The news of the Justice Department’s release of the redacted affidavit used to obtain the search warrant for Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate from early August highlighted the news cycle on Friday, August 26. According to the document, the FBI told a judge that there was “probable cause to believe” that classified national security materials were improperly taken to “unauthorized” locations and that there was likely “evidence of obstruction.”
All three major cable news outlets experienced an uptick when the affidavit was released. Fox News Channel led the noon hour with 2.12 million total viewers including 257,000 within the key 25-54 demographic, according to Nielsen Media Research. One hour prior (11 a.m.-noon), FNC drew 1.71 million total/227,000 adults 25-54.
FNC then slipped to a still-potent total audience of 1.8 million in the 1 p.m. hour, and to 1.6 million at 2 p.m. Meanwhile, the other two news networks, CNN and MSNBC, held on to its relative boosts for more than hour, as follows:
CNN
11 a.m.-noon: 0.708 million viewers (135,000 adults 25-54)
noon-1 p.m.: 1.019 million viewers (192,000 adults 25-54)
1 p.m.-2 p.m.: 0.956 million viewers (195,000 adults 25-54)
2 p.m.-3 p.m.: 0.822 million viewers (176,000 adults 25-54)
3 p.m.-4 p.m.: 0.896 million viewers (216,000 adults 25-54)
4 p.m.-5 p.m.: 0.922 million viewers (204,000 adults 25-54)
MSNBC
11 a.m.-noon: 0.913 million viewers (78,000 adults 25-54)
noon-1 p.m.: 1.346 million viewers (137,000 adults 25-54)
1 p.m.-2 p.m.: 1.421 million viewers (159,000 adults 25-54)
2 p.m.-3 p.m.: 1.340 million viewers (129,000 adults 25-54)
Not only did the breaking news boost the networks from the morning hours, they all also rose from the prior Friday (Aug. 19). In the noon to 3 p.m. window, MSNBC grew the most in raw figures as well as in percentage: +81 percent (1.37 million, vs. 0.76 million — +610,000 viewers); Fox News Channel increased by 13 percent (1.84 million, vs. 1.625 million); CNN, from noon to 5 p.m., was up by 33 percent (935,000, vs. 702,000).
With recent concerns about inflation, Fox Business Network (FBN) has been the most-watched business outlet for the past 15 consecutive weeks. For Aug. 22-26, including Aug. 26 when the Dow Jones plunged 1,000 points from fears of a potential interest rate hike by the government, FBN averaged 205,000 business day viewers (Mon.-Fri. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.), a 13-percent advantage over CNBC (182,000 viewers). FBN’s 4 p.m. program “Kudlow” led business news for the week with 308,000 viewers, while weekday morning program “Varney & Co.” (257,000) was runner-up.
Cable news averages for August 22-28, 2022:
Total Day (Aug. 22-28 @ 6 a.m.-5:59 a.m.)
- Fox News Channel: 1.440 million viewers; 202,000 adults 25-54
- MSNBC: 0.820 million viewers; 89,000 adults 25-54
- CNN: 0.524 million viewers; 103,000 adults 25-54
- HLN: 0.179 million viewers; 55,000 adults 25-54
- CNBC: 0.178 million viewers; 46,000 adults 25-54
- Newsmax: 0.117 million viewers; 15,000 adults 25-54
- The Weather Channel: 0.105 million viewers; 23,000 adults 25-54
- Fox Business Network: 0.101 million viewers; 11,000 adults 25-54
Prime Time (Aug. 22-27 @ 8-11 p.m.; Aug. 28 @ 7-11 p.m.)
