Both trials of Kyle Rittenhouse and those charged with the killing of Ahmaud Arbery continued to captivate the nation during the week of Nov. 15.
The announcement of Rittenhouse being acquitted on all counts including manslaughter occurred on the afternoon of Friday, Nov. 19, from Kenosha, Wisconsin. From 1-2 p.m. Eastern (noon-1 p.m. Central), Fox News Channel dominated the news landscape in breaking news coverage with 3.16 million total viewers and 620,000 viewers within the key 25-54 demographic, according to Nielsen Media Research. CNN was a distant runner-up in cable news in each key figure; they posted 1.23 million total viewers and 318,000 adults 25-54. MSNBC was close behind CNN in total audience with 1.19 million viewers but with 173,000 adults 25-54, earned about half of CNN’s demo delivery.
The rankings of the cable news networks remained in the following hour (2-3 p.m. ET) with featured reactions to Rittenhouse’s acquittal including from his attorney who had addressed reporters. Fox News Channel rose to 3.58 million total viewers and 761,000 adults 25-54. CNN also grew but only slightly: 1.23 million total viewers and 332,000 adults 25-54 (CNN’s top 25-54 hour of Nov. 15-21). Meanwhile, MSNBC was approximately steady: from 2-2:35 p.m. ET: 1.15 million total viewers / 182,000 adults 25-54; for Rittenhouse’s attorney address from 2:35-2:58 p.m. ET: 1.015 million total viewers / 172,000 adults 25-54.
Fox News Channel continued to thrive on Monday, Nov. 22 when Rittenhouse was interviewed by Tucker Carlson for his “Tucker Carlson Tonight” that evening. Rittenhouse had relayed to the Fox News host: “I’m not a racist person. I support the BLM movement. I support peacefully demonstrating. I believe there needs to be change. I believe there’s a lot of prosecutorial misconduct, not just in my case but in other cases. It’s just amazing to see how much a prosecutor can take advantage of someone.” “Tucker Carlson Tonight” posted its most-watched edition since Jan. 6 (hours following the Capitol insurrection): 5.05 million total viewers, a 3.0 household rating and approximately 912,000 adults 25-54.
Back to Nov. 19, 239,000 viewers tuned in to CNN-owned HLN for the Rittenhouse verdict at 1-2 p.m. ET; 211,000 for the verdict’s aftermath in the 2-3 p.m. ET hour. Its eleven hours of Rittenhouse trial coverage on Nov. 15 and Nov. 19 averaged 295,000 viewers and 67,000 adults 25-54.
The trial of the murder of Ahmaud Arbery from Georgia aired for 27 hours on HLN across Nov. 15-18 in daytime, averaging 288,000 total viewers and matching the demo from Rittenhouse — 67,000 adults 25-54.
Compared to last week’s total day delivery, HLN increased 14 percent in total audience. The network drew the most weekly total viewers since Apr. 19-25 (244,000).
Cable news averages for November 15-21, 2021. Fox News Channel extended their streaks to 40 weeks as cable’s most-watched network in total viewers..
Total Day (November 15-21 @ 6 a.m.-5:59 a.m.)
- Fox News Channel: 1.784 million viewers; 326,000 adults 25-54
- MSNBC: 0.746 million viewers; 87,000 adults 25-54
- CNN: 0.549 million viewers; 118,000 adults 25-54
- HLN: 0.241 million viewers; 71,000 adults 25-54
- Newsmax: 0.148 million viewers; 21,000 adults 25-54
- CNBC: 0.144 million viewers; 35,000 adults 25-54
- Fox Business Network: 0.107 million viewers; 13,000 adults 25-54
- The Weather Channel: 0.099 million viewers; 21,000 adults 25-54
Prime Time (November 15-20 @ 8-11 p.m.; November 21 @ 7-11 p.m.)
- Fox News Channel: 2.945 million viewers; 518,000 adults 25-54
- MSNBC: 1.217 million viewers; 141,000 adults 25-54
- CNN: 0.719 million viewers; 157,000 adults 25-54
- HLN: 0.225 million viewers; 71,000 adults 25-54
- Newsmax: 0.165 million viewers; 25,000 adults 25-54
- CNBC: 0.156 million viewers; 43,000 adults 25-54
- The Weather Channel: 0.115 million viewers; 23,000 adults 25-54
- Fox Business Network: 0.051 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. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Fri. 11/19/2021 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 4.323 million viewers
2. The Five (FOXNC, Fri. 11/19/2021 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 4.203 million viewers
3. The Five (FOXNC, Mon. 11/15/2021 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.960 million viewers
4. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Tue. 11/16/2021 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.927 million viewers
5. The Five (FOXNC, Tue. 11/16/2021 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.907 million viewers
6. Hannity (FOXNC, Fri. 11/19/2021 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.788 million viewers
7. The Five (FOXNC, Wed. 11/17/2021 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.727 million viewers
8. The Five (FOXNC, Thu. 11/18/2021 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.672 million viewers
9. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Mon. 11/15/2021 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.640 million viewers
10. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Wed. 11/17/2021 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.630 million viewers
53. Rachel Maddow Show (MSNBC, Wed. 11/17/2021 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.163 million viewers
128. CNN Newsroom “Rittenhouse Trial Verdict” (CNN, Fri. 11/19/2021 2:00 PM, 60 min.) 1.273 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, Fri. 11/19/2021 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.913 million adults 25-54
2. The Five (FOXNC, Fri. 11/19/2021 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.791 million adults 25-54
3. The Five (FOXNC, Mon. 11/15/2021 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.774 million adults 25-54
4. Special Report with Bret Baier (FOXNC, Mon. 11/15/2021 6:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.763 million adults 25-54
5. America Reports (FOXNC, Fri. 11/19/2021 2:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.761 million adults 25-54
6. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Tue. 11/16/2021 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.752 million adults 25-54
7. Hannity (FOXNC, Fri. 11/19/2021 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.724 million adults 25-54
8. The Story (FOXNC, Fri. 11/19/2021 3:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.700 million adults 25-54
9. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Wed. 11/17/2021 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.681 million adults 25-54
10. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Mon. 11/15/2021 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.668 million adults 25-54
69. CNN Newsroom “Rittenhouse Trial Verdict” (CNN, Fri. 11/19/2021 2:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.332 million adults 25-54
86. Rachel Maddow Show (MSNBC, Wed. 11/17/2021 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.281 million adults 25-54
178. Forensic Files “Order Up” (HLN, late Tue. 11/16/2021 2:30 AM, 30 min.) 0.168 million adults 25-54
Source: Live+Same Day data, Nielsen Media Research
