For the week ending Apr. 16, it was a tale of two shows, both distinct and notable. One topped the ratings charts despite, as we now know, it soon being in its final days, and, the other — the debut weekend show for Anderson Cooper on CNN — was already off to an inauspicious start.
The Apr. 11 edition of Fox News Channel’s now-defunct Tucker Carlson Tonight featured an interview with Donald Trump, his first since being indicted on 34 felony counts of business fraud from New York City.
Although observers criticized Carlson for leaving his interview subject unchallenged throughout, the hour was cable’s most-watched non-sports telecast of the week (its viewer figures in the rankings at the end of this article); with sports included, ranked fourth on cable overall.
For Apr. 10-14, Carlson averaged 3.39 million total viewers including 419,000 within the key 25-54 demographic, according to Nielsen Media Research — its figures FNC hopes to either return to or come close to for its next 8 p.m. successor.
On the opposite end of the ratings spectrum, CNN’s debut The Whole Story with Anderson Cooper from Apr. 16 garnered just 496,000 viewers and 85,000 adults 25-54. In the first edition, Cooper chronicled the treks of migrants on their trails to America.
Within that Sunday 8-9 p.m. hour, it trailed both FNC’s Life, Liberty and Levin (1.389 million) and MSNBC’s The Mehdi Hasan Show (555,000) in total viewers; and, trailed only FNC (99,000) in adults 25-54.
CNN will continue its prime-time pursuits as their upcoming weekly program King Charles hosted by CBS Mornings anchor Gayle King and Inside the NBA’s Charles Barkley (officially announced on Apr. 22) will arrive on the network later this year.
Cable news averages for April 10-16, 2023:
Total Day (Apr. 10-16 @ 6 a.m.-5:59 a.m.)
- Fox News Channel: 1.330 million viewers; 166,000 adults 25-54
- MSNBC: 0.798 million viewers; 98,000 adults 25-54
- CNN: 0.449 million viewers; 97,000 adults 25-54
- CNBC: 0.116 million viewers; 29,000 adults 25-54
- Fox Business Network: 0.109 million viewers; 9,000 adults 25-54
- HLN: 0.097 million viewers; 23,000 adults 25-54
- Newsmax: 0.096 million viewers; 9,000 adults 25-54
- The Weather Channel: 0.078 million viewers; 13,000 adults 25-54
Prime Time (Apr. 10-15 @ 8-11 p.m.; Apr. 16 @ 7-11 p.m.)
- Fox News Channel: 2.123 million viewers; 240,000 adults 25-54
- MSNBC: 1.289 million viewers; 139,000 adults 25-54
- CNN: 0.524 million viewers; 123,000 adults 25-54
- CNBC: 0.168 million viewers; 47,000 adults 25-54
- Newsmax: 0.119 million viewers; 13,000 adults 25-54
- The Weather Channel: 0.099 million viewers; 18,000 adults 25-54
- NewsNation: 0.095 million viewers; 17,000 adults 25-54
- HLN: 0.078 million viewers; 18,000 adults 25-54
- Fox Business Network: 0.051 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. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Tue. 4/11/2023 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.712 million viewers
2. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Wed. 4/12/2023 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.606 million viewers
3. The Five (FOXNC, Thu. 4/13/2023 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.166 million viewers
4. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Mon. 4/10/2023 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.146 million viewers
5. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Thu. 4/13/2023 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.094 million viewers
6. The Five (FOXNC, Wed. 4/12/2023 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.025 million viewers
7. The Five (FOXNC, Tue. 4/11/2023 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.997 million viewers
8. The Five (FOXNC, Mon. 4/10/2023 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.992 million viewers
9. The Five (FOXNC, Fri. 4/14/2023 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.893 million viewers
10. Hannity (FOXNC, Wed. 4/12/2023 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.705 million viewers
17. Rachel Maddow Show (MSNBC, Mon. 4/10/2023 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.427 million viewers
170. Anderson Cooper 360 (CNN, Thu. 4/13/2023 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.854 million viewers
174. Real Time with Bill Maher “Episode 631” (HBO, Fri. 4/14/2023 10:01 PM, 59 min.) 0.835 million viewers
309. Last Week Tonight (HBO, Sun. 4/16/2023 11:02 PM, 35 min.) 0.500 million viewers
394. Varney & Company (FBN, Wed. 4/12/2023 10:00 AM, 60 min.) 0.348 million viewers
409. Carl Higbie Frontline (NMX, Fri. 4/14/2023 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.311 million viewers
459. Fast Money Halftime Report (CNBC, Mon. 4/10/2023 12:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.234 million viewers
469. Forensic Files (HLN, late Mon. 4/10/2023 5:00 AM, 30 min.) 0.223 million viewers
475. Highway Thru Hell “(1113) Far And Wide” (TWC, Sun. 4/16/2023 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.218 million viewers
595. Cuomo (NWSN, Mon. 4/10/2023 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.158 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. 4/11/2023 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.471 million adults 25-54
2. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Wed. 4/12/2023 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.438 million adults 25-54
3. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Mon. 4/10/2023 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.438 million adults 25-54
4. The Five (FOXNC, Thu. 4/13/2023 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.384 million adults 25-54
5. The Five (FOXNC, Mon. 4/10/2023 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.376 million adults 25-54
6. The Five (FOXNC, Wed. 4/12/2023 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.335 million adults 25-54
7. Jesse Watters Primetime (FOXNC, Mon. 4/10/2023 7:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.328 million adults 25-54
8. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Thu. 4/13/2023 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.327 million adults 25-54
9. Gutfeld! (FOXNC, Thu. 4/13/2023 11:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.319 million adults 25-54
10. The Five (FOXNC, Tue. 4/11/2023 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.319 million adults 25-54
20. Rachel Maddow Show (MSNBC, Mon. 4/10/2023 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.277 million adults 25-54
43. Anderson Cooper 360 (CNN, Thu. 4/13/2023 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.219 million adults 25-54
113. Real Time With Bill Maher “Episode 631” (HBO, Fri. 4/14/2023 10:01 PM, 59 min.) 0.163 million adults 25-54
182. Last Week Tonight (HBO, Sun. 4/16/2023 11:02 PM, 35 min.) 0.126 million adults 25-54
388. Squawk on the Street (CNBC, Mon. 4/10/2023 9:00 AM, 180 min.) 0.062 million adults 25-54
397. Forensic Files (HLN, late Tue. 4/11/2023 2:30 AM, 30 min.) 0.058 million adults 25-54
440. Highway Thru Hell “(1111) Get Er Done” (TWC, Wed. 4/12/2023 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.048 million adults 25-54
516. Cuomo (NWSN, Tue. 4/11/2023 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.036 million adults 25-54
608. Mornings with Maria Bartiromo (FBN, Fri. 4/14/2023 8:00 AM, 60 min.) 0.027 million adults 25-54
649. Eric Bolling The Balance (NMX, Mon. 4/10/2023 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.024 million adults 25-54
Source: Live+Same Day data, Nielsen Media Research
