The conclusion of the trial of the three men charged in the murder of Ahmaud Arbery highlighted the week in news from Nov. 22-28.
It was on the afternoon of Thanksgiving Eve, Nov. 24, when the verdict came in. All three defendants were convicted. Travis McMichael, who fatally shot Arbery, was ruled guilty on all counts; William “Roddie” Bryan Jr. and Travis’ father Gregory were also each charged but sans malice murder.
Fox News Channel led the hour on cable at the time of the verdict announcement. From 1-2 p.m. Eastern (noon-1 p.m. Central), the outlet drew 1.96 million total viewers and 397,000 viewers within the key 25-54 demographic, according to Nielsen Media Research. CNN was runner-up with 1.08 million total viewers and 274,000 adults 25-54. MSNBC trailed with 931,009 viewers and 133,000 in the demo.
Within the hour following the verdict, CNN surpassed Fox News in the key 25-54 demo; CNN rose to 401,000 (the network’s top hour of the week) while FNC dipped slightly to 363,000. Fox News still had the total viewers lead at 2-3 p.m. ET, posting 1.59 million to CNN’s week-topping 1.47 million. MSNBC’s figures significantly perked up to 1.32 million total viewers and 154,000 adults 25-54.
HLN, which provided wall-to-wall trial coverage over the past several weeks, peaked by the time the verdict was read; at 1-2 p.m. ET, they delivered 408,000 total viewers and 91,000 adults 25-54, and for the verdict’s aftermath in the 2-3 p.m. ET hour, 368,000 total viewers and 98,000 adults 25-54. Sixteen hours across Nov. 22-24 in daytime, which had also included closing statements by each side’s attorneys, averaged 295,000 total viewers and 80,000 adults 25-54.
Cable news averages for November 22-28, 2021. Fox News Channel extended their streaks to 41 weeks as cable’s most-watched network in total viewers.
Total Day (November 22-28 @ 6 a.m.-5:59 a.m.)
- Fox News Channel: 1.310 million viewers; 218,000 adults 25-54
- MSNBC: 0.583 million viewers; 71,000 adults 25-54
- CNN: 0.475 million viewers; 100,000 adults 25-54
- HLN: 0.220 million viewers; 64,000 adults 25-54
- CNBC: 0.137 million viewers; 33,000 adults 25-54
- Newsmax: 0.103 million viewers; 17,000 adults 25-54
- The Weather Channel: 0.100 million viewers; 21,000 adults 25-54
- Fox Business Network: 0.088 million viewers; 11,000 adults 25-54
Prime Time (November 22-27 @ 8-11 p.m.; November 28 @ 7-11 p.m.)
- Fox News Channel: 2.139 million viewers; 328,000 adults 25-54
- MSNBC: 0.850 million viewers; 119,000 adults 25-54
- CNN: 0.534 million viewers; 120,000 adults 25-54
- HLN: 0.235 million viewers; 62,000 adults 25-54
- CNBC: 0.167 million viewers; 52,000 adults 25-54
- Newsmax: 0.120 million viewers; 24,000 adults 25-54
- The Weather Channel: 0.114 million viewers; 26,000 adults 25-54
- Fox Business Network: 0.058 million viewers; 8,000 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, Mon. 11/22/2021 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 5.050 million viewers
2. The Five (FOXNC, Mon. 11/22/2021 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.724 million viewers
3. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Tue. 11/23/2021 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.449 million viewers
4. The Five (FOXNC, Tue. 11/23/2021 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.390 million viewers
5. Hannity (FOXNC, Tue. 11/23/2021 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.297 million viewers
6. Hannity (FOXNC, Mon. 11/22/2021 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.283 million viewers
7. The Five (FOXNC, Wed. 11/24/2021 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.250 million viewers
8. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Wed. 11/24/2021 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.945 million viewers
9. Special Report with Bret Baier (FOXNC, Mon. 11/22/2021 6:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.745 million viewers
10. Special Report with Bret Baier (FOXNC, Tue. 11/23/2021 6:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.721 million viewers
21. Rachel Maddow Show (MSNBC, Tue. 11/23/2021 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.172 million viewers
71. CNN Newsroom (CNN, Wed. 11/24/2021 2:00 PM, 60 min.) 1.471 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, Mon. 11/22/2021 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.913 million adults 25-54
2. The Five (FOXNC, Mon. 11/22/2021 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.603 million adults 25-54
3. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Tue. 11/23/2021 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.574 million adults 25-54
4. Hannity (FOXNC, Tue. 11/23/2021 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.553 million adults 25-54
5. Hannity (FOXNC, Mon. 11/22/2021 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.551 million adults 25-54
6. The Five (FOXNC, Tue. 11/23/2021 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.535 million adults 25-54
7. The Five (FOXNC, Wed. 11/24/2021 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.502 million adults 25-54
8. Fox News Primetime (FOXNC, Mon. 11/22/2021 7:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.494 million adults 25-54
9. The Ingraham Angle (FOXNC, Tue. 11/23/2021 10:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.475 million adults 25-54
10. Special Report with Bret Baier (FOXNC, Mon. 11/22/2021 6:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.469 million adults 25-54
14. CNN Newsroom (CNN, Wed. 11/24/2021 2:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.401 million adults 25-54
32. Rachel Maddow Show (MSNBC, Tue. 11/23/2021 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.326 million adults 25-54
150. Forensic Files “Stick Em Up” (HLN, late Tue. 11/23/2021 1:00 AM, 30 min.) 0.153 million adults 25-54
Source: Live+Same Day data, Nielsen Media Research
