The committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021 insurrection at the Capitol hosted its eighth hearing of the summer on Jul. 21. It was the second time the hearings were held in prime time, as it was initially slotted there to wrap up proceedings. Yet, it was announced there’d be more hearings slated for the fall.
Approximately 18 million viewers tuned in on the Jul. 21 hearing across multiple networks — almost two million less than the hearings’ opening night (Jun. 9). The night’s most prominent ratings winners: MSNBC and CNN.
Not only did MSNBC attract 4.88 million total viewers (according to Nielsen Media Research) — the most prominent to-date figure for a single-cable network’s hearings coverage and nearly double its parent network NBC (2.69 million), it was the most-watched outlet for hearings coverage on TV overall.
CNN, with a 0.66 rating in adults 25-54 (equating to 803,000 viewers within the demo), eked past ABC (0.65 rating) to be the coverage’s key demographic leader. As stated in our most recent report, hearings viewership on CNN has gradually risen since the first daytime hearing on Jun. 13. With 3.18 million viewers, it was CNN’s highest watermark of the summer.
ABC (3.98 million) topped all broadcast networks, followed by NBC (aforementioned 2.69 million) and CBS (2.68 million).
Fox News Channel, which had lagged behind its cable news competition when televising the daytime hearings in recent weeks, once again opted to air its regular prime time lineup. Their combo of “Tucker Carlson Tonight” (3.36 million), “Hannity” (2.52 million), and “The Ingraham Angle” (2.11 million) remained potent and on-par from their regular weeknight deliveries. As a result, the prime-time hearing was relegated to its sister outlet Fox Business Network which drew 90,000 viewers — as noted in the weekly list of network averages below; this posted an above-average weeknight figure for them.
The right-leaning Newsmax also aired their regular prime time programming on Jul. 21 (“Eric Bolling The Balance,” “Prime News,” “Greg Kelly Reports”), which averaged 200,000 viewers; +36,000 from one week prior (Jul. 14).
NBC’s other owned information network CNBC delivered 160,000 viewers from 8–10:46 PM ET.
NewsNation’s coverage drew 42,000 viewers.
Cable news averages for July 18-24, 2022:
Total Day (July 18-24 @ 6 a.m.-5:59 a.m.)
- Fox News Channel: 1.400 million viewers; 197,000 adults 25-54
- MSNBC: 0.849 million viewers; 90,000 adults 25-54
- CNN: 0.579 million viewers; 117,000 adults 25-54
- HLN: 0.178 million viewers; 52,000 adults 25-54
- CNBC: 0.132 million viewers; 30,000 adults 25-54
- Fox Business Network: 0.113 million viewers; 13,000 adults 25-54
- The Weather Channel: 0.099 million viewers; 17,000 adults 25-54
- Newsmax: 0.098 million viewers; 11,000 adults 25-54
Prime Time (July 18-23 @ 8-11 p.m.; July 24 @ 7-11 p.m.)
