The most prominent court case within the past year on a national scale has been the double murder trial of former lawyer Alex Murdaugh in South Carolina. Prosecutors accused Murdaugh had shot and killed his wife Maggie and their youngest son Paul as a distraction from his financial crimes including the years of allegedly embezzling millions of dollars from clients.
The case’s turning point was a Snapchat video posted by Paul just minutes before his death that placed his father Alex at their residence, the site of the crimes. This led to the defendant testifying on Feb. 23rd and 24th to explain his whereabouts.
On the first day of coverage of his testimony, it was a neck-and-neck battle between CNN and MSNBC, according to Nielsen Media Research. CNN’s eight hours (10 a.m. to 6 p.m.) averaged 722,000 viewers while MSNBC’s four hours (10:45 a.m. thru 4:40 p.m., with several breaks in between) drew a similar figure in total viewers, 719,000; demo-wise, based on adults 25-54, CNN (122,000 average) bested MSNBC (70,009).
Although Fox News Channel checked in on the trial throughout that day on Feb. 23, Nielsen only tabulated the 5:00-5:32 p.m. portion of its coverage. Because it aired in the regularly highly viewed time slot for FNC, it delivered the largest total audience and demo of the day on cable news for Murdaugh: 2.68 million total viewers including 258,000 within the key 25-54 demography.
This was also around the time each CNN and MSNBC had peaked in ratings. From 5-6 p.m. ET, CNN posted 889,000 viewers (179,000 adults 25-54); from 3:45-4:40 p.m. ET, MSNBC averaged 961,000 viewers (101,000 adults 25-54).
Fox News offered more extensive coverage on the following day (Feb. 24), devoting nearly five hours of the trial as Murdaugh was being cross-examined by the prosecution. Again, they led their cable news competition averaging 1.51 million total viewers (210,000 adults 25-54). On this day, MSNBC’s 4+ hours (783,000) outdrew CNN’s 7 hours (677,000) in total viewers but CNN still bested MSNBC in 25-54, 122,000 to 110,000, respectively.
Cable news averages for February 20-26, 2023:
Total Day (Feb. 20-26 @ 6 a.m.-5:59 a.m.)
- Fox News Channel: 1.334 million viewers; 167,000 adults 25-54
- MSNBC: 0.689 million viewers; 72,000 adults 25-54
- CNN: 0.462 million viewers; 88,000 adults 25-54
- HLN: 0.167 million viewers; 43,000 adults 25-54
- CNBC: 0.116 million viewers; 29,000 adults 25-54
- Fox Business Network: 0.113 million viewers; 13,000 adults 25-54
- The Weather Channel: 0.104 million viewers; 18,000 adults 25-54
- Newsmax: 0.087 million viewers; 7,000 adults 25-54
Prime Time (Feb. 20-25 @ 8-11 p.m.; Feb. 26 @ 7-11 p.m.)
- Fox News Channel: 2.088 million viewers; 255,000 adults 25-54
- MSNBC: 1.060 million viewers; 95,000 adults 25-54
- CNN: 0.521 million viewers; 106,000 adults 25-54
- HLN: 0.241 million viewers; 61,000 adults 25-54
- CNBC: 0.200 million viewers; 56,000 adults 25-54
- The Weather Channel: 0.117 million viewers; 19,000 adults 25-54
- NewsNation: 0.093 million viewers; 15,000 adults 25-54
- Newsmax: 0.091 million viewers; 9,000 adults 25-54
- Fox Business Network: 0.065 million viewers; 12,000 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, Wed. 2/22/2023 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.239 million viewers
2. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Wed. 2/22/2023 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.184 million viewers
3. The Five (FOXNC, Mon. 2/20/2023 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.174 million viewers
4. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Thu. 2/23/2023 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.163 million viewers
5. The Five (FOXNC, Tue. 2/21/2023 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.119 million viewers
6. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Mon. 2/20/2023 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.093 million viewers
7. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Tue. 2/21/2023 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.060 million viewers
8. The Five (FOXNC, Fri. 2/24/2023 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.012 million viewers
9. The Five (FOXNC, Thu. 2/23/2023 5:32 PM, 28 min.) 2.906 million viewers
10. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Fri. 2/24/2023 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.822 million viewers
20. Rachel Maddow Special (MSNBC, Mon. 2/20/2023 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.403 million viewers
160. The Lead With Jake Tapper “Murdaugh Trial” (CNN, Thu. 2/23/2023 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.889 million viewers
382. Kudlow (FBN, Thu. 2/23/2023 4:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.352 million viewers
395. Forensic Files (HLN, late Mon. 2/20/2023 12:00 AM, 30 min.) 0.321 million viewers
409. Fast Money Halftime Report (CNBC, Thu. 2/23/2023 12:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.299 million viewers
447. Real Time With Bill Maher “Episode 625” (repeat) (HBO, Fri. 2/24/2023 10:00 PM, 57 min.) 0.256 million viewers
533. Weird Earth “(306) Celestial Body And Imploding Mount” (TWC, Sat. 2/25/2023 2:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.207 million viewers
650. Newsnation Prime (NWSN, Sat. 2/25/2023 7:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.164 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. 2/21/2023 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.449 million adults 25-54
2. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Mon. 2/20/2023 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.429 million adults 25-54
3. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Thu. 2/23/2023 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.400 million adults 25-54
4. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Wed. 2/22/2023 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.391 million adults 25-54
5. The Five (FOXNC, Wed. 2/22/2023 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.355 million adults 25-54
6. Hannity (FOXNC, Tue. 2/21/2023 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.351 million adults 25-54
7. Gutfeld! (FOXNC, Tue. 2/21/2023 11:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.349 million adults 25-54
8. The Five (FOXNC, Tue. 2/21/2023 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.335 million adults 25-54
9. Hannity (FOXNC, Thu. 2/23/2023 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.320 million adults 25-54
10. Hannity (FOXNC, Wed. 2/22/2023 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.312 million adults 25-54
38. Rachel Maddow Special (MSNBC, Mon. 2/20/2023 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.222 million adults 25-54
72. The Lead With Jake Tapper “Murdaugh Trial” (CNN, Thu. 2/23/2023 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.179 million adults 25-54
166. Shark Tank “Shark Tank 1101” (CNBC, Mon. 2/20/2023 11:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.119 million adults 25-54
174. Forensic Files (HLN, Tue. 2/21/2023 10:00 PM, 30 min.) 0.117 million adults 25-54
375. Weather Channel Live “Live Coverage: Severe Storms” (TWC, Sun. 2/26/2023 10:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.065 million adults 25-54
425. Real Time With Bill Maher “Episode 625” (repeat) (HBO, Fri. 2/24/2023 10:00 PM, 57 min.) 0.058 million adults 25-54
546. Kudlow (FBN, Thu. 2/23/2023 4:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.044 million adults 25-54
676. Newsnation Prime (NWSN, Sat. 2/25/2023 7:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.031 million adults 25-54
Source: Live+Same Day data, Nielsen Media Research
