The three major cable news networks focused on the city of Buffalo, NY, on Saturday, May 14, for its breaking news coverage of the mass shooting at the Tops supermarket. The gunman, who long spouted White supremacist views online, drove to the predominantly African-American area to commit his murderous act. Ten people, all of them Black, were killed.
News began to be presented within the 4 PM ET hour, with extensive coverage arriving at 5 PM ET when officials spoke to the press. Fox News Channel led in total viewers. The network’s audience noticeably grew as each hour unfolded: 966,000 viewers from 4–5 PM, then 1.16 million from 5–6 PM, and 1.37 million from 6–7 PM, according to Nielsen Media Research.
CNN was runner-up, first averaging 850,000 viewers from 5–8 PM, then 826,000 from 8–10 PM; FNC’s 8–10 PM combo of “One Nation” and “Unfiltered” drew 1.46 million viewers. However, in the key 25-54 demographic, CNN captured cable news’ top spot for the first two hours of prime time, delivering 225,000, compared to FNC’s 195,000.
From 5-10 p.m., MSNBC averaged 552,000 total viewers and 61,000 adults 25-54. They peaked at 5:50–6:16 PM with 634,000 viewers/93,000 adults 25-54 for the press conference featuring Byron Brown, the mayor of Buffalo, NY.
Cable news averages for May 9-15, 2022:
Total Day (May 9-15 @ 6 a.m.-5:59 a.m.)
- Fox News Channel: 1.466 million viewers; 222,000 adults 25-54
- MSNBC: 0.621 million viewers; 68,000 adults 25-54
- CNN: 0.485 million viewers; 99,000 adults 25-54
- HLN: 0.186 million viewers; 55,000 adults 25-54
- CNBC: 0.136 million viewers; 32,000 adults 25-54
- Newsmax: 0.119 million viewers; 14,000 adults 25-54
- Fox Business Network: 0.110 million viewers; 11,000 adults 25-54
- The Weather Channel: 0.105 million viewers; 20,000 adults 25-54
Prime Time (May 9-14 @ 8-11 p.m.; May 15 @ 7-11 p.m.)
- Fox News Channel: 2.225 million viewers; 331,000 adults 25-54
- MSNBC: 0.983 million viewers; 96,000 adults 25-54
- CNN: 0.604 million viewers; 133,000 adults 25-54
- HLN: 0.209 million viewers; 60,000 adults 25-54
- CNBC: 0.172 million viewers; 47,000 adults 25-54
- The Weather Channel: 0.154 million viewers; 24,000 adults 25-54
- Newsmax: 0.147 million viewers; 16,000 adults 25-54
- Fox Business Network: 0.068 million viewers; 6,000 adults 25-54
- NewsNation: 0.057 million viewers; 11,000 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, Tue. 5/10/2022 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.569 million viewers
2. The Five (FOXNC, Mon. 5/9/2022 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.409 million viewers
3. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Mon. 5/9/2022 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.313 million viewers
4. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Tue. 5/10/2022 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.227 million viewers
5. The Five (FOXNC, Wed. 5/11/2022 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.131 million viewers
6. The Five (FOXNC, Thu. 5/12/2022 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.102 million viewers
7. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Wed. 5/11/2022 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.034 million viewers
8. The Five (FOXNC, Fri. 5/13/2022 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.973 million viewers
9. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Thu. 5/12/2022 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.956 million viewers
10. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Fri. 5/13/2022 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.781 million viewers
27. Rachel Maddow Show (MSNBC, Mon. 5/9/2022 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.157 million viewers
152. CNN Special Report “Inside The Mind Of Vladimir Putin” (CNN, Sun. 5/15/2022 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.944 million viewers
181. Real Time With Bill Maher “Episode 600” (HBO, Fri. 5/13/2022 10:01 PM, 56 min.) 0.789 million viewers
315. Last Week Tonight (HBO, Sun. 5/15/2022 11:05 PM, 35 min.) 0.520 million viewers
393. Sex & Murder “The Two Matthews” (HLN, late Sun. 5/15/2022 12:00 AM, 60 min.) 0.357 million viewers
402. The Daily Show “May 12, 22 – Tribute To Gran” (CMDY, Thu. 5/12/2022 11:00 PM, 31 min.) 0.331 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. 5/9/2022 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.535 million adults 25-54
2. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Wed. 5/11/2022 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.490 million adults 25-54
3. The Five (FOXNC, Tue. 5/10/2022 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.475 million adults 25-54
4. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Tue. 5/10/2022 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.462 million adults 25-54
5. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Thu. 5/12/2022 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.452 million adults 25-54
6. The Five (FOXNC, Thu. 5/12/2022 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.443 million adults 25-54
7. Hannity (FOXNC, Thu. 5/12/2022 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.426 million adults 25-54
8. The Five (FOXNC, Mon. 5/9/2022 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.419 million adults 25-54
9. Hannity (FOXNC, Tue. 5/10/2022 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.418 million adults 25-54
10. The Ingraham Angle (FOXNC, Tue. 5/10/2022 10:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.413 million adults 25-54
38. Rachel Maddow Show (MSNBC, Mon. 5/9/2022 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.277 million adults 25-54
55. CNN Newsroom (CNN, Sat. 5/14/2022 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.236 million adults 25-54
101. Last Week Tonight (HBO, Sun. 5/15/2022 11:05 PM, 35 min.) 0.194 million adults 25-54
132. Real Time With Bill Maher “Episode 600” (HBO, Fri. 5/13/2022 10:01 PM, 56 min.) 0.155 million adults 25-54
147. The Daily Show “May 12, 22 – Tribute To Gran” (CMDY, Thu. 5/12/2022 11:00 PM, 31 min.) 0.149 million adults 25-54
200. Sex & Murder “The Two Matthews” (HLN, late Sun. 5/15/2022 12:00 AM, 60 min.) 0.120 million adults 25-54
Source: Live+Same Day data, Nielsen Media Research
