Perhaps it was due to the continuing downward trends in linear TV viewing. Or, perhaps a divided Congress makes for any messaging to be moot. Perhaps the overall presence of President Biden does not make for scintillating entertainment. Or, a combination of any of these factors, alongside the caveat that Biden’s 2022 SOTU address occurred mere days after the start of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, might have attributed to the record-low viewership figures for a State of the Union address.
On Feb. 7, a combined 27.312 million viewers across sixteen networks tuned in — the lowest ever, since at least 1993, the first year Nielsen Media Research measured SOTU addresses with total viewers. Biden’s speech to a joint session of Congress three months after being sworn in at his inauguration in 2021 actually drew less viewership, at 26.94 million.
Despite the address receiving one of the more raucous feedbacks in U.S. history — with several Republicans in Congress reacting loudly to Biden’s verified claim that some GOP members have plans to cut Social Security and Medicare as a way to reduce the deficit — it was off 29 percent from Biden’s 2022 State of the Union (38.2 million), with every outlet covering the speech seeing a decline from last year:
- Fox News Channel: 4.695 million viewers (-35 percent)
- ABC: 4.405 million viewers (-30 percent)
- NBC: 3.778 million viewers (-20 percent)
- CBS: 3.637 million viewers (-25 percent)
- MSNBC: 3.569 million viewers (-12 percent)
- CNN: 2.411 million viewers (-50 percent)
- Fox broadcast network: 1.656 million viewers (-11 percent)
- Univision: 1.083 million viewers (-20 percent)
- Telemundo: 0.836 million viewers (-28 percent)
- Newsmax: (9-11 p.m.) 0.277 million viewers (-40 percent)
- CNBC: 0.128 million viewers (-55 percent)
- NewsNation: 0.097 million viewers (-37 percent)
In the key 25-54 demographic, ABC posted 1.1 million viewers, followed by NBC with 1.0 million, Fox News with 853,000, CBS with approximately 700,000, CNN with 651,000, MSNBC and Fox Broadcasting each with about a half million.
Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders delivered the Republican response on Feb. 7 from 10:47-11:01 p.m. ET. Fox News Channel (4.716 million) led in coverage, followed by ABC (2.992 million), MSNBC (2.631 million), NBC (2.494 million), CBS (2.353 million), CNN (1.621 million), Newsmax (0.302 million from 10-11 p.m.), CNBC (0.109 million) and NewsNation (0.100 million). Note: viewing figures for the GOP response on the Fox broadcast network, Univision and Telemundo were included within the same data block as the State of the Union.
Cable news averages for February 6-12, 2023:
Total Day (Feb. 6-12 @ 6 a.m.-5:59 a.m.)
- Fox News Channel: 1.540 million viewers; 205,000 adults 25-54
- MSNBC: 0.777 million viewers; 92,000 adults 25-54
- CNN: 0.500 million viewers; 98,000 adults 25-54
- HLN: 0.153 million viewers; 39,000 adults 25-54
- CNBC: 0.122 million viewers; 32,000 adults 25-54
- Fox Business Network: 0.116 million viewers; 13,000 adults 25-54
- The Weather Channel: 0.089 million viewers; 15,000 adults 25-54
- Newsmax: 0.089 million viewers; 7,000 adults 25-54
Prime Time (Feb. 6-11 @ 8-11 p.m.; Feb. 12 @ 7-11 p.m.)
