Following its opening night from June 9, the January 6th committee hearings in the four daytime slots during the two weeks that followed averaged 10.7 million total viewers across multiple networks.
The fifth daytime hearing, which was a last-minute scheduling, took place on Tuesday, June 28. That day’s key witness turned out to be Cassidy Hutchinson, who served as an aide to former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows. Her testimony described the temper exhibited by Donald Trump as his efforts to overturn the 2020 election results were unsuccessful. One most notable example that Hutchinson had offered was that Trump, who wanted to join the insurrectionists at the Capitol on that fateful day, reached from the back seat of his car to attempt to wrestle control of his car’s steering wheel from the Secret Service agent who was driving him.
Hutchinson and the bombshell information she had delivered boosted the hearings’ ratings, scoring 13.2 million total viewers across all major networks, according to Nielsen Media Research. This marked a 28 percent increase — about 3 million, in raw figures — from the committee’s previous daytime hearing (from June 23).
On cable, once again it was MSNBC that led in coverage with 3.52 million viewers — the most-watched cable news telecast of the week ending July 3.
CNN was runner-up to MSNBC in total viewers with 2.65 million, but was cable news’ top draw of the week in the key 25-54 demographic attracting 577,000 viewers within the specific age range (MSNBC ranked sixth in 25-54, as noted in the list at the bottom of this article.)
Fox News Channel, which normally averages 1.2-1.5 million viewers in the early weekday afternoon hours, only mustered 900,000 viewers (that included 143,000 adults 25-54) from 2-3 p.m. Eastern on June 28.
The next hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, July 12 at 1 p.m. ET. It is said to be focused on how the violent mob came together and the role of extremist groups in the deadly insurrection. A prime time slot for Thursday, July 14 has been tentatively slated for the committee’s final hearing.
Cable news averages for June 27-July 3, 2022:
Total Day (June 27-July 3 @ 6 a.m.-5:59 a.m.)
- Fox News Channel: 1.366 million viewers; 200,000 adults 25-54
- MSNBC: 0.838 million viewers; 99,000 adults 25-54
- CNN: 0.565 million viewers; 120,000 adults 25-54
- HLN: 0.170 million viewers; 51,000 adults 25-54
- Fox Business Network: 0.128 million viewers; 13,000 adults 25-54
- CNBC: 0.123 million viewers; 32,000 adults 25-54
- Newsmax: 0.103 million viewers; 13,000 adults 25-54
- The Weather Channel: 0.102 million viewers; 20,000 adults 25-54
Prime Time (June 27-July 2 @ 8-11 p.m.; July 3 @ 7-11 p.m.)
- Fox News Channel: 2.088 million viewers; 281,000 adults 25-54
- MSNBC: 1.362 million viewers; 154,000 adults 25-54
- CNN: 0.672 million viewers; 143,000 adults 25-54
- HLN: 0.192 million viewers; 55,000 adults 25-54
- CNBC: 0.185 million viewers; 68,000 adults 25-54
- Newsmax: 0.137 million viewers; 17,000 adults 25-54
- The Weather Channel: 0.133 million viewers; 24,000 adults 25-54
- Fox Business Network: 0.083 million viewers; 12,000 adults 25-54
- NewsNation: 0.044 million viewers; 6,000 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. January 6th Hearings “Hearing Day Six” (MSNBC, Tue. 6/28/2022 1:02 PM, 114 min.) 3.518 million viewers
2. The Five (FOXNC, Thu. 6/30/2022 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.223 million viewers
3. The Five (FOXNC, Mon. 6/27/2022 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.214 million viewers
4. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Wed. 6/29/2022 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.184 million viewers
5. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Mon. 6/27/2022 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.162 million viewers
6. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Tue. 6/28/2022 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.133 million viewers
7. The Five (FOXNC, Wed. 6/29/2022 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.130 million viewers
8. The Five (FOXNC, Tue. 6/28/2022 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.119 million viewers
9. The Five (FOXNC, Fri. 7/1/2022 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.082 million viewers
10. January 6th Hearings “Primeitme Analysis Day Six” (MSNBC, Tue. 6/28/2022 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.041 million viewers
17. Attack On Democracy “Jan. 6th Hearings 6/28/22” (CNN, Tue. 6/28/2022 1:02 PM, 113 min.) 2.647 million viewers
361. The Daily Show (CMDY, Mon. 6/27/2022 11:00 PM, 31 min.) 0.404 million viewers
363. Varney & Company (FBN, Mon. 6/27/2022 10:00 AM, 60 min.) 0.394 million viewers
393. Full Frontal with Samantha Bee “Episode 7215” (TBS, Thu. 6/30/2022 10:00 PM, 30 min.) 0.346 million viewers
401. Forensic Files “Watchful Eye” (HLN, Wed. 6/29/2022 11:30 PM, 30 min.) 0.335 million viewers
499. Shark Tank (CNBC, Wed. 6/29/2022 10:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.259 million viewers
662. Earth Unlocked, The “(103) Oceans” (TWC, Sun. 7/3/2022 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.178 million viewers
739. Newsnation: Rush Hour (NWSN, Fri. 7/1/2022 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.153 million viewers
Top 10 cable news programs (and the top programs of other outlets with their respective associated ranks) among adults 25-54
1. Attack on Democracy “Jan. 6th Hearings 6/28/22” (CNN, Tue. 6/28/2022 1:02 PM, 113 min.) 0.577 million adults 25-54
2. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Tue. 6/28/2022 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.574 million adults 25-54
3. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Mon. 6/27/2022 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.482 million adults 25-54
4. Attack On Democracy “Jan 6Th H. Post Analysis 6/28/22” (CNN, Tue. 6/28/2022 2:55 PM, 61 min.) 0.476 million adults 25-54
5. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Wed. 6/29/2022 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.474 million adults 25-54
6. January 6Th Hearings “Hearing Day Six” (MSNBC, Tue. 6/28/2022 1:02 PM, 114 min.) 0.449 million adults 25-54
7. The Five (FOXNC, Thu. 6/30/2022 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.448 million adults 25-54
8. The Five (FOXNC, Fri. 7/1/2022 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.445 million adults 25-54
9. The Five (FOXNC, Wed. 6/29/2022 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.439 million adults 25-54
10. The Five (FOXNC, Mon. 6/27/2022 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.427 million adults 25-54
99. The Daily Show (CMDY, Mon. 6/27/2022 11:00 PM, 31 min.) 0.202 million adults 25-54
180. Very Scary People “The Hillside Stranglers Pt1” (HLN, Tue. 6/28/2022 12:00 AM, 60 min.) 0.143 million adults 25-54
264. Full Frontal with Samantha Bee “Episode 7215” (TBS, Thu. 6/30/2022 10:00 PM, 30 min.) 0.110 million adults 25-54
297. Shark Tank (CNBC, Wed. 6/29/2022 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.102 million adults 25-54
589. Making Money with Charles Payne (FBN, Mon. 6/27/2022 2:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.047 million adults 25-54
599. Storm Stories: TNC “207 Mountain Flood & Georgia Twister” (TWC, Fri. 7/1/2022 1:00 AM, 60 min.) 0.045 million adults 25-54
710. Newsnation: Rush Hour (NWSN, Fri. 7/1/2022 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.033 million adults 25-54
Source: Live+Same Day data, Nielsen Media Research
