Confirmed by a 53-47 vote by the U.S. Senate, with all Democratic senators plus three Republicans approving, Ketanji Brown Jackson was officially confirmed as a judge on to the U.S. Supreme Court during the week of Apr. 4.
At a ceremony on the South Lawn of the White House on Apr. 8, Jackson — the first Black female Supreme Court Justice — said it was “a moment in which all Americans can take great pride.” She added that “we have come a long way toward perfecting our union” and that in her “family, it took just one generation to go from segregation to the Supreme Court of the United States.”
Of the breaking news events during the week, Jackson’s ceremony was MSNBC’s most-watched in total viewers, drawing 863,000 sets of eyeballs from 12:33 p.m. thru 1:16 p.m. Eastern, according to Nielsen Media Research. Still, that trailed Fox News Channel’s live telecast, which delivered 1.2 million total viewers and 200,000 within the key 25-64 demographic. Nielsen did not carve out a label for the unique time slot for CNN in its listings; the news network’s “Inside Politics” from noon-1 p.m. Eastern drew 765,000 total viewers, and the 1-2 p.m. ET edition of “CNN Newsroom” drew 829,000 viewers — both of these hours averaged 196,000 adults 25-54 (perhaps indicating that for just the Jackson portions of those time frames, CNN may have eclipsed FNC within the demo). The aforementioned MSNBC attracted 88,000 adults 25-54.
As for MSNBC’s prior special news coverage from the week:
- White House briefing on Ukraine: (Apr. 4 @ 3:07-3:38 p.m. ET) 0.785 million viewers; 95,000 adults 25-54
- Pentagon briefing on Ukraine: (Apr. 4 @ 3:47-4:07 p.m. ET) 0.857 million viewers; 96,000 adults 25-54
- Ukraine President Zelensky addresses United Nations: (Apr. 5 @ 10:41-11:10 a.m. ET) 0.753 million viewers; 78,000 adults 25-54
- President Obama returns to White House; speaks on health care: (Apr. 5 @ 1:51-2:23 p.m. ET) 0.846 million viewers; 97,000 adults 25-54
Also, on Apr. 8, the Academy of Motion Pictures, Arts and Sciences officially banned Oscar winner Will Smith from attending the Academy Awards ceremony until 2033, as a result of his on-stage face slap of comedian Chris Rock on Mar. 27.
Similar to the increases seen by entertainment news programs on cable, some flagship shows in syndication like “Entertainment Tonight,” “Inside Edition,” “Access Hollywood,” “Extra” and “TMZ” saw significant growth from recent weeks during the week of Mar. 28-Apr. 1:
“Entertainment Tonight” (CBS Media Ventures)
- Mar. 28-Apr. 1, 2022: 2.3 household rating, 3.56 million viewers; 0.9 F25-54 rating
- Mar. 21-25, 2022*: 1.8 household rating, 2.65 million viewers; 0.6 F25-54 rating
- Mar. 14-18, 2022*: 2.0 household rating, 2.98 million viewers; 0.7 F25-54 rating
- Mar. 7-11, 2022: 2.2 household rating, 3.33 million viewers; 0.8 F25-54 rating
- Feb. 28-Mar. 1, 2022: 2.1 household rating, 3.19 million viewers; 0.8 F25-54 rating
“Inside Edition” (CBS Media Ventures)
- Mar. 28-Apr. 1, 2022: 2.4 household rating, 3.71 million viewers; 0.7 F25-54 rating
- Mar. 21-25, 2022*: 2.0 household rating, 3.16 million viewers; 0.6 F25-54 rating
- Mar. 14-18, 2022*: 2.1 household rating, 3.21 million viewers; 0.6 F25-54 rating
- Mar. 7-11, 2022: 2.3 household rating, 3.55 million viewers; 0.7 F25-54 rating
- Feb. 28-Mar. 1, 2022: 2.3 household rating, 3.56 million viewers; 0.6 F25-54 rating
“Access Hollywood” (NBC Universal)
- Mar. 28-Apr. 1, 2022: 0.8 household rating, 1.28 million viewers; 0.4 F25-54 rating
- Mar. 21-25, 2022*: 0.8 household rating, 1.13 million viewers; 0.3 F25-54 rating
- Mar. 14-18, 2022*: 0.8 household rating, 1.13 million viewers; 0.3 F25-54 rating
- Mar. 7-11, 2022: 0.8 household rating, 1.15 million viewers; 0.3 F25-54 rating
- Feb. 28-Mar. 1, 2022: 0.8 household rating, 1.12 million viewers; 0.3 F25-54 rating
“TMZ” (CBS Media Ventures)
- Mar. 28-Apr. 1, 2022: 0.8 household rating, 1.26 million viewers; 0.5 F25-54 rating
- Mar. 21-25, 2022*: 0.7 household rating, 1.05 million viewers; 0.4 F25-54 rating
- Mar. 14-18, 2022*: 0.7 household rating, 1.06 million viewers; 0.4 F25-54 rating
- Mar. 7-11, 2022: 0.7 household rating, 1.07 million viewers; 0.4 F25-54 rating
- Feb. 28-Mar. 1, 2022: 0.7 household rating, 1.03 million viewers; 0.4 F25-54 rating
“Extra” (Warner Bros. TV)
- Mar. 28-Apr. 1, 2022: 0.7 household rating, 1.00 million viewers; 0.4 F25-54 rating
- Mar. 21-25, 2022*: 0.6 household rating, 0.87 million viewers; 0.3 F25-54 rating
- Mar. 14-18, 2022*: 0.6 household rating, 0.89 million viewers; 0.3 F25-54 rating
- Mar. 7-11, 2022: 0.6 household rating, 0.91 million viewers; 0.3 F25-54 rating
- Feb. 28-Mar. 1, 2022: 0.6 household rating, 0.92 million viewers; 0.3 F25-54 rating
A 1.0 household rating equates to approximately 1.224 million households; a 1.0 rating in females aged 25 to 54 equates to approximately 651,300 viewers within that specific demographic
* Week’s average may have been affected by some preemptions due to NCAA tournament coverage on CBS stations
Cable news averages for April 4-10, 2022:
Total Day (April 4-10 @ 6 a.m.-5:59 a.m.)
