/2020 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.323 million viewers
Top 10 cable news programs among adults 25-54:
1. CNN Special Event: Biden-Harris Interview (CNN, Thu. 12/3/2020 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.866 million adults 25-54
2. Rachel Maddow Show (MSNBC, Tue. 12/1/2020 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.704 million adults 25-54
3. CNN Tonight (CNN, Thu. 12/3/2020 10:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.655 million adults 25-54
4. Anderson Cooper 360 (CNN, Tue. 12/1/2020 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.623 million adults 25-54
5. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Thu. 12/3/2020 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.592 million adults 25-54
6. CNN Tonight (CNN, Tue. 12/1/2020 10:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.570 million adults 25-54
7. Cuomo Prime Time (CNN, Tue. 12/1/2020 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.568 million adults 25-54
8. Debate Night: Georgia Senate Race (CNN, Sun. 12/6/2020 7:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.567 million adults 25-54
9. Rachel Maddow Show (MSNBC, Thu. 12/3/2020 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.555 million adults 25-54
10. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Wed. 12/2/2020 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.551 million adults 25-54
Source: Live+Same Day data, Nielsen Media Research
