The week ending Sep. 18 remained a period of mourning in the United Kingdom following the passing of Queen Elizabeth II. She was 96. Cable news networks like Fox News, CNN, and MSNBC experienced ratings increases during the week due to the funeral coverage.
On Monday, Sep. 12, King Charles III walked with the Queen’s hearse to head a procession from Edinburgh’s Palace of Holyroodhouse, up the Royal Mile, to St. Giles’ Cathedral in Edinburgh, Scotland. By Wednesday, Sep. 14, the Queen’s coffin traveled from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Hall where it was laid in state for public viewing up until the Sep. 19th funeral.
The three major cable news outlets covered those events with Fox News leading overall. For Sep. 12 from 9 a.m. to 11:24 a.m. Eastern, they averaged 1.64 million total viewers including 204,000 within the key 25-54 demographic, according to Nielsen Media Research. CNN drew 916,000 viewers and 151 adults 25-54. MSNBC’s coverage from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Eastern delivered 842,000 viewers with 87,009 in the 25-54 demo.
For Sep. 14 from 8 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Eastern, it was a relatively similar ratio: Fox News was tops with 1.66 million total viewers including 226,000 in the 25-54 demo; CNN runner-up (993,000 viewers/168,000 adults 25-54) and MSNBC (888,000 viewers/100,000 adults 25-54 from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. ET) a close third.
As noted in the network total day averages below, Fox News, CNN, and MSNBC each drew above average from their regular daytime programming. As for CNN, their top hour of the week among total viewers was the 10-11 a.m. ET hour (3-4 p.m. in London) from the aforementioned Sep. 14 date.
BBC America aired their tribute to Queen Elizabeth II on the evening of Sunday, Sep. 18, just hours before her state funeral. That half-hour special drew 274,000 viewers — for the week of Sep. 12-18, BBC America averaged 209,000 viewers in prime time.
Cable news averages for September 12-18, 2022:
Total Day (Sep. 12-18 @ 6 a.m.-5:59 a.m.)
- Fox News Channel: 1.421 million viewers; 195,000 adults 25-54
- MSNBC: 0.791 million viewers; 81,000 adults 25-54
- CNN: 0.597 million viewers; 108,000 adults 25-54
- HLN: 0.161 million viewers; 51,000 adults 25-54
- Newsmax: 0.126 million viewers; 12,000 adults 25-54
- CNBC: 0.120 million viewers; 29,000 adults 25-54
- Fox Business Network: 0.116 million viewers; 13,000 adults 25-54
- The Weather Channel: 0.094 million viewers; 20,000 adults 25-54
Prime Time (Sep. 12-17 @ 8-11 p.m.; Sep. 18 @ 7-11 p.m.)
- Fox News: 2.213 million viewers; 281,000 adults 25-54
- MSNBC: 1.256 million viewers; 112,000 adults 25-54
- CNN: 0.705 million viewers; 136,000 adults 25-54
- Newsmax: 0.234 million viewers; 23,000 adults 25-54
- HLN: 0.168 million viewers; 51,000 adults 25-54
- CNBC: 0.153 million viewers; 50,000 adults 25-54
- The Weather Channel: 0.108 million viewers; 21,000 adults 25-54
- Fox Business Network: 0.056 million viewers; 8,000 adults 25-54
- NewsNation: 0.051 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. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Wed. 9/14/2022 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.490 million viewers
2. The Five (FOXNC, Tue. 9/13/2022 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.420 million viewers
3. The Five (FOXNC, Mon. 9/12/2022 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.418 million viewers
4. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Thu. 9/15/2022 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.325 million viewers
5. The Five (FOXNC, Wed. 9/14/2022 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.289 million viewers
6. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Tue. 9/13/2022 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.260 million viewers
7. The Five (FOXNC, Thu. 9/15/2022 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.175 million viewers
8. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Mon. 9/12/2022 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.090 million viewers
9. The Five (FOXNC, Fri. 9/16/2022 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.065 million viewers
10. Jesse Watters Primetime (FOXNC, Thu. 9/15/2022 7:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.874 million viewers
21. Rachel Maddow Show (MSNBC, Mon. 9/12/2022 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.378 million viewers
121. CNN Special Coverage “Queen Elizabeth II Royal Procession” (CNN, Wed. 9/14/2022 10:00 AM, 60 min.) 1.303 million viewers
200. Real Time With Bill Maher “Episode 612” (HBO, Fri. 9/16/2022 10:00 PM, 58 min.) 0.834 million viewers
400. Kudlow (FBN, Fri. 9/16/2022 4:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.378 million viewers
403. Forensic Files “Water Hazard” (HLN, Wed. 9/14/2022 12:00 AM, 30 min.) 0.373 million viewers
416. The Daily Show (CMDY, Wed. 9/14/2022 11:00 PM, 33 min.) 0.355 million viewers
500. Squawk On The Street (CNBC, Tue. 9/13/2022 9:00 AM, 120 min.) 0.254 million viewers
612. America’s Morning Headquarters (TWC, Mon. 9/12/2022 8:00 AM, 60 min.) 0.197 million viewers
730. Newsnation: Rush Hour (NWSN, Mon. 9/12/2022 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.146 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, Tue. 9/13/2022 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.481 million adults 25-54
2. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Wed. 9/14/2022 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.479 million adults 25-54
3. The Five (FOXNC, Wed. 9/14/2022 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.478 million adults 25-54
4. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Thu. 9/15/2022 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.455 million adults 25-54
5. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Mon. 9/12/2022 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.450 million adults 25-54
6. The Five (FOXNC, Tue. 9/13/2022 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.446 million adults 25-54
7. The Five (FOXNC, Thu. 9/15/2022 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.437 million adults 25-54
8. Hannity (FOXNC, Tue. 9/13/2022 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.409 million adults 25-54
9. Jesse Watters Primetime (FOXNC, Tue. 9/13/2022 7:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.380 million adults 25-54
10. Gutfeld! (FOXNC, Tue. 9/13/2022 11:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.380 million adults 25-54
46. Anderson Cooper 360 (CNN, Wed. 9/14/2022 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.236 million adults 25-54
68. Rachel Maddow Show (MSNBC, Mon. 9/12/2022 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.213 million adults 25-54
121. Real Time With Bill Maher “Episode 612” (HBO, Fri. 9/16/2022 10:00 PM, 58 min.) 0.168 million adults 25-54
130. The Daily Show (CMDY, Thu. 9/15/2022 11:00 PM, 30 min.) 0.162 million adults 25-54
143. Forensic Files “Freedom Fighter” (HLN, Wed. 9/14/2022 2:00 AM, 30 min.) 0.154 million adults 25-54
469. Squawk On The Street (CNBC, Tue. 9/13/2022 9:00 AM, 120 min.) 0.065 million adults 25-54
535. Highway Thru Hell “(504) Christmas Wrap” (TWC, Sat. 9/17/2022 7:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.051 million adults 25-54
540. Kudlow (FBN, Fri. 9/16/2022 4:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.051 million adults 25-54
737. On Balance With Vittert (NWSN, Tue. 9/13/2022 7:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.028 million adults 25-54
Source: Live+Same Day data, Nielsen Media Research