- Fox News Channel: 2.220 million viewers; 303,000 adults 25-54
- MSNBC: 1.685 million viewers; 183,000 adults 25-54
- CNN: 0.998 million viewers; 225,000 adults 25-54
- CNBC: 0.203 million viewers; 58,000 adults 25-54
- HLN: 0.202 million viewers; 64,000 adults 25-54
- Newsmax: 0.142 million viewers; 16,000 adults 25-54
- The Weather Channel: 0.135 million viewers; 19,000 adults 25-54
- Fox Business Network: 0.062 million viewers; 11,000 adults 25-54
- NewsNation: 0.053 million viewers; 4,000 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. Jan. 6 Hearings “Hearing Night Eight” (MSNBC, Thu. 7/21/2022 8:01 PM, 165 min.) 4.879 million viewers
2. Jan. 6 Hearings “Analysis Night Eight” (MSNBC, Thu. 7/21/2022 10:46 PM, 14 min.) 4.272 million viewers
3. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Wed. 7/20/2022 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.618 million viewers
4. The Five (FOXNC, Wed. 7/20/2022 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.399 million viewers
5. The Five (FOXNC, Mon. 7/18/2022 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.364 million viewers
6. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Mon. 7/18/2022 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.359 million viewers
7. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Thu. 7/21/2022 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.357 million viewers
8. The Five (FOXNC, Tue. 7/19/2022 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.319 million viewers
9. The Five (FOXNC, Thu. 7/21/2022 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.218 million viewers
10. Attack On Democracy “Jan 6th Hearings 7/21/22” (CNN, Thu. 7/21/2022 8:02 PM, 163 min.) 3.177 million viewers
347. Last Week Tonight (HBO, Sun. 7/24/2022 11:01 PM, 35 min.) 0.473 million viewers
365. Forensic Files II “On The Rocks” (HLN, Sun. 7/24/2022 10:30 PM, 30 min.) 0.421 million viewers
385. Track & Field “World Championships” (CNBC, Sun. 7/24/2022 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.384 million viewers
402. The Daily Show (CMDY, Mon. 7/18/2022 11:00 PM, 31 min.) 0.354 million viewers
410. Kudlow (FBN, Tue. 7/19/2022 4:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.345 million viewers
413. Full Frontal with Samantha Bee “Episode 7204” (TBS, Thu. 7/21/2022 10:00 PM, 30 min.) 0.344 million viewers
573. Highway Thru Hell “(807) Heavy Hearts” (TWC, Wed. 7/20/2022 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.227 million viewers
620. Newsnation: Rush Hour (NWSN, Tue. 7/19/2022 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.203 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 7/21/22” (CNN, Thu. 7/21/2022 8:02 PM, 163 min.) 0.803 million adults 25-54
2. Jan. 6 Hearings “Hearing Night Eight” (MSNBC, Thu. 7/21/2022 8:01 PM, 165 min.) 0.645 million adults 25-54
3. Jan. 6 Hearings “Analysis Night Eight” (MSNBC, Thu. 7/21/2022 10:46 PM, 14 min.) 0.622 million adults 25-54
4. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Wed. 7/20/2022 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.571 million adults 25-54
5. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Tue. 7/19/2022 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.493 million adults 25-54
6. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Thu. 7/21/2022 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.480 million adults 25-54
7. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Mon. 7/18/2022 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.461 million adults 25-54
8. The Five (FOXNC, Wed. 7/20/2022 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.447 million adults 25-54
9. Attack On Democracy “Jan 6th H. Post Analysis 7/21/22” (CNN, Thu. 7/21/2022 10:45 PM, 75 min.) 0.445 million adults 25-54
10. The Five (FOXNC, Mon. 7/18/2022 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.425 million adults 25-54
104. Last Week Tonight (HBO, Sun. 7/24/2022 11:01 PM, 35 min.) 0.177 million adults 25-54
105. Forensic Files Ii “On The Rocks” (HLN, Sun. 7/24/2022 10:30 PM, 30 min.) 0.177 million adults 25-54
117. The Daily Show (CMDY, Thu. 7/21/2022 11:00 PM, 31 min.) 0.168 million adults 25-54
176. Full Frontal with Samantha Bee “Episode 7204” (TBS, Thu. 7/21/2022 10:00 PM, 30 min.) 0.139 million adults 25-54
252. Track & Field “World Championships” (CNBC, Sat. 7/23/2022 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.114 million adults 25-54
623. Deep Water Salvage “(208) Decontaminating The Depths” (TWC, Sun. 7/24/2022 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.043 million adults 25-54
627. Newsnation Prime (NWSN, Sun. 7/24/2022 7:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.042 million adults 25-54
687. The Claman Countdown (FBN, Thu. 7/21/2022 3:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.036 million adults 25-54
Source: Live+Same Day data, Nielsen Media Research
