Donald Trump Indictment More Than Doubles Audiences For CNN, MSNBC

It was the long-awaited decision that finally arrived on Thursday, March 30: the indictment of Donald Trump by a New York City grand jury.

The news story of the charges against the former President — the first POTUS in U.S. history to be officially criminally charged — who allegedly paid hush money to former porn star Stormy Daniels in the lead-up to the 2016 election broke at 6:00 PM Eastern that night.

Although this occurred near the time that the broadcast network evening news programs would begin airing, the Mar. 30 editions of ABC’s World News Tonight (7.74 million total viewers/1.17 million adults 25-54), NBC Nightly News (6.48 million total viewers/1.00 million adults 25-54) and the CBS Evening News (4.50 million total viewers/658,000 adults 25-54) all combined to 18.71 million total viewers including 2.83 million within the key 25-54 demographic, according to Nielsen Media Research.

That marked the lowest combined figures of the week (Mar. 27-31). For Monday, Mar. 27 thru Friday, Mar. 31, they combined to average 19.7 million viewers (3.1 million adults 25-54).

Data showed that cable news picked up the viewer gains that the broadcast networks had lost. Every outlet experienced significant percentage boosts from their respective prior Thursday (Mar. 23) time slot returns:

Fox News Channel

• Special Report with Bret Baier (6-7 p.m.): 3.033 million viewers (+56%); 357,000 adults 25-54 (+78%)
• Jesse Watters Primetime (7-8 p.m.): 3.161 million viewers (+36%); 341,000 adults 25-54 (+43%)
• Tucker Carlson Tonight (8-9 p.m.): 4.188 million viewers (+41%); 555,000 adults 25-54 (+59%)
• Hannity (9-10 p.m.): 3.480 million viewers (+52%); 503,000 adults 25-54 (+125%)
• The Ingraham Angle (10-11 p.m.): 2.653 million viewers (+41%) viewers; 393,000 adults 25-54 (+85%)

MSNBC

• The Beat with Ari Melber (6-7 p.m.): 2.297 million viewers (+61%); 279,000 adults 25-54 (+107%)
• The Reidout (7-8 p.m.): 2.185 million viewers (+86%); 301,000 adults 25-54 (+159%)
• All In with Chris Hayes (8-9 p.m.): 2.412 million viewers (+99%); 328,000 adults 25-54 (+162%)
• Rachel Maddow Show (9-10 p.m.): 2.916 million viewers (+117%); 387,000 adults 25-54 (+210%)
• Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell (10-11 p.m.): 2.435 million viewers (+63%) viewers; 277,000 adults 25-54 (+147%)

CNN

• The Situation Room (6-7 p.m.): 1.224 million viewers (+148%); 261,000 adults 25-54 (+203%)
• Erin Burnett Outfront (7-8 p.m.): 1.521 million viewers (+152%); 353,000 adults 25-54 (+233%)
• Anderson Cooper 360 (8-9 p.m.): 1.428 million viewers (+146%); 398,000 adults 25-54 (+438%)
• Special: Donald Trump Indictment (9-10 p.m.): 1.210 million viewers (+195%); 325,000 adults 25-54 (+246%)
• Special: Donald Trump Indictment (10-11 p.m.): 1.107 million viewers (+161%) viewers; 275,000 adults 25-54 (+143%)

Unsurprisingly, when it comes to breaking news of this nature, CNN more than doubled in all key figures for its immediate hours, with the biggest demo increase for Anderson Cooper 360 in the 8-9 p.m. hour which saw its 25-54 demo quintuple from Mar. 23.

MSNBC’s early evening and primetime programs also all saw its 25-54 demos grow by more than double. Compared to Alex Wagner Tonight from Mar. 23 at 9-10 p.m., a special Mar. 30 edition of The Rachel Maddow Show at 9-10 p.m. drew more than double the total audience and more than triple of its key 25-54 demo.

Even the lineups of Newsmax and the nascent news outlet NewsNation got sizable increases:

Newsmax

• The Record with Greta Van Susteren (6-7 p.m.): 300,000 viewers (+89%); 35,000 adults 25-54 (+150%)
• Rob Schmitt Tonight (7-8 p.m.): 415,000 viewers (+70%); 48,000 adults 25-54 (+92%)
• Eric Bolling The Balance (8-9 p.m.): 307,000 viewers (+45%); 43,000 adults 25-54 (+105%)
• Prime News (9-10 p.m.): 170,000 viewers (+5%); 34,000 adults 25-54 (+55%)
• Greg Kelly Reports (10-11 p.m.): 218,000 viewers (+76%) viewers; 33,000 adults 25-54 (+175%)

NewsNation

• Cuomo (8-10 p.m.): 166,000 viewers (+54%); 26,000 adults 25-54 (+16%)
• Banfield (10-11 p.m.): 115,000 viewers (+17%); 22,000 adults 25-54 (-18%)

Cable news averages for March 27-April 2, 2023:

Total Day (Mar. 27-Apr. 2 @ 6 a.m.-5:59 a.m.)

• Fox News Channel: 1.409 million viewers; 179,000 adults 25-54
• MSNBC: 0.877 million viewers; 110,000 adults 25-54
• CNN: 0.510 million viewers; 109,000 adults 25-54
• HLN: 0.128 million viewers; 41,000 adults 25-54
• The Weather Channel: 0.118 million viewers; 19,000 adults 25-54
• CNBC: 0.108 million viewers; 24,000 adults 25-54
• Newsmax: 0.106 million viewers; 10,000 adults 25-54
• Fox Business Network: 0.105 million viewers; 10,000 adults 25-54

Prime Time (Mar. 27-Apr. 1 @ 8-11 p.m.; Apr. 2 @ 7-11 p.m.)

