CNN continues to thrive since the Nov. 3, 2020 presidential election.
The week ending Jan. 17, 2021 was highlighted by Congress’ second impeachment vote on Donald Trump on Wednesday Jan. 13, as a result of the Jan. 6 insurrection by his supporters at the Capitol. CNN was not only the top cable news outlet in coverage, but it also topped ABC and CBS in key figures (NBC did not break in to regularly scheduled programming that day). According to Nielsen Media Research’s fast national data (not including out-of-home viewing), CNN averaged 3.8 million total viewers and 1.08 million adults 25-54 on Jan. 13 from 12:30 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. ET.
MSNBC was runner-up in total viewers with 2.58 million; in third place with 464,000 adults 25-54. One positive for them on the day, as well as the week: the Jan. 13th edition of “The Rachel Maddow Show” was the most-watched cable news telecast.
An average of 2.4 million (530,000 aged 25-54) tuned in to ABC (12:24-5:00 p.m. ET).
CBS aired just 23 minutes of impeachment coverage (4:22-4:46 p.m. ET), yet drew more than Fox News Channel’s entire afternoon — CBS’s 1.9 million viewers/388,000 25-54 vs. FNC’s 1.39 million viewers/278,000 25-54.
Here are the cable news prime time averages for Jan. 11-17, 2021:
Total Day (6 a.m.-5:59 a.m.)
- CNN: 2.177 million viewers; 591,000 adults 25-54
- MSNBC: 1.838 million viewers; 325,000 adults 25-54
- Fox News Channel: 1.330 million viewers; 235,000 adults 25-54
Prime Time (Jan. 11-16 @ 8-11 p.m.; Jan. 17 @ 7-11 p.m.)
- CNN: 3.121 million viewers; 880,000 adults 25-54
- MSNBC: 2.834 million viewers; 508,000 adults 25-54
- Fox News Channel: 2.489 million viewers; 424,000 adults 25-54
Top 10 most-watched cable news programs (and the top Fox News program and its associated rank) in total viewers:
1. Rachel Maddow Show (MSNBC, Wed. 1/13/2021 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 4.765 million viewers
2. The Lead With Jake Tapper (CNN, Wed. 1/13/2021 4:00 PM, 60 min.) 4.714 million viewers
3. Situation Room (CNN, Wed. 1/13/2021 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 4.705 million viewers
4. Rachel Maddow Show (MSNBC, Tue. 1/12/2021 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 4.682 million viewers
5. Rachel Maddow Show (MSNBC, Thu. 1/14/2021 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 4.319 million viewers
6. Situation Room (CNN, Wed. 1/13/2021 6:00 PM, 60 min.) 4.274 million viewers
7. Anderson Cooper 360 (CNN, Wed. 1/13/2021 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 4.249 million viewers
8. Rachel Maddow Show (MSNBC, Mon. 1/11/2021 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 4.218 million viewers
9. Cuomo Prime Time (CNN, Tue. 1/12/2021 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 4.174 million viewers
10. Anderson Cooper 360 (CNN, Thu. 1/14/2021 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 4.015 million viewers
27. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Wed. 1/13/2021 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.611 million viewers
Top 10 cable news programs (and the top MSNBC and Fox News programs and its associated ranks) among adults 25-54:
1. Situation Room (CNN, Wed. 1/13/2021 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 1.414 million adults 25-54
2. Situation Room (CNN, Wed. 1/13/2021 6:00 PM, 60 min.) 1.368 million adults 25-54
3. The Lead With Jake Tapper (CNN, Wed. 1/13/2021 4:00 PM, 60 min.) 1.366 million adults 25-54
4. Anderson Cooper 360 (CNN, Wed. 1/13/2021 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 1.295 million adults 25-54
5. Cuomo Prime Time (CNN, Wed. 1/13/2021 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 1.212 million adults 25-54
6. CNN Tonight (CNN, Tue. 1/12/2021 10:00 PM, 60 min.) 1.195 million adults 25-54
7. Erin Burnett Outfront (CNN, Wed. 1/13/2021 7:00 PM, 60 min.) 1.185 million adults 25-54
8. Anderson Cooper 360 (CNN, Tue. 1/12/2021 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 1.175 million adults 25-54
9. Cuomo Prime Time (CNN, Tue. 1/12/2021 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 1.163 million adults 25-54
10. CNN Special Coverage: 2nd Trump Impeachment Vote (CNN, Wed. 1/13/2021 2:00 PM, 60 min.) 1.138 million adults 25-54
24. Rachel Maddow Show (MSNBC, Wed. 1/13/2021 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.945 million adults 25-54
59. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Wed. 1/13/2021 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.693 million adults 25-54
Source: Live+Same Day data, Nielsen Media Research
