The sentencing of Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer charged in the death of George Floyd, was the breaking news event on the afternoon of Friday, June 25. After an hour of statements from members of the Floyd family as well as from Chauvin’s mother, the judge sentenced Chauvin to 22 1/2 years. With good behavior, he could get out on parole after serving two-thirds of the sentence’s length, or about 15 years.
Of the six major outlets to carry live coverage — CNN, Fox News, MSNBC, ABC, CBS and NBC, the most-watched network was ABC. From 2:30 p.m. to 4:07 p.m. Eastern, ABC averaged 1.871 million total viewers, including 452,000 viewers within the key adults 25-54demo, according to Nielsen Media Research.
NBC (1.014 million viewers / 238,000 adults 25-54) drew nearly half of ABC’s figures; NBC’s sister cable news outlet MSNBC performed better in total viewers, as follows:
- 2:31-3:29 p.m. ET (statements pre-sentencing) 1.425 million viewers / 218,000 adults 25-54
- 3:29-4:00 p.m. ET (recess) 1.502 million viewers / 225,000 adults 25-54
- 4:00-4:13 p.m. ET (sentencing) 1.716 million viewers / 255,000 adults 25-54
- 4:13-5:09 p.m. ET (Attorney General Keith Ellison and the Floyd family talk to press) 1.386 million viewers / 213,000 adults 25-54
CBS only aired the judge’s portion of Chauvin’s sentencing (3:51-4:07 p.m. ET). They posted 1.565 million viewers and 362,000 adults 25-54.
As for CNN:
- 2-3 p.m. 1.276 million viewers / 258,000 adults 25-54
- 3-4 p.m. 1.630 million viewers / 391,000 adults 25-54
- 4-5 p.m. 1.273 million viewers / 291,000 adults 25-54
CNN scored their best hour of the week (ending June 27) in both total viewers and adults 25-54 within the 3-4 p.m. ET hour.
Fox News was not far behind CNN’s performance:
- 2:30-3:00 p.m. ET (statements pre-sentencing) 1.236 million viewers / 202,000 adults 25-54
- 3:00-3:52 p.m. ET (recess) 1.302 million viewers / 220,000 adults 25-54
- 4:00-4:30 p.m. ET (sentencing) 1.540 million viewers / 239,000 adults 25-54
- 4:31-4:55 p.m. ET (Attorney General Keith Ellison and the Floyd family talk to press) 1.376 million viewers / 218,000 adults 25-54
Here are the cable news averages for June 21-27, 2021 — cable’s best mark for the week in total viewers based on total day was by Fox News Channel; the 19th consecutive week FNC has accomplished this feat.
Total Day (June 21-27 @ 6 a.m.-5:59 a.m.)
- Fox News Channel: 1.250 million viewers; 204,000 adults 25-54
- MSNBC: 0.799 million viewers; 109,000 adults 25-54
- CNN: 0.654 million viewers; 150,000 adults 25-54
Prime Time (June 21-26 @ 8-11 p.m.; June 27 @ 7-11 p.m.)
- Fox News Channel: 2.184 million viewers; 331,000 adults 25-54
- MSNBC: 1.365 million viewers; 181,000 adults 25-54
- CNN: 0.857 million viewers; 201,000 adults 25-54
Top 10 most-watched cable news programs (and the top MSNBC and CNN programs with their respective associated ranks) in total viewers:
1. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Wed. 6/23/2021 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.064 million viewers
2. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Mon. 6/21/2021 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.971 million viewers
3. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Thu. 6/24/2021 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.890 million viewers
4. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Tue. 6/22/2021 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.868 million viewers
5. Hannity (FOXNC, Thu. 6/24/2021 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.836 million viewers
6. Hannity (FOXNC, Wed. 6/23/2021 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.723 million viewers
7. The Five (FOXNC, Wed. 6/23/2021 5:29 PM, 31 min.) 2.652 million viewers
8. The Five (FOXNC, Thu. 6/24/2021 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.648 million viewers
9. The Five (FOXNC, Mon. 6/21/2021 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.631 million viewers
10. The Five (FOXNC, Fri. 6/25/2021 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.613 million viewers
12. Rachel Maddow Show (MSNBC, Thu. 6/24/2021 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.522 million viewers
41. CNN Newsroom “Chauvin Sentencing” (CNN, Fri. 6/25/2021 3:00 PM, 60 min.) 1.630 million viewers
Top 10 cable news programs (and the top MSNBC program with their respective associated rank) among adults 25-54:
1. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Mon. 6/21/2021 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.504 million adults 25-54
2. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Wed. 6/23/2021 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.494 million adults 25-54
3. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Tue. 6/22/2021 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.478 million adults 25-54
4. Hannity (FOXNC, Tue. 6/22/2021 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.452 million adults 25-54
5. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Thu. 6/24/2021 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.444 million adults 25-54
6. Hannity (FOXNC, Thu. 6/24/2021 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.408 million adults 25-54
7. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Fri. 6/25/2021 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.399 million adults 25-54
8. Hannity (FOXNC, Wed. 6/23/2021 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.392 million adults 25-54
9. CNN Newsroom “Chauvin Sentencing” (CNN, Fri. 6/25/2021 3:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.391 million adults 25-54
10. The Five (FOXNC, Wed. 6/23/2021 5:29 PM, 31 min.) 0.391 million adults 25-54
17. Rachel Maddow Show (MSNBC, Mon. 6/21/2021 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.354 million adults 25-54
Source: Live+Same Day data, Nielsen Media Research
