One of the biggest global news events of the week of June 14-20 was the summit between U.S. President Joe Biden and Russian leader Vladimir Putin on June 16.
Two particular moments during the press conferences by each Putin and Biden at the site of their meeting in Geneva, Switzerland went viral: the first was when ABC News reporter Rachel Scott noted that Putin’s political opponents wound up “dead” or “imprisoned”, and pointedly asked Putin, “What are you so afraid of?” (a query he had then dodged); the latter, when CNN’s Kaitlan Collins asked Biden why he was confident Putin would change his behavior. Biden replied “I’m not confident he’ll change his behavior,” and added, “Where the hell — what do you do all the time. When did I say I was confident?” He walked off stage suggesting she might be “in the wrong business.” (Biden backtracked from his comments soon after and apologized to Collins.)
From 11:45 AM-2:30 PM Eastern on June 16, Fox News Channel was the most-watched cable news network, earning 1.7 million viewers and 250,000 in the key adults 25-54 demo, according to Nielsen Media Research. CNN and MSNBC each averaged 1.2 million total viewers within the same time period, but CNN topped MSNBC in persons 25-54 (218,000 vs. 142,000).
For solely Biden’s press conference (June 16 at 1:20 p.m. to approximately 2:00 p.m. ET), Fox News Channel remained the cable news leader in each total viewers (1.824 million) and adults 25-54 (264,000). CNN drew 1.186 million viewers, marking it the network’s most-watched hour of the week in total audience. 242,000 viewers within the 25-54 demo were included in CNN’s figure. MSNBC (1.354 million total viewers/171,000 adults 25-54) had also trailed FNC that hour.
ABC, CBS and NBC also broke into regular daytime programming to air Biden’s live press conference from Switzerland.
As for the prime time periods (8-11 p.m.) from June 14-18, Fox News Channel achieved its greatest percent advantage over CNN in total viewers (a 181-percent advantage) since September 2020 and the largest percent advantage over MSNBC with both total viewers (+79 percent) and adults 25-54 since October 2020.
Here are the cable news averages for June 14-20, 2021 — cable’s best mark for the week in total viewers based on total day was by Fox News Channel; the 18th consecutive week FNC has accomplished this achievement; and, FNC outdrew MSNBC and CNN combined in total viewers in prime time for the second consecutive week:
Total Day (June 14-20 @ 6 a.m.-5:59 a.m.)
- Fox News Channel: 1.184 million viewers; 198,000 adults 25-54
- MSNBC: 0.753 million viewers
- CNN: 0.575 million viewers
Prime Time (June 14-19 @ 8-11 p.m.; June 20 @ 7-11 p.m.)
- Fox News Channel: 2.195 million viewers; 357,000 adults 25-54
- MSNBC: 1.229 million viewers
- CNN: 0.782 million viewers
Top 10 most-watched cable news programs (and the top MSNBC and CNN programs with their respective associated ranks) in total viewers:
1. Hannity (FOXNC, Wed. 6/16/2021 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.470 million viewers
2. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Wed. 6/16/2021 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.064 million viewers
3. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Mon. 6/14/2021 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.997 million viewers
4. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Tue. 6/15/2021 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.989 million viewers
5. Hannity (FOXNC, Mon. 6/14/2021 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.664 million viewers
6. The Five (FOXNC, Wed. 6/16/2021 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.629 million viewers
7. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Thu. 6/17/2021 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.624 million viewers
8. Hannity (FOXNC, Tue. 6/15/2021 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.597 million viewers
9. The Five (FOXNC, Mon. 6/14/2021 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.570 million viewers
10. Hannity (FOXNC, Thu. 6/17/2021 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.499 million viewers
14. Rachel Maddow Show (MSNBC, Wed. 6/16/2021 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.336 million viewers
103. CNN Newsroom “Biden Putin Summit” (CNN, Wed. 6/16/2021 1:00 PM, 60 min.) 1.186 million viewers
Top 10 cable news programs (and the top MSNBC, CNN and HLN programs with their respective associated ranks) among adults 25-54:
1. Hannity (FOXNC, Wed. 6/16/2021 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.569 million adults 25-54
2. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Mon. 6/14/2021 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.530 million adults 25-54
3. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Tue. 6/15/2021 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.512 million adults 25-54
4. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Wed. 6/16/2021 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.476 million adults 25-54
5. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Fri. 6/18/2021 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.451 million adults 25-54
6. The Ingraham Angle (FOXNC, Wed. 6/16/2021 10:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.451 million adults 25-54
7. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Thu. 6/17/2021 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.450 million adults 25-54
8. Hannity (FOXNC, Mon. 6/14/2021 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.406 million adults 25-54
9. Hannity (FOXNC, Tue. 6/15/2021 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.400 million adults 25-54
10. Gutfeld! (FOXNC, Wed. 6/16/2021 11:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.390 million adults 25-54
19. Rachel Maddow Show (MSNBC, Wed. 6/16/2021 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.326 million adults 25-54
49. Cuomo Prime Time (CNN, Mon. 6/14/2021 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.244 million adults 25-54
181. Forensic Files “Deadly Knowledge” (HLN, Late Tue. 6/15/2021-Early Wed. 6/16/2021 12:00 AM, 30 min.) 0.154 million adults 25-54
Source: Live+Same Day data, Nielsen Media Research
