Of the several breaking news events that aired on MSNBC for the week ending September 26, its most-watched was President Joe Biden’s first address before the United Nations General Assembly on Sep. 21 from New York City. He spoke about the most pertinent global issues of current: the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change and human rights abuses. The 36-minute airing (from 10-10:36 a.m.) drew 799,000 total viewers and 76,000 in the key 25-54 demographic, according to Nielsen Media Research. MSNBC’s cable news competitors each offered their own ratings advantages during that time period. For the 10-11 a.m. hour, CNN averaged nearly twice more adults 25-54 than MSNBC (140,000 vs. 76,000), although CNN also delivered 668,000 in total viewers. Fox News’ “America’s Newsroom” easily topped both MSNBC and CNN combined in both key figures, having posted 1.67 million viewers along with 252,000 adults 25-54.
As for the week (Sep. 20-24), the aforementioned “America’s Newsroom” averaged 1.78 million total viewers, which beat NBC’s “TODAY with Hoda and Jenna” (1.515 million total viewers) for the fourth consecutive week. In the 1 p.m. hour, Fox News’ “America Reports” garnered 1.75 million viewers, edging out another broadcast network news program: the third hour of ABC’s “Good Morning America” (1,596,000 viewers), dubbed “What You Need to Know.”
The #FreeBritney movement successfully achieved its goal on Sep. 29 when a Los Angeles judge had ruled Britney Spears’ father Jamie Spears should be suspended as her conservator, ending his 13-year role in that position of the famous pop star’s estate. Three days prior, on Sep. 26, CNN premiered the one-hour special report entitled “Toxic: Britney Spears’ Battle For Freedom.” The exposé featured interviews with journalist Ronan Farrow as well as actresses Mischa Barton and Rosie O’Donnell. The special’s initial telecast delivered 546,000 total viewers and 91,000 in the 25-54 demo. Its direct competition from Fox News, “Life, Liberty and Levin” (1.743 million viewers/195,000 adults 25-54) drew much larger figures within the 8-9 p.m. hour.
Here are the cable news averages for September 20-26, 2021.
Total Day (September 20-26 @ 6 a.m.-5:59 a.m.)
- Fox News Channel: 1.495 million viewers; 247,000 adults 25-54
- MSNBC: 0.731 million viewers; 86,000 adults 25-54
- CNN: 0.549 million viewers; 124,000 adults 25-54
- HLN: 0.193 million viewers; 63,000 adults 25-54
- CNBC: 0.150 million viewers; 35,000 adults 25-54
- Newsmax: 0.136 million viewers; 16,000 adults 25-54
- The Weather Channel: 0.109 million viewers; 22,000 adults 25-54
- Fox Business Network: 0.101 million viewers; 12,000 adults 25-54
Prime Time (September 20-25 @ 8-11 p.m.; September 26 @ 7-11 p.m.)
- Fox News Channel: 2.406 million viewers; 391,000 adults 25-54
- MSNBC: 1.346 million viewers; 168,000 adults 25-54
- CNN: 0.776 million viewers; 185,000 adults 25-54
- Newsmax: 0.219 million viewers; 31,000 adults 25-54
- CNBC: 0.218 million viewers; 59,000 adults 25-54
- HLN: 0.186 million viewers; 66,000 adults 25-54
- The Weather Channel: 0.136 million viewers; 28,000 adults 25-54
- Fox Business Network: 0.069 million viewers; 9,000 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. The Five (FOXNC, Tue. 9/21/2021 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.644 million viewers
2. The Five (FOXNC, Mon. 9/20/2021 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.550 million viewers
3. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Tue. 9/21/2021 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.465 million viewers
4. The Five (FOXNC, Wed. 9/22/2021 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.426 million viewers
5. The Five (FOXNC, Thu. 9/23/2021 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.283 million viewers
6. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Thu. 9/23/2021 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.244 million viewers
7. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Wed. 9/22/2021 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.240 million viewers
8. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Mon. 9/20/2021 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.143 million viewers
9. Hannity (FOXNC, Thu. 9/23/2021 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.052 million viewers
10. The Five (FOXNC, Fri. 9/24/2021 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.021 million viewers
23. Rachel Maddow Show (MSNBC, Thu. 9/23/2021 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.409 million viewers
140. Anderson Cooper 360 (CNN, Thu. 9/23/2021 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 1.055 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, Tue. 9/21/2021 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.632 million adults 25-54
2. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Wed. 9/22/2021 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.589 million adults 25-54
3. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Thu. 9/23/2021 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.539 million adults 25-54
4. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Mon. 9/20/2021 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.535 million adults 25-54
5. The Five (FOXNC, Tue. 9/21/2021 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.534 million adults 25-54
6. Hannity (FOXNC, Wed. 9/22/2021 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.526 million adults 25-54
7. The Five (FOXNC, Mon. 9/20/2021 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.520 million adults 25-54
8. Hannity (FOXNC, Thu. 9/23/2021 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.513 million adults 25-54
9. Hannity (FOXNC, Tue. 9/21/2021 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.507 million adults 25-54
10. The Five (FOXNC, Wed. 9/22/2021 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.475 million adults 25-54
51. Rachel Maddow Show (MSNBC, Thu. 9/23/2021 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.304 million adults 25-54
69. Anderson Cooper 360 (CNN, Tue. 9/21/2021 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.279 million adults 25-54
168. Forensic Files “Last Dance” (HLN, Tue. 9/21/2021 11:30 PM, 30 min.) 0.159 million adults 25-54
Source: Live+Same Day data, Nielsen Media Research