- Fox News Channel: 2.520 million viewers; 359,000 adults 25-54
- MSNBC: 1.374 million viewers; 159,000 adults 25-54
- CNN: 0.719 million viewers; 163,000 adults 25-54
- HLN: 0.192 million viewers; 43,000 adults 25-54
- CNBC: 0.180 million viewers; 52,000 adults 25-54
- Newsmax: 0.120 million viewers; 12,000 adults 25-54
- NewsNation: 0.099 million viewers; 17,000 adults 25-54
- The Weather Channel: 0.095 million viewers; 17,000 adults 25-54
- Fox Business Network: 0.055 million viewers; 9,000 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. State of the Union/Analysis (FOXNC, Tue. 2/7/2023 10:22 PM, 25 min.) 4.797 million viewers
2. State of the Union/Republican Response (FOXNC, Tue. 2/7/2023 10:47 PM, 14 min.) 4.716 million viewers
3. State Of The Union 2023 (FOXNC, Tue. 2/7/2023 9:09 PM, 73 min.) 4.695 million viewers
4. State Of The Union Coverage (FOXNC, Tue. 2/7/2023 8:55 PM, 14 min.) 4.280 million viewers
5. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Tue. 2/7/2023 8:00 PM, 55 min.) 3.724 million viewers
6. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Wed. 2/8/2023 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.716 million viewers
7. MSNBC Special Coverage “State Of The Union Analysis 2023” (MSNBC, Tue. 2/7/2023 10:22 PM, 25 min.) 3.688 million viewers
8. State Of The Union Address “2023 Address” (MSNBC, Tue. 2/7/2023 9:09 PM, 73 min.) 3.569 million viewers
9. The Five (FOXNC, Wed. 2/8/2023 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.546 million viewers
10. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Thu. 2/9/2023 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.500 million viewers
32. State Of The Union 2023 (CNN, Tue. 2/7/2023 9:08 PM, 75 min.) 2.411 million viewers
186. Real Time With Bill Maher “Episode 624” (HBO, Fri. 2/10/2023 10:01 PM, 58 min.) 0.834 million viewers
387. The Daily Show “Feb 9, 23 – Chelsea Handler” (CMDY, Thu. 2/9/2023 11:00 PM, 35 min.) 0.348 million viewers
391. Varney & Company (FBN, Mon. 2/6/2023 10:00 AM, 60 min.) 0.342 million viewers
423. Shark Tank “Shark Tank 1206” (CNBC, Mon. 2/6/2023 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.293 million viewers
429. Forensic Files (HLN, late Fri. 2/10/2023 1:00 AM, 30 min.) 0.284 million viewers
467. World’s Funniest Weather “207 Quit Pooling Around” (TWC, Sun. 2/12/2023 4:00 PM, 30 min.) 0.252 million viewers
657. Cuomo (NWSN, Mon. 2/6/2023 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.170 million viewers
Top 10 cable news programs (and the top programs of other outlets with their respective associated ranks) among adults 25-54:
1. State Of The Union 2023 (FOXNC, Tue. 2/7/2023 9:09 PM, 73 min.) 0.853 million adults 25-54
2. State of the Union/Analysis (FOXNC, Tue. 2/7/2023 10:22 PM, 25 min.) 0.849 million adults 25-54
3. State of the Union/Republican Response (FOXNC, Tue. 2/7/2023 10:47 PM, 14 min.) 0.826 million adults 25-54
4. State Of The Union Coverage (FOXNC, Tue. 2/7/2023 8:55 PM, 14 min.) 0.737 million adults 25-54
5. State Of The Union 2023 (CNN, Tue. 2/7/2023 9:08 PM, 75 min.) 0.651 million adults 25-54
6. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Tue. 2/7/2023 8:00 PM, 55 min.) 0.635 million adults 25-54
7. State Of The Union Preview “State Of The Union 2023” (CNN, Tue. 2/7/2023 9:00 PM, 8 min.) 0.616 million adults 25-54
8. State Of The Union Analysis “State Of The Union 2023” (CNN, Tue. 2/7/2023 10:23 PM, 24 min.) 0.581 million adults 25-54
9. Hannity (FOXNC, Tue. 2/7/2023 11:03 PM, 57 min.) 0.537 million adults 25-54
10. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Wed. 2/8/2023 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.537 million adults 25-54
12. State Of The Union Address “2023 Address” (MSNBC, Tue. 2/7/2023 9:09 PM, 73 min.) 0.500 million adults 25-54
191. Real Time With Bill Maher “Episode 624” (HBO, Fri. 2/10/2023 10:01 PM, 58 min.) 0.124 million adults 25-54
265. Forensic Files (HLN, late Mon. 2/6/2023 12:30 AM, 30 min.) 0.101 million adults 25-54
270. The Daily Show “Feb 9, 23 – Chelsea Handler” (CMDY, Thu. 2/9/2023 11:00 PM, 35 min.) 0.099 million adults 25-54
292. Shark Tank “Shark Tank 1206” (CNBC, Mon. 2/6/2023 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.094 million adults 25-54
574. World’s Funniest Weather “203 Wanna Pool Around?” (TWC, Sun. 2/12/2023 2:00 PM, 30 min.) 0.042 million adults 25-54
582. Varney & Company (FBN, Fri. 2/10/2023 11:00 AM, 60 min.) 0.041 million adults 25-54
610. Newsnation Prime (NWSN, Sat. 2/11/2023 7:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.039 million adults 25-54
Source: Live+Same Day data, Nielsen Media Research
