ABC’s midday news program GMA3: What You Need to Know made the news itself in recent weeks, thanks to the off-screen relationship of lead anchors Amy Robach and T.J. Holmes. Their story was first made known by The Daily Mail on Nov. 30. On Dec. 1, The New York Post did not hesitate to go the innuendo route when providing this story a headline. Even more salacious is that each anchor was married to other people at the time of their affair. Robach’s husband was former Melrose Place star Andrew Shue.
So did the controversy boost viewership for GMA3? According to recent figures, the answer is yes, slightly so.
The Thursday Dec. 1 edition delivered 1.81 million total viewers, based on data from Nielsen Media Research. This was a bit above what GMA3 has drawn in the days and weeks prior, as seen below:
Nov. 21-23, 2022: 1.615 million
Nov. 14-18, 2022: 1.580 million (Nov. 17: 1.497 million; Nov. 18: 1.544 million)
Nov. 7-11, 2022: 1.518 million
Oct. 31-Nov. 4, 2022: 1.528 million
Oct. 24-28, 2022: 1.619 million
GMA3’s Friday Dec. 2 show drew an also above-average 1.71 million. To kick off that edition, Holmes made a subtle reference to all the tabloid fodder saying “It’s too bad it’s Friday. It’s been a great week… I just want this one to keep going and going and going.”
Shortly thereafter, ABC News suspended the two anchors. Gio Benitez and Stephanie Ramos filled in on Monday Dec 5, which then posted 1.68 million. For the week of Dec. 5-9, GMA3 averaged 1.65 million, relatively similar to the 1.68 million-average of its previous week (Nov. 28-Dec. 2 with Robach and Holmes).
The huge caveat to all these numbers is they are relatively steady from its year-ago levels. For the Monday thru Wednesday period of Thanksgiving week in 2021 (Nov. 22-24, 2021), GMA3 averaged 1.64 million viewers — a figure the program reached sans any controversy, of course. The surrounding weeks back then had hovered around the 1.50-1.55 million range per day (Nov. 15-19, 2021; Nov. 29-Dec. 2, 2021 and Dec. 6-10, 2021).
Nonetheless, in this ongoing current trend of steep year-to-year declines in linear TV viewing, performing on-par can be deemed as a significant positive.
As of Dec. 28, Robach and Holmes still remained suspended from GMA3.
Meanwhile, the ratings news was also positive for GMA3 competitor NBC News Daily. While the midday program, recently installed following the departure of longtime soap opera Days of Our Lives, averaged 1.28 million viewers for Dec. 12-16 (trailing GMA3 in total audience), it also delivered 338,000 within the key 25-54 demographic — NBC News Daily’s highest-to-date weekly 25-54 performance, plus it topped ABC’s GMA3 in the demo for the first time.
Cable news averages for December 12-18, 2022:
Total Day (Dec. 12-18 @ 6 a.m.-5:59 a.m.)
- Fox News Channel: 1.334 million viewers; 169,000 adults 25-54
- MSNBC: 0.700 million viewers; 75,000 adults 25-54
- CNN: 0.442 million viewers; 83,000 adults 25-54
- HLN: 0.131 million viewers; 40,000 adults 25-54
- Fox Business Network: 0.124 million viewers; 11,000 adults 25-54
- The Weather Channel: 0.122 million viewers; 23,000 adults 25-54
- CNBC: 0.112 million viewers; 28,000 adults 25-54
- Newsmax: 0.093 million viewers; 8,000 adults 25-54
Prime Time (Dec. 12-17 @ 8-11 p.m.; Dec. 18 @ 7-11 p.m.)
- Fox News Channel: 1.978 million viewers; 236,000 adults 25-54
- MSNBC: 1.098 million viewers; 101,000 adults 25-54
- CNN: 0.476 million viewers; 99,000 adults 25-54
- CNBC: 0.160 million viewers; 53,000 adults 25-54
- HLN: 0.160 million viewers; 50,000 adults 25-54
- The Weather Channel: 0.133 million viewers; 27,000 adults 25-54
- Newsmax: 0.123 million viewers; 9,000 adults 25-54
- NewsNation: 0.077 million viewers; 11,000 adults 25-54
- Fox Business Network: 0.073 million viewers; 8,000 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 1. The Five (FOXNC, Tue. 12/13/2022 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.331 million viewers
2. The Five (FOXNC, Mon. 12/12/2022 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.295 million viewers
3. The Five (FOXNC, Thu. 12/15/2022 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.253 million viewers
4. The Five (FOXNC, Wed. 12/14/2022 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.048 million viewers
5. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Wed. 12/14/2022 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.045 million viewers
6. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Tue. 12/13/2022 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.984 million viewers
7. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Thu. 12/15/2022 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.970 million viewers
8. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Mon. 12/12/2022 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.949 million viewers
9. The Five (FOXNC, Fri. 12/16/2022 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.946 million viewers
10. Jesse Watters Primetime (FOXNC, Mon. 12/12/2022 7:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.938 million viewers
28. Rachel Maddow Show (MSNBC, Mon. 12/12/2022 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.031 million viewers
166. The Lead With Jake Tapper (CNN, Wed. 12/14/2022 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.804 million viewers
352. Kudlow (FBN, Wed. 12/14/2022 4:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.404 million viewers
408. Forensic Files “Time Will Tell” (HLN, late Sat. 12/17/2022 1:00 AM, 30 min.) 0.311 million viewers
424. Shark Tank “Shark Tank 1206” (CNBC, Wed. 12/14/2022 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.279 million viewers
452. Highway Thru Hell “(1009) Redline Warriors” (TWC, Sun. 12/18/2022 7:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.244 million viewers
662. Newsnation: Rush Hour (NWSN, Mon. 12/12/2022 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.162 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. 12/13/2022 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.452 million adults 25-54
2. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Wed. 12/14/2022 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.424 million adults 25-54
3. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Mon. 12/12/2022 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.415 million adults 25-54
4. The Five (FOXNC, Mon. 12/12/2022 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.408 million adults 25-54
5. The Five (FOXNC, Tue. 12/13/2022 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.379 million adults 25-54
6. The Five (FOXNC, Wed. 12/14/2022 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.373 million adults 25-54
7. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Thu. 12/15/2022 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.339 million adults 25-54
8. The Five (FOXNC, Thu. 12/15/2022 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.335 million adults 25-54
9. Gutfeld! (FOXNC, Tue. 12/13/2022 11:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.335 million adults 25-54
10. Jesse Watters Primetime (FOXNC, Mon. 12/12/2022 7:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.334 million adults 25-54
61. Erin Burnett Outfront (CNN, Tue. 12/13/2022 7:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.183 million adults 25-54
64. Deadline: White House “Biden Signs Respect For Marriage Act 4-420” (MSNBC, Tue. 12/13/2022 4:00 PM, 120 min.) 0.179 million adults 25-54
164. Forensic Files “Time Will Tell” (HLN, late Sat. 12/17/2022 1:00 AM, 30 min.) 0.118 million adults 25-54
208. Shark Tank “Shark Tank 1206” (CNBC, Wed. 12/14/2022 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.103 million adults 25-54
429. Heavy Rescue: 401 “(305) Only Getting Worse” (TWC, Sat. 12/17/2022 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.056 million adults 25-54
576. Banfield (NWSN, Thu. 12/15/2022 10:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.041 million adults 25-54
623. Varney & Company (FBN, Thu. 12/15/2022 10:00 AM, 60 min.) 0.037 million adults 25-54
Source: Live+Same Day data, Nielsen Media Research
