CNN began their 2022 slate of original series back on Jan. 16 with the two-episode premiere of the four-part “Reframed: Marilyn Monroe.”
Narrated by award-winning actress Jessica Chastain, the documentary series retraced Monroe’s story from budding starlet to Hollywood power-broker. Amidst the treacherous casting couch culture of Hollywood, she bravely spoke out about abuse at a time when silence was the norm.
The first episode of “Reframed: Marilyn Monroe” at 9 p.m. Eastern delivered 650,000 viewers that included 84,000 of the key 25-54 demographic, according to Nielsen Media Research. The second episode at 10 p.m. rose to 720,000 viewers and 95,000 adults 25-54. Based on total viewers, Fox News Channel ruled the cable news roost during the two-hour 9-11 p.m. period on Jan. 16 with the pair of “The Next Revolution” (1.147 million viewers/120,000 adults 25-54) and a rerun of “Sunday Night in America” (747,000 viewers/78,000 adults 25-54).
Compared to the first 2-hour installment of the documentary series “Diana” from Oct. 10, the first two hours of “Reframed: Marilyn Monroe” were down 13 percent in total viewers and down 17 percent among adults 25-54. The declines might initially appear alarming, but it’s also important to note its other notable viewing competition. NFL football on NBC aired directly opposite both CNN documentaries but for “Diana”, it faced Bills-Chiefs which drew an audience of 17.5 million; as for “Monroe”, a playoff matchup of Steelers-Chiefs averaged a more potent 28.9 million viewers — a 65-percent, +11.4 million jump from the aforementioned Sunday night telecast.
Also of note, these figures are only based on live plus same day data. Programming of this nature also exhibits value in delayed viewings and multiple repeat airings. A rerun of “Monroe” from midnight to 2 a.m. Eastern averaged 312,000 viewers, roughly the same ratio of percentage declines from the first rerun at midnight of “Diana” from Oct. 10 (349,000 viewers)
Live plus seven day data had not yet been released for “Monroe” at publish time; for “Diana”, its initial Oct. 10 telecast grew 226,000 viewers to a 7-day total of 1.014 million viewers — an increase of 29 percent.
CNN’s top regularly-scheduled Sunday show of 2021, the travel series “Stanley Tucci: Searching for Italy” returns on March 13. Its series premiere from Feb. 14, 2021 drew 1.57 million viewers according to live plus same day.
Cable news averages for January 10-16, 2022:
Total Day (January 10-16 @ 6 a.m.-5:59 a.m.)
- Fox News Channel: 1.452 million viewers; 232,000 adults 25-54
- MSNBC: 0.690 million viewers; 75$,000 adults 25-54
- CNN: 0.482 million viewers; 99,000 adults 25-54
- HLN: 0.195 million viewers; 57,000 adults 25-54
- The Weather Channel: 0.194 million viewers; 34,000 adults 25-54
- CNBC: 0.153 million viewers; 35,000 adults 25-54
- Newsmax: 0.145 million viewers; 24,000 adults 25-54
- Fox Business Network: 0.103 million viewers; 11,000 adults 25-54
Prime Time (January 10-15 @ 8-11 p.m.; January 16 @ 7-11 p.m.)
- Fox News Channel: 2.291 million viewers; 346,000 adults 25-54
- MSNBC: 1.248 million viewers; 142,000 adults 25-54
- CNN: 0.597 million viewers; 132,000 adults 25-54
- Newsmax: 0.294 million viewers; 58,000 adults 25-54
- CNBC: 0.219 million viewers; 65,000 adults 25-54
- HLN: 0.211 million viewers; 65,000 adults 25-54
- The Weather Channel: 0.202 million viewers; 40,000 adults 25-54
- Fox Business Network: 0.058 million viewers; 11,000 adults 25-54
Top 10 most-watched cable news programs (and the top MSNBC, CNN and Weather Channel programs with their respective associated ranks) in total viewers:
1. The Five (FOXNC, Mon. 1/10/2022 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.621 million viewers
2. The Five (FOXNC, Thu. 1/13/2022 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.598 million viewers
3. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Thu. 1/13/2022 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.570 million viewers
4. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Wed. 1/12/2022 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.517 million viewers
5. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Tue. 1/11/2022 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.516 million viewers
6. The Five (FOXNC, Fri. 1/14/2022 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.444 million viewers
7. The Five (FOXNC, Wed. 1/12/2022 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.432 million viewers
8. The Five (FOXNC, Tue. 1/11/2022 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.340 million viewers
9. Hannity (FOXNC, Thu. 1/13/2022 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.125 million viewers
10. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Fri. 1/14/2022 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.117 million viewers
21. Rachel Maddow Show (MSNBC, Thu. 1/13/2022 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.355 million viewers
160. Anderson Cooper 360 (CNN, Wed. 1/12/2022 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.882 million viewers
200. Weekend Recharge (TWC, Sun. 1/16/2022 11:00 AM, 60 min.) 0.713 million viewers
Top 10 cable news programs (and the top MSNBC, CNN and Weather Channel programs with their respective associated ranks) among adults 25-54:
1. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Tue. 1/11/2022 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.625 million adults 25-54
2. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Thu. 1/13/2022 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.559 million adults 25-54
3. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Wed. 1/12/2022 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.553 million adults 25-54
4. The Five (FOXNC, Thu. 1/13/2022 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.520 million adults 25-54
5. The Five (FOXNC, Mon. 1/10/2022 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.502 million adults 25-54
6. Hannity (FOXNC, Tue. 1/11/2022 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.477 million adults 25-54
7. The Ingraham Angle (FOXNC, Tue. 1/11/2022 10:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.475 million adults 25-54
8. The Five (FOXNC, Tue. 1/11/2022 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.464 million adults 25-54
9. The Five (FOXNC, Fri. 1/14/2022 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.463 million adults 25-54
10. Hannity (FOXNC, Thu. 1/13/2022 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.457 million adults 25-54
33. Rachel Maddow Show (MSNBC, Thu. 1/13/2022 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.311 million adults 25-54
106. Anderson Cooper 360 (CNN, Tue. 1/11/2022 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.196 million adults 25-54
165. Weekend Recharge (TWC, Sun. 1/16/2022 11:00 AM, 60 min.) 0.145 million adults 25-54
Source: Live+Same Day data, Nielsen Media Research…
