The Supreme Court’s decision, by a 6-3 vote aligned by party lines, to overturn Roe v. Wade — the near-five decades long-ruling that had declared the U.S. Constitution generally protected the liberty to choose to have an abortion — was made official on Friday, June 24.
When Justice Samuel Alito’s draft opinion that first indicated the overturning was leaked to the public back on the evening of May 2, the overall ratings for the three major cable news outlets surprisingly remained relatively steady.
However, news of the Supreme Court’s official decision noticeably boosted all three networks — Fox News, MSNBC and CNN — from recent prior Friday daytimes. From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern, the total viewer averages of each and their respective percent gains were, as follows:
- Fox News Channel: 2.16 million viewers (+64% from 6/17/22; +40% from 6/10/22); 332,000 adults 25-54 (+83% from 6/17/22; +44% from 6/10/22)
- MSNBC (10 a.m.-6 p.m.): 1.17 million viewers.(+56% from 6/17/22; +21% from 6/10/22); 161,000 adults 25-54 (+120% from 6/17/22; +56% from 6/10/22)
- CNN: 0.901 million viewers (+127% from 6/17/22; +56% from 6/10/22); 251,000 adults 25-54 (+218% from 6/17/22; +92% from 6/10/22)
As seen in the aforementioned percentage increases, the growth was more profound from just one week prior. Compared to June 17, there was more viewership on June 10, the day following the opening night of the Jan. 6 committee hearings.
Newsmax averaged 205,000 total viewers from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET on June 24, approximately 50 percent larger than each of its prior two Fridays within the same time window.
HBO’s “Real Time With Bill Maher” was TV’s first late-night comedy talk show to broadcast an original edition following the overturning of Roe v. Wade. Its hour drew 817,000 total viewers in its original 10 p.m. ET telecast, matching what it drew one week prior.
Fox News Channel’s “Gutfeld!” at 11 p.m. delivered 2.22 million total viewers and 429,000 within the key 25-54 demographic — from June 17, up 13 percent in viewership and up 38 percent in the demo. As noted in the rankings below, the late-night talker was among the four FNC telecasts from June 24 to place in the Top-9 of all cable news programs for the week (ending June 26) based on adults 25-54.
Cable news averages for June 20-26, 2022:
Total Day (June 20-26 @ 6 a.m.-5:59 a.m.)
- Fox News Channel: 1.421 million viewers; 214,000 adults 25-54
- MSNBC: 0.899 million viewers; 106,000 adults 25-54
- CNN: 0.570 million viewers; 116,000 adults 25-54
- HLN: 0.165 million viewers; 49,000 adults 25-54
- CNBC: 0.121 million viewers; 32,000 adults 25-54
- Fox Business Network: 0.121 million viewers; 13,000 adults 25-54
- Newsmax: 0.118 million viewers; 15,000 adults 25-54
- The Weather Channel: 0.103 million viewers; 18,000 adults 25-54
Prime Time (June 20-25 @ 8-11 p.m.; June 26 @ 7-11 p.m.)
