Another indictment and arraignment of Donald Trump, another instance of a ratings boost for the cable news stations.
On Tuesday, Aug. 1, a federal grand jury charged Donald Trump on four counts related to attempts to overturn the 2020 election, including conspiring to defraud the United States and to obstruct an official proceeding (the confirmation of the election results at the Capitol on the infamous day of Jan. 6, 2021).
The breakdown of the bulk of live indictment coverage took place from 5-8 p.m. Eastern:
5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Eastern
- Fox News Channel: 2.788 million viewers; 257,000 adults 25-54
- MSNBC (4-6 p.m. ET): 1.652 million viewers; 165,000 adults 25-54
- CNN: 0.819 million viewers; 159,000 adults 25-54
- NewsNation: 0.018 million viewers; 7,000 adults 25-54
6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Eastern
- MSNBC: 2.671 million viewers; 333,000 adults 25-54
- Fox News Channel: 2.191 million viewers; 198,000 adults 25-54
- CNN: 1.172 million viewers; 267,000 adults 25-54
- NewsNation: 0.018 million viewers; 4,000 adults 25-54
7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern
- Fox News Channel: 2.138 million viewers; 219,000 adults 25-54
- MSNBC: 2.084 million viewers; 273,000 adults 25-54
- CNN: 1.345 million viewers; 279,000 adults 25-54
- NewsNation: 0.030 million viewers; 7,000 adults 25-54
Donald Trump was then arraigned on those charges on Aug. 3 at a Washington, D.C. courthouse, in close proximity to the Capitol, the site of the infamous insurrection for which he is charged He pleaded not guilty on all charges at the arraignment. Viewership figures increased on Aug. 3, compared to his Aug. 1 indictment:
3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Eastern
- MSNBC: 1.799 million viewers; 190,000 adults 25-54
- Fox News Channel: 1.507 million viewers; 180,000 adults 25-54
- CNN: 1.439 million viewers; 297,000 adults 25-54
- NewsNation: 0.034 million viewers; 2,000 adults 25-54
4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern
- MSNBC (4-6 p.m. ET): 2.748 million viewers; 303,000 adults 25-54
- Fox News Channel: 1.739 million viewers; 197,000 adults 25-54
- CNN: 1.599 million viewers; 310,000 adults 25-54
- NewsNation: 0.034 million viewers; 2,000 adults 25-54
5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Eastern
- Fox News Channel: 3.069 million viewers; 398,000 adults 25-54
- MSNBC (4-6 p.m. ET): 2.748 million viewers; 303,000 adults 25-54
- CNN: 1.137 million viewers; 219,000 adults 25-54
- NewsNation: 0.033 million viewers; 8,000 adults 25-54
6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Eastern
- MSNBC: 2.115 million viewers; 276,000 adults 25-54
- Fox News Channel: 1.887 million viewers; 229,000 adults 25-54
- CNN: 1.172 million viewers; 267,000 adults 25-54
- NewsNation: 0.030 million viewers; 3,000 adults 25-54
The court woes for Donald Trump, of course, made for much discussion and analysis in prime time on cable news. As potent as the numbers still are on each network, the levels (and seemingly, overall interest) have generally waned (except for MSNBC on Aug. 1, as indicated below):
Fox News Channel primetime averages (8-11 p.m.)
- August 3, 2023 (Trump’s 3rd arraignment): 2.268 million viewers; 262,000 adults 25-54
- August 1, 2023 (Trump’s 3rd indictment): 2.194 million viewers; 279,000 adults 25-54
- June 13, 2023 (Trump’s 2nd arraignment): 2.420 million viewers; 295,000 adults 25-54
- June 8, 2023 (Trump’s 2nd indictment): 2.155 million viewers; 231,000 adults 25-54
- April 4, 2023 (Trump’s 1st arraignment): 4.403 million viewers; 713,000 adults 25-54
- March 23, 2023 (Trump’s 1st indictment): 3.440 million viewers; 484,000 adults 25-54
MSNBC primetime averages (8-11 p.m.)
- August 3, 2023 (Trump’s 3rd arraignment): 1.831 million viewers; 233,000 adults 25-54
- August 1, 2023 (Trump’s 3rd indictment): 2.631 million viewers; 350,000 adults 25-54
- June 13, 2023 (Trump’s 2nd arraignment): 2.407 million viewers; 273,000 adults 25-54
- June 8, 2023 (Trump’s 2nd indictment): 2.485 million viewers; 342,000 adults 25-54
- April 4, 2023 (Trump’s 1st arraignment): 2.666 million viewers; 348,000 adults 25-54
- March 23, 2023 (Trump’s 1st indictment): 2.588 million viewers; 331,000 adults 25-54
CNN primetime averages (8-11 p.m.)
- August 3, 2023 (Trump’s 3rd arraignment): 0.891 million viewers; 146,000 adults 25-54
- August 1, 2023 (Trump’s 3rd indictment): 1.059 million viewers; 208,000 adults 25-54
- June 13, 2023 (Trump’s 2nd arraignment): 0.948 million viewers; 220,000 adults 25-54
- June 8, 2023 (Trump’s 2nd indictment): 1.135 million viewers; 256,000 adults 25-54
- April 4, 2023 (Trump’s 1st arraignment): 1.754 million viewers; 487,000 adults 25-54
- March 23, 2023 (Trump’s 1st indictment): 1.248 million viewers; 333,000 adults 25-54
NewsNation primetime averages (8-11 p.m.)