• Fox News Channel: 2.324 million viewers; 283,000 adults 25-54
• MSNBC: 1.459 million viewers; 172,000 adults 25-54
• CNN: 0.623 million viewers; 149,000 adults 25-54
• CNBC: 0.158 million viewers; 47,000 adults 25-54
• HLN: 0.150 million viewers; 48,000 adults 25-54
• The Weather Channel: 0.138 million viewers; 23,000 adults 25-54
• Newsmax: 0.132 million viewers; 14,000 adults 25-54
• NewsNation: 0.098 million viewers; 18,000 adults 25-54
• Fox Business Network: 0.046 million viewers; 5,000 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, Thu. 3/30/2023 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 4.188 million viewers

2. Special Report/Nashville Shooting-Police (FOXNC, Mon. 3/27/2023 5:17 PM, 9 min.) 3.899 million viewers

3. The Five (FOXNC, Mon. 3/27/2023 5:26 PM, 34 min.) 3.780 million viewers

4. The Five (FOXNC, Mon. 3/27/2023 5:00 PM, 17 min.) 3.536 million viewers

5. Hannity (FOXNC, Thu. 3/30/2023 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.480 million viewers

6. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Mon. 3/27/2023 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.342 million viewers

7. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Tue. 3/28/2023 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.329 million viewers

8. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Wed. 3/29/2023 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.175 million viewers

9. Jesse Watters Primetime (FOXNC, Thu. 3/30/2023 7:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.161 million viewers

10. The Five (FOXNC, Tue. 3/28/2023 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.087 million viewers

16. Rachel Maddow Show “SDNY Indicts Trump” (MSNBC, Thu. 3/30/2023 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.916 million viewers

81. Erin Burnett Outfront “Donald Trump Indictment” (CNN, Thu. 3/30/2023 7:00 PM, 60 min.) 1.521 million viewers

193. Real Time With Bill Maher “Episode 630” (HBO, Fri. 3/31/2023 10:00 PM, 58 min.) 0.813 million viewers

349. Last Week Tonight (HBO, Sun. 4/2/2023 11:02 PM, 35 min.) 0.470 million viewers

366. The Daily Show “Mar 28, 23 – John Leguizamo” (CMDY, Tue. 3/28/2023 11:00 PM, 35 min.) 0.440 million viewers

360. Storm Center (TWC, Fri. 3/31/2023 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.448 million viewers

425. Varney & Company (FBN, Mon. 3/27/2023 10:00 AM, 60 min.) 0.309 million viewers

432. Forensic Files (HLN, late Tue. 3/28/2023 1:00 AM, 30 min.) 0.303 million viewers

484. Fast Money Halftime Report (CNBC, Thu. 3/30/2023 12:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.259 million viewers

662. Cuomo “Trump NYC Indictment” (NWSN, Thu. 3/30/2023 8:00 PM, 120 min.) 0.166 million viewers

714. Tooning Out The News “Episode 119” (CMDY, Wed. 3/29/2023 11:30 PM, 30 min.) 0.145 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, Thu. 3/30/2023 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.555 million adults 25-54

2. Special Report/Nashville Shooting-Police (FOXNC, Mon. 3/27/2023 5:17 PM, 9 min.) 0.505 million adults 25-54

3. Hannity (FOXNC, Thu. 3/30/2023 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.503 million adults 25-54

4. The Five (FOXNC, Mon. 3/27/2023 5:26 PM, 34 min.) 0.466 million adults 25-54

5. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Mon. 3/27/2023 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.441 million adults 25-54

6. The Five (FOXNC, Mon. 3/27/2023 5:00 PM, 17 min.) 0.427 million adults 25-54

7. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Wed. 3/29/2023 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.424 million adults 25-54

8. Anderson Cooper 360 “Donald Trump Indictment” (CNN, Thu. 3/30/2023 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.398 million adults 25-54

9. The Ingraham Angle (FOXNC, Thu. 3/30/2023 10:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.393 million adults 25-54

10. Rachel Maddow Show “SDNY Indicts Trump” (MSNBC, Thu. 3/30/2023 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.387 million adults 25-54

135. The Daily Show “Mar 28, 23 – John Leguizamo” (CMDY, Tue. 3/28/2023 11:00 PM, 35 min.) 0.165 million adults 25-54

168. Real Time With Bill Maher “Episode 630” (HBO, Fri. 3/31/2023 10:00 PM, 58 min.) 0.148 million adults 25-54

209. Forensic Files (HLN, late Tue. 3/28/2023 12:30 AM, 30 min.) 0.122 million adults 25-54

228. Last Week Tonight (HBO, Sun. 4/2/2023 11:02 PM, 35 min.) 0.115 million adults 25-54

313. Shark Tank “Shark Tank 1219” (CNBC, Wed. 3/29/2023 11:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.094 million adults 25-54

368. Storm Center (TWC, Fri. 3/31/2023 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.082 million adults 25-54

581. Tooning Out The News “Episode 119” (CMDY, Wed. 3/29/2023 11:30 PM, 30 min.) 0.045 million adults 25-54

637. Banfield (NWSN, Fri. 3/31/2023 10:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.037 million adults 25-54

655. Kudlow (FBN, Mon. 3/27/2023 4:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.035 million adults 25-54

Source: Live+Same Day data, Nielsen Media Research