Viewers Tune In For Rittenhouse Trial Coverage Across All Networks

Two high-profile murder trials were in full swing during the week of Nov. 8, as both received significant attention on the national news outlets.

Caucasian teenager Kyle Rittenhouse is currently facing several homicide-related and other charges stemming from his shooting of three victims, killing two, while responding against rioters in Kenosha, Wis., in late August of 2020. The riots occurred in the aftermath of the police shooting of African-American Jacob Blake.

All three major cable news outlets covered the trial extensively on Nov. 10, when the defendant Rittenhouse took the stand. Remaining atop of the cable news universe was Fox News Channel. For the approximate five hours of testimony coverage (10 a.m.-1 p.m. and 2-4 p.m.; all times Eastern), they averaged 1.95 million total viewers and 318,000 in the key 25-54 demographic, according to Nielsen Media Research. During that same time frame, CNN drew an average of 749,000 total viewers and 181,000 adults 25-54. The near-four hours on MSNBC delivered +55,000 more total viewers than CNN (MSNBC: 804,000) but could only muster about 55 percent of CNN’s 25-54, averaging 100,000 in the demo.

CNN-owned HLN provided full coverage of the Rittenhouse trial on Nov. 10 and Nov. 11. Trial viewership on the channel peaked during the final hour of the aforementioned defendant’s testimony (Nov. 10 at 3-4 p.m.) with 351,000 total viewers and 97,000 adults 25-54 (on a related note, CNN [950,000 viewers / 212,000 adults 25-54] and MSNBC [918,000 viewers / 204,000 adults 25-54 from 2:11-4:00 p.m.] had both peaked at this same time; despite Fox News not peaking then, they still comfortably led with 1.925 million viewers and 320,000 adults 25-54 from 3-4 p.m. ET)

Overall, HLN’s eight hours of trial coverage across two weekdays posted 272,000 viewers and 69,000 adults 25-54 — well above what HLN normally delivers in those windows; exactly one week earlier in the same daytime slots (Nov. 3 @ 11 a.m.-6 p.m. and Nov. 4 @ 4:30-6 p.m.), repeats of “Forensic Files” averaged 96,000 viewers and 23,009 adults 25-54.

The other big trial getting national attention was for the three Caucasian men — Gregory McMichael, Travis McMichael and William “Roddie” Bryan Jr. — accused of chasing down and killing 25-year-old Black man Ahmaud Arbery near Brunswick, Ga. back in Feb. of 2020. HLN broadcast nearly 36 hours of this trial from Nov. 8-12, averaging 192,000 total viewers and 48,000 adults 25-54.

With both trials, HLN (its figures listed in the next paragraph) posted its best weekly total-day average in four months — most-watched in total viewers since July 5-11 (216,000) and the top demo performance since July 12-18 (69,000 adults 25-54)

Cable news averages for November 8-14, 2021. Fox News Channel extended their streaks to 39 weeks as cable’s most-watched network in total viewers..

Total Day (November 8-14 @ 6 a.m.-5:59 a.m.)

• Fox News Channel: 1.500 million viewers; 245,000 adults 25-54
• MSNBC: 0.682 million viewers; 77,000 adults 25-54
• CNN: 0.483 million viewers; 107,000 adults 25-54
• HLN: 0.212 million viewers; 68,000 adults 25-54
• CNBC: 0.142 million viewers; 30,000 adults 25-54
• Newsmax: 0.125 million viewers; 18,000 adults 25-54
• Fox Business Network: 0.101 million viewers; 12,000 adults 25-54
• The Weather Channel: 0.098 million viewers; 18,000 adults 25-54

Prime Time (November 8-13 @ 8-11 p.m.; November 14 @ 7-11 p.m.)

• Fox News Channel: 2.419 million viewers; 380,000 adults 25-54
• MSNBC: 1.160 million viewers; 138,000 adults 25-54
• CNN: 0.632 million viewers; 142,000 adults 25-54
• HLN: 0.202 million viewers; 62,000 adults 25-54
• CNBC: 0.175 million viewers; 47,000 adults 25-54
• Newsmax: 0.145 million viewers; 30,000 adults 25-54
• The Weather Channel: 0.102 million viewers; 18,000 adults 25-54
• Fox Business Network: 0.058 million viewers; 12,000 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. 11/10/2021 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.532 million viewers

2. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Tue. 11/9/2021 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.488 million viewers

3. The Five (FOXNC, Mon. 11/8/2021 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.421 million viewers

4. The Five (FOXNC, Thu. 11/11/2021 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.343 million viewers

5. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Mon. 11/8/2021 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.252 million viewers

6. The Five (FOXNC, Wed. 11/10/2021 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.243 million viewers

7. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Thu. 11/11/2021 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.202 million viewers

8. The Five (FOXNC, Fri. 11/12/2021 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.200 million viewers

9. The Five (FOXNC, Tue. 11/9/2021 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.174 million viewers

10. Hannity (FOXNC, Wed. 11/10/2021 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.139 million viewers

27. Rachel Maddow Show (MSNBC, Wed. 11/10/2021 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.146 million viewers

153. CNN Newsroom “Kyle Rittenhouse Trial” (CNN, Wed. 11/10/2021 3:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.950 million viewers

Top 10 cable news programs (and the top CNN, MSNBC and HLN programs with their respective associated ranks) among adults 25-54:

1. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Wed. 11/10/2021 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.639 million adults 25-54

2. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Tue. 11/9/2021 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.591 million adults 25-54

3. The Five (FOXNC, Thu. 11/11/2021 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.568 million adults 25-54

4. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Mon. 11/8/2021 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.555 million adults 25-54

5. Hannity (FOXNC, Wed. 11/10/2021 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.511 million adults 25-54

6. The Five (FOXNC, Wed. 11/10/2021 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.500 million adults 25-54

7. Hannity (FOXNC, Tue. 11/9/2021 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.489 million adults 25-54

8. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Thu. 11/11/2021 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.474 million adults 25-54

9. The Five (FOXNC, Mon. 11/8/2021 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.462 million adults 25-54

10. The Five (FOXNC, Tue. 11/9/2021 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.461 million adults 25-54

52. Rachel Maddow Show (MSNBC, Tue. 11/9/2021 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.292 million adults 25-54

83. Don Lemon Tonight (CNN, Tue. 11/9/2021 10:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.242 million adults 25-54

109. Forensic Files “Past Lives” (HLN, late Fri. 11/12/2021 1:00 AM, 30 min.) 0.199 million adults 25-54

Source: Live+Same Day data, Nielsen Media Research

BNM Staff