President Joe Biden made several appearances throughout the week of July 12. Among them was arguably his boldest yet as U.S. President when on July 13, he issued an address an the ongoing assault on voting rights across the country. “Make no mistake,” President Biden said, “bullies and merchants of fear, peddlers of lies, are threatening the very foundation of our country.” He also chastised those in the Republican Party who had willingly evaded truth and responsibility for upholding the Constitution, by rhetorically asking “Have you no shame?”
CNN and MSNBC were the only two of the three major cable news networks that carried Biden’s speech. Although no definitive figures were published for solely this event itself on CNN, the network averaged 804,000 viewers from 2-3 p.m. ET and 959,000 viewers between 3-4 p.m. ET, according to Nielsen Media Research. From 2:46-3:12 p.m. ET (the event’s exact time period), MSNBC drew 955,000 viewers. In the key adults 25-54 demographic, the results were a bit clearer who was the victor between the two. CNN averaged 163,000 viewers within the specific age range from 2-4 p.m. ET while MSNBC posted 134,000.
Conspicuously absent in coverage of Biden’s voting rights address was Fox News Channel. Yet, both of their regularly-scheduled hourlong programs outdrew it: “America Reports” (1.202 million viewers and 217,000 adults 25-54) at 2 p.m. and “The Story” (1.194 million viewers and 220,000 adults 25-54) at 3 p.m.
FNC joined their cable news brethren on Thursday, July 15 for Biden’s two other press conferences that week, and was the top outlet for both. From 12:28-12:40 p.m. ET, he and Vice President Kamala Harris spoke about Child Tax Credit relief payments. Fox News delivered 1.405 million viewers and 187,000 adults 25-54. Between noon-1 p.m. ET, CNN topped MSNBC in both total viewers (776,000 vs. 679,000) and adults 25-54 (128,000 vs. 109,000).
Later that afternoon, Biden hosted German Chancellor Angela Merkel at the White House and participated in a press conference with her. Fox News, the usual lead cable news outlet during the 5 p.m. hour with its weekday program “The Five”, remained on top for Biden-Merkel: 1.885 million viewers and 262,000 adults 25-54 from 5:16-5:50 p.m. ET. (As an aside, the July 15th edition of “The Five” preceding and following the joint press conference performed significantly better: 2.416 million viewers and 335,000 adults 25-54 from 5:00-5:16 p.m. ET; 2.128 million viewers and 299,000 adults 25-54 from 5:50-6:00 p.m. ET.)
For the runner-up spots, MSNBC (1.381 million) easily beat CNN (0.762 million from 5-6 p.m. ET) in total viewers but it was vice versa in adults 25-54: CNN 159,000 (5-6 p.m. ET); MSNBC 135,000 (5:16-5:50 p.m.. ET).
Here are the cable news averages for July 12-18, 2021 — Fox News Channel extended their streak to 22 weeks being cable’s top network in total viewers based on total day data; also, following a 2-month stretch of NBA and NHL postseason and other notable sporting events, FNC reclaimed cable’s top spot in total day adults 25-54 and prime time total audience:
Total Day (July 12-18 @ 6 a.m.-5:59 a.m.)
Fox News Channel: 1.193 million viewers; 209,000 adults 25-54
MSNBC: 0.776 million viewers; 99,000 adults 25-54
CNN: 0.573 million viewers; 119,000 adults 25-54
Prime Time (July 12-17 @ 8-11 p.m.; July 18 @ 7-11 p.m.)
Fox News Channel: 2.172 million viewers; 351,000 adults 25-54
MSNBC: 1.321 million viewers; 165,000 adults 25-54
CNN: 0.831 million viewers; 173,000 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. 7/14/2021 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.218 million viewers
2. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Thu. 7/15/2021 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.127 million viewers
3. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Mon. 7/12/2021 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.980 million viewers
4. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Tue. 7/13/2021 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.867 million viewers
5. Hannity (FOXNC, Thu. 7/15/2021 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.751 million viewers
6. Hannity (FOXNC, Mon. 7/12/2021 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.704 million viewers
7. The Five (FOXNC, Tue. 7/13/2021 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.633 million viewers
8. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Fri. 7/16/2021 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.626 million viewers
9. Hannity (FOXNC, Wed. 7/14/2021 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.613 million viewers
10. The Five (FOXNC, Wed. 7/14/2021 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.582 million viewers
15. Rachel Maddow Show (MSNBC, Thu. 7/15/2021 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.358 million viewers
126. History Of The Sitcom “Just Friends” (CNN, Sun. 7/18/2021 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 1.135 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. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Wed. 7/14/2021 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.574 million adults 25-54
2. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Mon. 7/12/2021 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.564 million adults 25-54
3. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Tue. 7/13/2021 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.537 million adults 25-54
4. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Thu. 7/15/2021 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.530 million adults 25-54
5. Hannity (FOXNC, Mon. 7/12/2021 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.464 million adults 25-54
6. Hannity (FOXNC, Thu. 7/15/2021 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.453 million adults 25-54
7. Hannity (FOXNC, Wed. 7/14/2021 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.429 million adults 25-54
8. Hannity (FOXNC, Tue. 7/13/2021 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.421 million adults 25-54
9. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Fri. 7/16/2021 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.412 million adults 25-54
10. The Five (FOXNC, Mon. 7/12/2021 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.392 million adults 25-54
21. Rachel Maddow Show (MSNBC, Tue. 7/13/2021 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.314 million adults 25-54
40. History Of The Sitcom “Just Friends” (CNN, Sun. 7/18/2021 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.257 million adults 25-54
106. Forensic Files “The Stake-Out” (HLN, Mon. 7/12/2021 12:00 AM, 30 min.) 0.194 million adults 25-54
Source: Live+Same Day data, Nielsen Media Research
