President Joe Biden spent 90 minutes at a town hall hosted by CNN’s Anderson Cooper on the night of October 21st. He discussed a wide variety of topics from his proposed infrastructure deal and his views on the senate filibuster to pandemic-plagued supply chain issues and the COVID vaccine for children.
The town hall took place on a busy night of television — all four major professional sports were simultaneously in action. The event drew 1.278 million total viewers along with 288,000 in the key adults 25-54 demographic, according to Nielsen Media Research.
Its direct competition on Fox News Channel that evening “Tucker Carlson Tonight” (3.004 million viewers / 446,000 adults 25-54) and “Hannity” (2.635 million viewers / 354,000 adults 25-54) easily bested CNN. MSNBC’s “Rachel Maddow Show” also topped it in total viewers with 1.914 million
Nonetheless, there were also significant positives in the ratings performance of Biden’s CNN town hall. It had the advantage in 25-54 over Maddow’s 198,000 in the key demo. In addition, it beat Maddow’s lead-in on MSNBC, “All In with Chris Hayes” (1.172 million viewers / 121,000 adults 25-54).
More significant for CNN itself, the Biden Town Hall is the network’s most-watched telecast in total viewers since the Aug. 26 edition of “The Lead with Jake Tapper” when it covered the breaking news of the Afghanistan airport bombing. Also, it was CNN’s top hour based on adults 25-54 since their live coverage of the California gubernatorial recall election results back on Sep. 14.
On the day prior (Oct. 20), Biden pitched his $3-trillion+ domestic spending plan to a rallying crowd in Scranton, Pennsylvania. It occurred within the 5-6 p.m. ET hour, the time slot usually dominated in the cable news world by Fox News Channel’s “The Five”. The results were the same for Fox News Channel when covering this President’s speech, leading with 3.01 million total viewers and 442,000 adults 25-54 (from 5:32-5:45 p.m. ET). MSNBC was at a distant runner-up, posting 1.195 million total viewers and 159,000 in the key 25-54 demo (from 5:31-6:09 p.m. ET). Nielsen indicated the 5-6 p.m hour of CNN’s “The Lead with Jake Tapper” drew 749,000 total viewers and 126,000 adults 25-54.
Cable news averages for October 18-24, 2021.
Total Day (October 18-24 @ 6 a.m.-5:59 a.m.)
- Fox News Channel: 1.422 million viewers; 228,000 adults 25-54
- MSNBC: 0.696 million viewers; 78,000 adults 25-54
- CNN: 0.516 million viewers; 105,000 adults 25-54
- HLN: 0.199 million viewers; 55,000 adults 25-54
- CNBC: 0.134 million viewers; 31,000 adults 25-54
- Newsmax: 0.124 million viewers; 16,000 adults 25-54
- The Weather Channel: 0.104 million viewers; 21,000 adults 25-54
- Fox Business Network: 0.097 million viewers; 12,000 adults 25-54
Prime Time (October 18-23 @ 8-11 p.m.; October 24 @ 7-11 p.m.)
- Fox News Channel: 2.348 million viewers; 348,000 adults 25-54
- MSNBC: 1.209 million viewers; 133,000 adults 25-54
- CNN: 0.735 million viewers; 148,000 adults 25-54
- HLN: 0.202 million viewers; 54,000 adults 25-54
- CNBC: 0.185 million viewers; 57,000 adults 25-54
- Newsmax: 0.144 million viewers; 23,000 adults 25-54
- The Weather Channel: 0.126 million viewers; 32,000 adults 25-54
- Fox Business Network: 0.047 million viewers; 6,000 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, Wed. 10/20/2021 5:00 PM, 32 min.) 3.280 million viewers
2. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Wed. 10/20/2021 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.243 million viewers
3. The Five (FOXNC, Fri. 10/22/2021 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.158 million viewers
4. The Five (FOXNC, Mon. 10/18/2021 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.154 million viewers
5. Hannity (FOXNC, Wed. 10/20/2021 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.136 million viewers
6. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Tue. 10/19/2021 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.078 million viewers
7. Special Report/Biden Speaks-Scranton (FOXNC, Wed. 10/20/2021 5:32 PM, 13 min.) 3.007 million viewers
8. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Thu. 10/21/2021 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.004 million viewers
9. Hannity (FOXNC, Tue. 10/19/2021 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.950 million viewers
10. The Five (FOXNC, Thu. 10/21/2021 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.933 million viewers
26. Rachel Maddow Show (MSNBC, Wed. 10/20/2021 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.241 million viewers
111. CNN President Town Hall “Joe Biden” (CNN, Thu. 10/21/2021 8:00 PM, 90 min.) 1.278 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. 10/20/2021 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.535 million adults 25-54
2. The Five (FOXNC, Wed. 10/20/2021 5:00 PM, 32 min.) 0.498 million adults 25-54
3. Hannity (FOXNC, Wed. 10/20/2021 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.475 million adults 25-54
4. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Tue. 10/19/2021 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.474 million adults 25-54
5. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Thu. 10/21/2021 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.446 million adults 25-54
6. The Five (FOXNC, Wed. 10/20/2021 5:45 PM, 15 min.) 0.444 million adults 25-54
7. Special Report/Biden Speaks-Scranton (FOXNC, Wed. 10/20/2021 5:32 PM, 13 min.) 0.442 million adults 25-54
8. The Five (FOXNC, Thu. 10/21/2021 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.442 million adults 25-54
9. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Fri. 10/22/2021 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.434 million adults 25-54
10. The Five (FOXNC, Mon. 10/18/2021 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.432 million adults 25-54
45. CNN President Town Hall “Joe Biden” (CNN, Thu. 10/21/2021 8:00 PM, 90 min.) 0.288 million adults 25-54
66. Rachel Maddow Show (MSNBC, Wed. 10/20/2021 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.252 million adults 25-54
151. Forensic Files “Deadly Rebellion” (HLN, late Tue. 10/19/2021 12:30 AM, 30 min.) 0.159 million adults 25-54
Source: Live+Same Day data, Nielsen Media Research
