What ignited the week that would eventually result in the end of Andrew Cuomo’s tenure as New York Governor was the Aug. 3 release of New York Attorney General Letitia James’ blistering report of Cuomo’s alleged sexual harassment and abuse of power. Calls for Cuomo to step down from office were made by prominent figures including President Biden, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Eric Adams, the Democratic nominee for New York City Mayor.
In 2020, Cuomo’s profile extended to a national platform when his briefings about the pandemic and New York State were televised daily on MSNBC and CNN. Later in the year, he became the recipient of an honorary Emmy Award and released a book (an initial bestseller) about his management of the coronavirus crisis.
As for those aforementioned networks when covering Attorney General James’ press conference, CNN edged past MSNBC during the 11 a.m. to noon ET time slot on Aug. 3 in each key figure, according to Nielsen Media Research: total viewers (730,000 vs. 716,000) and adults 25-54 (169,000 vs. 100,000).
Fox News, which regularly airs “The Faulkner Focus” in that weekday morning slot, averaged 1.37 million viewers and 201,000 adults 25-54.
Later in the week, on Aug. 6, Cuomo attorney Rita Glavin held a virtual news conference in an attempt to dispute the details and legitimacy of James’ report as well as question the credibility of some of those who alleged harassment. From 3:40 p.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern, Fox News averaged 1.06 million viewers and 117,000 adults 25-54. MSNBC’s Aug. 6 edition of “Deadline: White House” (4-6 p.m.) drew 1.14 million viewers and 144,000 adults 25-54; and, trailing their cable news competition in the 4-5 p.m. hour was CNN’s “The Lead with Jake Tapper” (589,00 viewers / 106,000 adults 25-54).
Fox News’ Aug. 8 special “The Collapse of Cuomo” (1.19 million viewers / 189,000 adults 25-54) outdrew CNN and MSNBC within the 10 p.m. hour combined in total viewers and bested its cable news competition among 25-54 as well. CNN had aired part four of the six-part documentary series “Jerusalem: City of Faith and Fury” (634,000 viewers / 157,000 adults 25-54) while MSNBC aired a rerun of MSNBC’s “American Voices with Alicia Menendez” (410,000 viewers / 71,000 adults 25-54) from earlier that evening.
Although “Cuomo Prime Time” achieved CNN’s top telecast of the week, its nightly average dipped to its lowest viewership of 2021, to date, in total viewers (856,000) and second lowest in the 25-54 demo (192,000). Throughout the week, its host Chris Cuomo did not mention any of the news about his brother.
Here are the cable news averages for August 2-8, 2021 — Fox News Channel extended their streak to 25 weeks being cable’s top network in total viewers based on total day data.
Total Day (August 2-8 @ 6 a.m.-5:59 a.m.)
- Fox News Channel: 1.193 million viewers; 180,000 adults 25-54
- MSNBC: 0.675 million viewers; 92,000 adults 25-54
- CNN: 0.526 million viewers; 110,000 adults 25-54
- HLN: 0.200 million viewers; 63,000 adults 25-54
- CNBC: 0.183 million viewers; 53,000 adults 25-54
- Newsmax: 0.123 million viewers; 16,000 adults 25-54
Prime Time (August 2-7 @ 8-11 p.m.; August 8 @ 7-11 p.m.)
- Fox News Channel: 2.095 million viewers; 305,000 adults 25-54
- MSNBC: 1.041 million viewers; 134,000 adults 25-54
- CNN: 0.689 million viewers; 150,000 adults 25-54
- HLN: 0.227 million viewers; 71,000 adults 25-54
- CNBC: 0.334 million viewers; 122,000 adults 25-54
- Newsmax: 0.137 million viewers; 24,000 adults 25-54
Top 10 most-watched cable news programs (and the top MSNBC, CNBC and CNN programs with their respective associated ranks) in total viewers:
1. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Wed. 8/4/2021 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.069 million viewers
2. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Mon. 8/2/2021 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.927 million viewers
3. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Tue. 8/3/2021 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.923 million viewers
4. The Five (FOXNC, Wed. 8/4/2021 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.889 million viewers
5. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Thu. 8/5/2021 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.801 million viewers
6. The Five (FOXNC, Tue. 8/3/2021 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.750 million viewers
7. Hannity (FOXNC, Wed. 8/4/2021 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.621 million viewers
8. The Five (FOXNC, Thu. 8/5/2021 5:00 PM, 10 min.) 2.603 million viewers
9. The Five (FOXNC, Mon. 8/2/2021 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.545 million viewers
10. The Five (FOXNC, Fri. 8/6/2021 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.497 million viewers
24. Rachel Maddow Show (MSNBC, Mon. 8/2/2021 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 1.770 million viewers
139. Summer Olympics Prime (CNBC, Mon. 8/2/2021 8:00 PM, 243 min.) 0.947 million viewers
141. Cuomo Prime Time (CNN, Thu. 8/5/2021 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.943 million viewers
Top 10 cable news programs (and the top MSNBC, CNBC, CNN and HLN programs with their respective associated ranks) among adults 25-54:
1. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Tue. 8/3/2021 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.527 million adults 25-54
2. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Wed. 8/4/2021 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.488 million adults 25-54
3. The Five (FOXNC, Wed. 8/4/2021 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.447 million adults 25-54
4. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Thu. 8/5/2021 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.429 million adults 25-54
5. Hannity (FOXNC, Wed. 8/4/2021 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.427 million adults 25-54
6. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Mon. 8/2/2021 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.424 million adults 25-54
7. The Five (FOXNC, Thu. 8/5/2021 5:00 PM, 10 min.) 0.414 million adults 25-54
8. Hannity (FOXNC, Tue. 8/3/2021 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.406 million adults 25-54
9. The Five (FOXNC, Tue. 8/3/2021 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.390 million adults 25-54
10. The Ingraham Angle (FOXNC, Tue. 8/3/2021 10:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.353 million adults 25-54
11. Summer Olympics Prime (CNBC, Mon. 8/2/2021 8:00 PM, 243 min.) 0.339 million adults 25-54
26. Rachel Maddow Show (MSNBC, Mon. 8/2/2021 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.254 million adults 25-54
42. Cuomo Prime Time (CNN, Tue. 8/3/2021 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.229 million adults 25-54
83. Forensic Files II “The Rise” (HLN, Mon. 8/2/2021 11:30 PM, 30 min.) 0.190 million adults 25-54
Source: Live+Same Day data, Nielsen Media Research