- August 3, 2023 (Trump’s 3rd arraignment): 0.098 million viewers; 9,000 adults 25-54
- August 1, 2023 (Trump’s 3rd indictment): 0.091 million viewers; 16,000 adults 25-54
- June 13, 2023 (Trump’s 2nd arraignment): 0.122 million viewers; 26,000 adults 25-54
- June 8, 2023 (Trump’s 2nd indictment): 0.136 million viewers; 23,000 adults 25-54
- April 4, 2023 (Trump’s 1st arraignment): 0.170 million viewers; 30,000 adults 25-54
- March 23, 2023 (Trump’s 1st indictment): 0.149 million viewers; 25,000 adults 25-54
Cable news averages for July 31-August 6, 2023:
Total Day (July 31-Aug. 6 @ 6 a.m.-5:59 a.m.)
- Fox News Channel: 1.164 million viewers; 139,000 adults 25-54
- MSNBC: 0.966 million viewers; 110,000 adults 25-54
- CNN: 0.547 million viewers; 104,000 adults 25-54
- Newsmax: 0.181 million viewers; 15,000 adults 25-54
- HLN: 0.149 million viewers; 40,000 adults 25-54
- CNBC: 0.122 million viewers; 28,000 adults 25-54
- Fox Business Network: 0.119 million viewers; 17,000 adults 25-54
- The Weather Channel: 0.077 million viewers; 21,000 adults 25-54
- NewsNation: 0.053 million viewers; 9,000 adults 25-54
Prime Time (July 31-Aug. 5 @ 8-11 p.m.; Aug. 6 @ 7-11 p.m.)
- Fox News Channel: 1.866 million viewers; 199,000 adults 25-54
- MSNBC: 1.557 million viewers; 170,000 adults 25-54
- CNN: 0.710 million viewers; 136,000 adults 25-54
- Newsmax: 0.295 million viewers; 28,000 adults 25-54
- NewsNation: 0.083 million viewers; 11,000 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, Thu. 8/3/2023 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.069 million viewers
2. The Five (FOXNC, Mon. 7/31/2023 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.869 million viewers
3. All In with Chris Hayes “DOJ Indicts Trump 2020 Election Prime Special” (MSNBC, Tue. 8/1/2023 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.861 million viewers
4. The Five (FOXNC, Tue. 8/1/2023 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.768 million viewers
5. The Five (FOXNC, Wed. 8/2/2023 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.767 million viewers
6. Deadline: White House “Trump Arraignment 2020 Election Prime Special” (MSNBC, Thu. 8/3/2023 4:00 PM, 120 min.) 2.748 million viewers
7. The Beat with Ari Melber “DOJ Indicts Trump 2020 Election” (MSNBC, Tue. 8/1/2023 6:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.671 million viewers
8. Alex Wagner Tonight “DOJ Indicts Trump 2020 Election Prime Special” (MSNBC, Tue. 8/1/2023 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.629 million viewers
9. Jesse Watters Primetime (FOXNC, Mon. 7/31/2023 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.591 million viewers
10. The Five (FOXNC, Fri. 8/4/2023 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.571 million viewers
52. The Lead With Jake Tapper “Trump Jan 6 Arrest/Arraign” (CNN, Thu. 8/3/2023 4:00 PM, 60 min.) 1.599 million viewers
409. Kudlow (FBN, Tue. 8/1/2023 4:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.328 million viewers
422. Forensic Files (HLN, late Tue. 8/1/2023 12:00 AM, 30 min.) 0.306 million viewers
500. Fast Money Halftime Report (CNBC, Wed. 8/2/2023 12:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.244 million viewers
610. Heavy Rescue: 401 “(208) A Very Long Night” (TWC, Sat. 8/5/2023 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.173 million viewers
681. Cuomo “Crime In America Townhall” (NWSN, Mon. 7/31/2023 8:00 PM, 121 min.) 0.142 million viewers
Top 10 cable news programs (and the top programs of other outlets with their respective associated ranks) among adults 25-54:
1. The Five (FOXNC, Thu. 8/3/2023 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.398 million adults 25-54
2. All In with Chris Hayes “DOJ Indicts Trump 2020 Election Prime Special” (MSNBC, Tue. 8/1/2023 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.377 million adults 25-54
3. Alex Wagner Tonight “DOJ Indicts Donald Trump 2020 Election Prime Spc” (MSNBC, Tue. 8/1/2023 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.369 million adults 25-54
4. The Beat with Ari Melber “DOJ Indicts Donald Trump 2020 Election” (MSNBC, Tue. 8/1/2023 6:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.333 million adults 25-54
5. Gutfeld! (FOXNC, Thu. 8/3/2023 10:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.311 million adults 25-54
6. The Five (FOXNC, Mon. 7/31/2023 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.310 million adults 25-54
7. The Lead With Jake Tapper “Donald Trump Jan 6 Arrest/Arraign” (CNN, Thu. 8/3/2023 4:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.310 million adults 25-54
8. Gutfeld! (FOXNC, Tue. 8/1/2023 10:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.308 million adults 25-54
9. Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell “DOJ Indicts Trump 2020 Election” (MSNBC, Tue. 8/1/2023 10:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.304 million adults 25-54
10. Deadline: White House “Donald Trump Arraignment 2020 Election Prime Special” (MSNBC, Thu. 8/3/2023 4:00 PM, 120 min.) 0.303 million adults 25-54
239. Forensic Files (HLN, Sun. 8/6/2023 11:30 PM, 30 min.) 0.102 million adults 25-54
432. Weekend Recharge (TWC, Sun. 8/6/2023 10:00 AM, 60 min.) 0.062 million adults 25-54
477. Power Lunch (CNBC, Wed. 8/2/2023 2:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.054 million adults 25-54
738. Varney & Company (FBN, Wed. 8/2/2023 9:00 AM, 60 min.) 0.028 million adults 25-54
745. Cuomo (NWSN, Wed. 8/2/2023 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.027 million adults 25-54
Source: Live+Same Day data, Nielsen Media Research