- Fox News Channel: 2.206 million viewers; 287,000 adults 25-54
- MSNBC: 1.310 million viewers; 128,000 adults 25-54
- CNN: 0.632 million viewers; 132,000 adults 25-54
- HLN: 0.225 million viewers; 60,000 adults 25-54
- CNBC: 0.176 million viewers; 63,000 adults 25-54
- The Weather Channel: 0.153 million viewers; 26,000 adults 25-54
- Newsmax: 0.147 million viewers; 18,000 adults 25-54
- Fox Business Network: 0.048 million viewers; 7,000 adults 25-54
- NewsNation: 0.048 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. The Five (FOXNC, Mon. 8/22/2022 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.428 million viewers
2. The Five (FOXNC, Wed. 8/24/2022 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.398 million viewers
3. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Mon. 8/22/2022 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.373 million viewers
4. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Thu. 8/25/2022 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.277 million viewers
5. The Five (FOXNC, Thu. 8/25/2022 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.263 million viewers
6. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Tue. 8/23/2022 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.260 million viewers
7. The Five (FOXNC, Tue. 8/23/2022 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.230 million viewers
8. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Wed. 8/24/2022 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.148 million viewers
9. The Five (FOXNC, Fri. 8/26/2022 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.055 million viewers
10. Jesse Watters Primetime (FOXNC, Tue. 8/23/2022 7:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.943 million viewers
18. Rachel Maddow Show (MSNBC, Mon. 8/22/2022 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.473 million viewers
149. Inside Politics (CNN, Fri. 8/26/2022 12:00 PM, 60 min.) 1.019 million viewers
203. Real Time With Bill Maher “Episode 610” (HBO, Fri. 8/26/2022 10:00 PM, 55 min.) 0.755 million viewers
390. Forensic Files “As The Tide Turns” (HLN, Mon. 8/22/2022 11:30 PM, 30 min.) 0.386 million viewers
420. Kudlow (FBN, Wed. 8/24/2022 4:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.324 million viewers
463. Shark Tank “Shark Tank 908” (CNBC, Thu. 8/25/2022 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.276 million viewers
556. Highway Thru Hell “(1012) Heavy Liftoff” (TWC, Wed. 8/24/2022 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.227 million viewers
793. Newsnation: Rush Hour (NWSN, Mon. 8/22/2022 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.127 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, Mon. 8/22/2022 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.478 million adults 25-54
2. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Tue. 8/23/2022 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.464 million adults 25-54
3. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Thu. 8/25/2022 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.458 million adults 25-54
4. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Wed. 8/24/2022 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.447 million adults 25-54
5. The Five (FOXNC, Mon. 8/22/2022 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.419 million adults 25-54
6. The Five (FOXNC, Tue. 8/23/2022 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.402 million adults 25-54
7. The Five (FOXNC, Wed. 8/24/2022 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.396 million adults 25-54
8. Hannity (FOXNC, Mon. 8/22/2022 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.392 million adults 25-54
9. Jesse Watters Primetime (FOXNC, Wed. 8/24/2022 7:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.392 million adults 25-54
10. The Five (FOXNC, Fri. 8/26/2022 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.390 million adults 25-54
50. Rachel Maddow Show (MSNBC, Mon. 8/22/2022 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.233 million adults 25-54
65. CNN Newsroom (CNN, Fri. 8/26/2022 3:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.216 million adults 25-54
175. Forensic Files “If I Were You” (HLN, Mon. 8/22/2022 11:00 PM, 30 min.) 0.136 million adults 25-54
191. Real Time With Bill Maher “Episode 610” (HBO, Fri. 8/26/2022 10:00 PM, 55 min.) 0.130 million adults 25-54
234. Shark Tank “Shark Tank 908” (CNBC, Thu. 8/25/2022 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.117 million adults 25-54
532. Why Planes Crash “Who’s Flying” (TWC, Sat. 8/27/2022 12:00 AM, 60 min.) 0.060 million adults 25-54
665. Mornings with Maria Bartiromo (FBN, Fri. 8/26/2022 8:00 AM, 60 min.) 0.038 million adults 25-54
704. Newsnation Prime (NWSN, Sun. 8/28/2022 7:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.034 million adults 25-54
Source: Live+Same Day data, Nielsen Media Research
