‘CNN This Morning’ Launch Fails To Produce Sizeable Boost

Amidst an ever-evolving CNN under the newly-formed Warner Bros. Discovery, the cable outlet is placing more focus on the objectivity and trustworthiness approach to news. Another example of that is their revamped morning news program CNN This Morning, which launched on Nov. 1.

Don Lemon, Poppy Harlow, and Kaitlan Collins host this show. But despite a new title and new hosts, its premiere ratings were no different from its recent predecessor New Day. According to Nielsen Media Research, CNN This Morning averaged 387,000 total viewers and 71,000 in the 25-54 demo from 6-9 a.m. ET on its Nov. 1 debut. For this particular week (Nov. 1-4), CNN This Morning held steady at an average of 389,000 viewers including 79,000 adults 25-54.

During the previous week (Oct. 24-28), CNN’s New Day drew 347,000 viewers and 69,000 with adults 25-54. For the past month (Sep. 26-Oct. 30), New Day delivered 404,000 viewers with 78,000 in 25-54.

For perspective, at the height of CNN during the first week of 2021 (Jan. 4-8; insurrection), New Day had drawn 1.34 million total viewers and 338,000 among 25-54. Even then, the total audience figures were not enough to best Morning Joe on MSNBC (2.02 million for Jan. 4-8, 2021).

Simply put, CNN’s morning revamp has still relegated the network for third-place early-day status, behind its cable news brethren. It remains to be seen if the less opinionated content among with friendlier banter will attract more eyeballs its way.

Meanwhile, Fox News Channel continues to be the clear morning news leader on cable, posting 1.46 million viewers and 216,000 in the 25-54 demo for Oct. 31-Nov. 4. In addition, MSNBC’s Morning Joe was distant runner-up status that same week with 833,000 viewers and 100,000 in the 25-54 demo.

Cable news averages for October 31-November 6, 2022:

Total Day (Oct. 31-Nov. 6 @ 6 a.m.-5:59 a.m.)

• Fox News Channel: 1.630 million viewers; 218,000 adults 25-54
• MSNBC: 0.676 million viewers; 74,000 adults 25-54
• CNN: 0.431 million viewers; 86,000 adults 25-54
• HLN: 0.152 million viewers; 44,000 adults 25-54
• Newsmax: 0.144 million viewers; 17,000 adults 25-54
• Fox Business Network: 0.128 million viewers; 14,000 adults 25-54
• CNBC: 0.124 million viewers; 26,000 adults 25-54
• The Weather Channel: 0.087 million viewers; 19,000 adults 25-54

Prime Time (Oct. 31-Nov. 5 @ 8-11 p.m.; Nov. 6 @ 7-11 p.m.)

• Fox News Channel: 2.462 million viewers; 318,000 adults 25-54
• MSNBC: 1.013 million viewers; 100,000 adults 25-54
• CNN: 0.466 million viewers; 100,000 adults 25-54
• Newsmax: 0.225 million viewers; 24,000 adults 25-54
• CNBC: 0.166 million viewers; 54,000 adults 25-54
• HLN: 0.166 million viewers; 41,000 adults 25-54
• The Weather Channel: 0.095 million viewers; 22,000 adults 25-54
• Fox Business Network: 0.063 million viewers; 10,000 adults 25-54
• NewsNation: 0.061 million viewers; 11,000 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, Thu. 11/3/2022 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.758 million viewers

2. The Five (FOXNC, Tue. 11/1/2022 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.639 million viewers

3. The Five (FOXNC, Wed. 11/2/2022 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.592 million viewers

4. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Wed. 11/2/2022 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.577 million viewers

5. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Tue. 11/1/2022 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.571 million viewers

6. The Five (FOXNC, Mon. 10/31/2022 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.500 million viewers

7. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Fri. 11/4/2022 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.492 million viewers

8. The Five (FOXNC, Fri. 11/4/2022 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.422 million viewers

9. Jesse Watters Primetime (FOXNC, Tue. 11/1/2022 7:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.418 million viewers

10. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Thu. 11/3/2022 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.361 million viewers

36. Rachel Maddow Show (MSNBC, Mon. 10/31/2022 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.105 million viewers

173. Erin Burnett Outfront (CNN, Wed. 11/2/2022 7:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.808 million viewers

187. Real Time With Bill Maher “Episode 618” (HBO, Fri. 11/4/2022 10:01 PM, 55 min.) 0.741 million viewers

348. The Daily Show (CMDY, Wed. 11/2/2022 11:00 PM, 30 min.) 0.426 million viewers

351. Kudlow (FBN, Tue. 11/1/2022 4:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.420 million viewers

368. Last Week Tonight (HBO, Sun. 11/6/2022 11:01 PM, 35 min.) 0.381 million viewers

402. Power Lunch (CNBC, Wed. 11/2/2022 2:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.316 million viewers

430. Forensic Files “One For The Road” (HLN, Sun. 11/6/2022 6:00 AM, 30 min.) 0.283 million viewers

615. Highway Thru Hell “(703) Mudslide” (TWC, Sun. 11/6/2022 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.186 million viewers

766. Newsnation: Rush Hour (NWSN, Mon. 10/31/2022 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.134 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, Wed. 11/2/2022 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.583 million adults 25-54

2. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Tue. 11/1/2022 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.578 million adults 25-54

3. Jesse Watters Primetime (FOXNC, Wed. 11/2/2022 7:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.465 million adults 25-54

4. The Five (FOXNC, Wed. 11/2/2022 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.463 million adults 25-54

5. The Five (FOXNC, Thu. 11/3/2022 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.437 million adults 25-54

6. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Mon. 10/31/2022 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.436 million adults 25-54

7. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Thu. 11/3/2022 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.435 million adults 25-54

8. Hannity (FOXNC, Wed. 11/2/2022 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.431 million adults 25-54

9. Jesse Watters Primetime (FOXNC, Tue. 11/1/2022 7:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.421 million adults 25-54

10. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Fri. 11/4/2022 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.419 million adults 25-54

69. Rachel Maddow Show (MSNBC, Mon. 10/31/2022 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.226 million adults 25-54

108. Situation Room (CNN, Mon. 10/31/2022 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.171 million adults 25-54

112. The Daily Show (CMDY, Wed. 11/2/2022 11:00 PM, 30 min.) 0.166 million adults 25-54

140. Last Week Tonight (HBO, Sun. 11/6/2022 11:01 PM, 35 min.) 0.141 million adults 25-54

217. Forensic Files “Badge Of Betrayal” (HLN, late Wed. 11/2/2022 2:30 AM, 30 min.) 0.114 million adults 25-54

219. Real Time With Bill Maher “Episode 618” (HBO, Fri. 11/4/2022 10:01 PM, 55 min.) 0.114 million adults 25-54

304. Shark Tank “Shark Tank 1108” (CNBC, Tue. 11/1/2022 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.087 million adults 25-54

469. Highway Thru Hell “(703) Mudslide” (TWC, Sun. 11/6/2022 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.056 million adults 25-54

514. Cavuto Coast To Coast (FBN, Thu. 11/3/2022 1:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.050 million adults 25-54

749. Newsnation: Rush Hour (NWSN, Mon. 10/31/2022 6:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.027 million adults 25-54

Source: Live+Same Day data, Nielsen Media Research

BNM Staff