- Fox News Channel: 1.511 million viewers; 238,000 adults 25-54
- MSNBC: 0.660 million viewers; 74,000 adults 25-54
- CNN: 0.586 million viewers; 135,000 adults 25-54
- HLN: 0.192 million viewers; 54,000 adults 25-54
- The Weather Channel: 0.129 million viewers; 23,000 adults 25-54
- CNBC: 0.127 million viewers; 30,000 adults 25-54
- Newsmax: 0.127 million viewers; 17,000 adults 25-54
- Fox Business Network: 0.096 million viewers; 11,000 adults 25-54
Prime Time (April 4-9 @ 8-11 p.m.; April 10 @ 7-11 p.m.)
- Fox News Channel: 2.362 million viewers; 361,000 adults 25-54
- MSNBC: 1.005 million viewers; 114,000 adults 25-54
- CNN: 0.692 million viewers; 165,000 adults 25-54
- HLN: 0.237 million viewers; 70,000 adults 25-54
- Newsmax: 0.179 million viewers; 25,000 adults 25-54
- CNBC: 0.176 million viewers; 65,000 adults 25-54
- The Weather Channel: 0.171 million viewers; 32,000 adults 25-54
- NewsNation: 0.059 million viewers; 11,000 adults 25-54
- Fox Business Network: 0.038 million viewers; 7,000 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. 4/6/2022 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.753 million viewers
2. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Tue. 4/5/2022 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.739 million viewers
3. The Five (FOXNC, Tue. 4/5/2022 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.726 million viewers
4. The Five (FOXNC, Mon. 4/4/2022 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.590 million viewers
5. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Mon. 4/4/2022 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.481 million viewers
6. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Wed. 4/6/2022 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.413 million viewers
7. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Thu. 4/7/2022 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.324 million viewers
8. The Five (FOXNC, Thu. 4/7/2022 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.115 million viewers
9. Jesse Watters Primetime (FOXNC, Mon. 4/4/2022 7:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.068 million viewers
10. Jesse Watters Primetime (FOXNC, Wed. 4/6/2022 7:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.066 million viewers
94. Rachel Maddow Show (MSNBC, Thu. 4/7/2022 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 1.374 million viewers
147. Anderson Cooper 360 (CNN, Wed. 4/6/2022 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.981 million viewers
183. Real Time With Bill Maher “596” (HBO, Fri. 4/8/2022 10:01 PM, 58 min.) 0.850 million viewers
• Last Week Tonight (HBO, Sun. 4/10/2022 11:01 PM, 35 min.) 0.496 million viewers
• Forensic Files “Marathon Man” (HLN, late Wed. 4/6/2022 12:30 AM, 30 min.) 0.356 million viewers
• Full Frontal with Samantha Bee “Episode 7209” (TBS, Thu. 4/7/2022 10:00 PM, 30 min.) 0.250 million viewers
Top 10 cable news programs (and the top CNN, MSNBC, HBO, and HLN programs with their respective associated ranks) among adults 25-54
1. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Mon. 4/4/2022 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.615 million adults 25-54
2. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Tue. 4/5/2022 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.610 million adults 25-54
3. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Thu. 4/7/2022 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.562 million adults 25-54
4. The Five (FOXNC, Wed. 4/6/2022 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.552 million adults 25-54
5. The Five (FOXNC, Tue. 4/5/2022 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.537 million adults 25-54
6. The Five (FOXNC, Mon. 4/4/2022 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.517 million adults 25-54
7. Hannity (FOXNC, Tue. 4/5/2022 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.503 million adults 25-54
8. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Wed. 4/6/2022 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.497 million adults 25-54
9. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Fri. 4/8/2022 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.477 million adults 25-54
10. Hannity (FOXNC, Thu. 4/7/2022 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.474 million adults 25-54
50. Erin Burnett Outfront (CNN, Wed. 4/6/2022 7:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.272 million adults 25-54
145. Rachel Maddow Show (MSNBC, Tue. 4/5/2022 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.170 million adults 25-54
162. Last Week Tonight (HBO, Sun. 4/10/2022 11:01 PM, 35 min.) 0.161 million adults 25-54
210. Real Time With Bill Maher “596” (HBO, Fri. 4/8/2022 10:01 PM, 58 min.) 0.139 million adults 25-54
214. Forensic Files “Marathon Man” (HLN, late Wed. 4/6/2022 12:30 AM, 30 min.) 0.138 million adults 25-54
• Full Frontal with Samantha Bee (TBS, Thu. 4/7/2022 10:00 PM, 30 min.) 0.102 million adults 25-54
Source: Live+Same Day data, Nielsen Media Research