- Fox News Channel: 2.201 million viewers; 310,000 adults 25-54
- MSNBC: 1.459 million viewers; 163,000 adults 25-54
- CNN: 0.657 million viewers; 133,000 adults 25-54
- HLN: 0.208 million viewers; 64,000 adults 25-54
- Newsmax: 0.193 million viewers; 25,000 adults 25-54
- CNBC: 0.192 million viewers; 63,000 adults 25-54
- The Weather Channel: 0.137 million viewers; 19,000 adults 25-54
- Fox Business Network: 0.069 million viewers; 10,000 adults 25-54
- NewsNation: 0.041 million viewers; 9,000 adults 25-54
Top 10 most-watched cable news programs (and the top programs of other outlets with their respective associated ranks) in total viewers:
1. The Five (FOXNC, Mon. 6/20/2022 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.528 million viewers
2. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Fri. 6/24/2022 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.255 million viewers
3. January 6th Hearings “Hearing Day Five” (MSNBC, Thu. 6/23/2022 3:02 PM, 148 min.) 3.220 million viewers
4. The Five (FOXNC, Fri. 6/24/2022 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.213 million viewers
5. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Thu. 6/23/2022 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.185 million viewers
6. The Five (FOXNC, Wed. 6/22/2022 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.159 million viewers
7. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Mon. 6/20/2022 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.111 million viewers
8. January 6th Hearings “Hearing Day Four” (MSNBC, Tue. 6/21/2022 1:02 PM, 158 min.) 3.019 million viewers
9. The Five (FOXNC, Tue. 6/21/2022 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.976 million viewers
10. Hannity (FOXNC, Fri. 6/24/2022 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.856 million viewers
27. Attack On Democracy “Jan 6th Hearings 6/23/22” (CNN, Thu. 6/23/2022 3:02 PM, 147 min.) 2.428 million viewers
202. Real Time With Bill Maher “Episode 605” (HBO, Fri. 6/24/2022 10:01 PM, 59 min.) 0.817 million viewers
333. Last Week Tonight (HBO, Sun. 6/26/2022 11:00 PM, 35 min.) 0.469 million viewers
334. Full Frontal with Samantha Bee “Episode 7218” (TBS, Thu. 6/23/2022 10:00 PM, 30 min.) 0.463 million viewers
369. The Daily Show (CMDY, Tue. 6/21/2022 11:00 PM, 31 min.) 0.399 million viewers
383. Kudlow (FBN, Thu. 6/23/2022 4:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.368 million viewers
401. Forensic Files “In The Bag” (HLN, Tue. 6/21/2022 11:30 PM, 30 min.) 0.322 million viewers
462. Squawk On The Street (CNBC, Wed. 6/22/2022 9:00 AM, 120 min.) 0.260 million viewers
480. The Earth Unlocked “(102) Deserts” (TWC, Sun. 6/26/2022 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.247 million viewers
811. Newsnation: Rush Hour (NWSN, Thu. 6/23/2022 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.129 million viewers
Top 10 cable news programs (and the top programs of other outlets with their respective associated ranks) among adults 25-54
1. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Fri. 6/24/2022 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.529 million adults 25-54
2. The Five (FOXNC, Mon. 6/20/2022 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.498 million adults 25-54
3. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Thu. 6/23/2022 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.493 million adults 25-54
4. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Tue. 6/21/2022 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.465 million adults 25-54
5. Hannity (FOXNC, Fri. 6/24/2022 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.450 million adults 25-54
6. The Five (FOXNC, Wed. 6/22/2022 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.448 million adults 25-54
7. Attack On Democracy “Jan 6th Hearings 6/23/22” (CNN, Thu. 6/23/2022 3:02 PM, 147 min.) 0.441 million adults 25-54
8. Outnumbered (FOXNC, Fri. 6/24/2022 12:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.429 million adults 25-54
9. Gutfeld! (FOXNC, Fri. 6/24/2022 11:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.429 million adults 25-54
10. Gutfeld! (FOXNC, Thu. 6/23/2022 11:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.414 million adults 25-54
19. January 6th Hearings “Hearing Day Five” (MSNBC, Thu. 6/23/2022 3:02 PM, 148 min.) 0.367 million adults 25-54
110. Full Frontal with Samantha Bee “Episode 7218” (TBS, Thu. 6/23/2022 10:00 PM, 30 min.) 0.205 million adults 25-54
160. The Daily Show (CMDY, Tue. 6/21/2022 11:00 PM, 31 min.) 0.165 million adults 25-54
183. Last Week Tonight (HBO, Sun. 6/26/2022 11:00 PM, 35 min.) 0.150 million adults 25-54
198. Real Time With Bill Maher “Episode 605” (HBO, Fri. 6/24/2022 10:01 PM, 59 min.) 0.136 million adults 25-54
215. Very Scary People “Sammy ?The Bull? Gravano Pt 1” (HLN, Tue. 6/21/2022 12:00 AM, 60 min.) 0.130 million adults 25-54
302. Shark Tank (CNBC, Sun. 6/26/2022 11:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.099 million adults 25-54
549. Weather Gone Viral “(408) Challenging The Weather” (TWC, Wed. 6/22/2022 11:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.053 million adults 25-54
656. Varney & Company (FBN, Mon. 6/20/2022 9:00 AM, 60 min.) 0.042 million adults 25-54
725. Newsnation: Rush Hour (NWSN, Tue. 6/21/2022 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.032 million adults 25-54
Source: Live+Same Day data, Nielsen Media Research
