Two weeks ago, we reported on how cable news coverage of the indictments and arraignments of Donald Trump have been very potent in the ratings but have slightly waned for shows like Rachel Maddow on MSNBC, Anderson Cooper on CNN, and Fox News by his third cycle in early August.
That trend was tested on the evening of Monday, Aug. 14 when a grand jury in Georgia returned ten indictments in the probe into Trump’s efforts to overturn that state’s 2020 election results. He is being charged under Georgia’s racketeering statute, used to prosecute corrupt organizations. In the indictment, Trump and other defendants — Rudy Giuliani, Mark Meadows, Sidney Powell, and more — were required to voluntarily turn themselves in later that week.
News of Trump’s fourth indictment broke at around 9:15 p.m. Eastern on that Aug. 14 evening, which accounted for a reverse of recent viewer trends. Unsurprisingly, MSNBC most benefited, as it occurred during The Rachel Maddow Show. In fact, it scored its biggest primetime audience figures on a Trump-indictment or Trump-arraignment day this year.
From 8-11 p.m., the network averaged 3.089 million total viewers including 415,000 within the key 25-54 demographic, according to Nielsen Media Research. Featured on that night’s The Rachel Maddow Show (MSNBC’s top show) was former First Lady and former presidential candidate Hillary Clinton.
As the news of the grand jury indictment of her 2016 political opponent was announced, she told Rachel Maddow that she did not “feel any satisfaction” but “just great profound sadness.” Clinton added, “This is a terrible moment for our country.”
Hillary Clinton’s guest spot combined with the news from Georgia spiked Rachel Maddow to 3.927 million viewers and 538,000 adults 25-54 — the program’s largest audience since Feb. 12, 2021, the week of Trump’s second impeachment.
Here is the hourly breakdown of each news outlet on Aug. 14 — from 9-11 p.m., NewsNation was hosting a town hall for Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy.
9:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Eastern
- MSNBC: 3.927 million viewers; 538,000 adults 25-54
- Fox News Channel: 2.401 million viewers; 285,000 adults 25-54
- CNN: 1.255 million viewers; 250,000 adults 25-54
- NewsNation: (9-11 p.m.) 0.097 million viewers; 10,000 adults 25-54
10:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. Eastern
- MSNBC: 3.222 million viewers; 436,000 adults 25-54
- Fox News Channel: 2.021 million viewers; 252,000 adults 25-54
- CNN: 1.307 million viewers; 267,000 adults 25-54
- NewsNation: (9-11 p.m.) 0.097 million viewers; 10,000 adults 25-54
During the 11 p.m. ET hour, Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis held a press conference following the grand jury indictment of Trump.
11:00 p.m. to midnight Eastern
- MSNBC: 3.448 million viewers; 496,000 adults 25-54
- Fox News Channel: 1.667 million viewers; 272,000 adults 25-54
- CNN: 1.442 million viewers; 348,000 adults 25-54
- NewsNation: 0.058 million viewers; 7,000 adults 25-54
Midnight to 1 a.m. Eastern
- MSNBC: 2.268 million viewers; 336,000 adults 25-54
- Fox News Channel: 1.114 million viewers; 212,000 adults 25-54
- CNN: 0.979 million viewers; 239,000 adults 25-54
As an addendum to our ratings tracks from two weeks ago, here is an update on how each news outlet’s average viewerships have done for Trump coverage:
Fox News Channel prime time averages (8-11 p.m.)
- August 14, 2023 (Trump’s 4th indictment): 2.195 million viewers; 254,000 adults 25-54
- 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 prime time averages (8-11 p.m.)
- August 14, 2023 (Trump’s 4th indictment): 3.089 million viewers; 415,000 adults 25-54
- 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 prime time averages (8-11 p.m.)
- August 14, 2023 (Trump’s 4th indictment): 1.172 million viewers; 232,000 adults 25-54
- 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 prime time averages (8-11 p.m.)
- August 14, 2023 (Trump’s 4th indictment): 0.117 million viewers; 20,000 adults 25-54
- 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
FNC’s prime time remained steady in total viewers from the prior Trump indictment but its demos (while still potent) slipped a bit.
Prime times of CNN and NewsNation both got a small bounce from the respective nights of his third indictment and arraignment in each total viewers and demo.
Cable news averages for August 14-20, 2023:
Total Day (Aug. 14-20 @ 6 a.m.-5:59 a.m.)
- Fox News Channel: 1.100 million viewers; 132,000 adults 25-54
- MSNBC: 1.002 million viewers; 116,000 adults 25-54
- CNN: 0.551 million viewers; 103,000 adults 25-54
- Newsmax: 0.168 million viewers; 15,000 adults 25-54
- HLN: 0.150 million viewers; 42,000 adults 25-54
- The Weather Channel: 0.129 million viewers; 30,000 adults 25-54
- CNBC: 0.125 million viewers; 29,000 adults 25-54
- Fox Business Network: 0.122 million viewers; 18,000 adults 25-54
- NewsNation: 0.055 million viewers; 9,000 adults 25-54
Prime Time (Aug. 14-19 @ 8-11 p.m.; Aug. 20 @ 7-11 p.m.)
- Fox News Channel: 1.638 million viewers; 182,000 adults 25-54
- MSNBC: 1.606 million viewers; 178,000 adults 25-54
- CNN: 0.770 million viewers; 145,000 adults 25-54
- Newsmax: 0.268 million viewers; 24,000 adults 25-54
- NewsNation: 0.094 million viewers; 16,000 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. Rachel Maddow Show “Fulton Cnty Indicts Trump-Hillary Clinton Interview” (MSNBC, Mon. 8/14/2023 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.927 million viewers
2. 11th Hour with Stephanie Ruhle “Fulton Cnty Da On Indictment 1137-1147” (MSNBC, Mon. 8/14/2023 11:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.448 million viewers
3. Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell “Fulton Cnty Indicts Trump 2020 Election” (MSNBC, Mon. 8/14/2023 10:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.222 million viewers
4. The Five (FOXNC, Mon. 8/14/2023 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.826 million viewers
5. The Five (FOXNC, Tue. 8/15/2023 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.713 million viewers
6. The Five (FOXNC, Wed. 8/16/2023 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.693 million viewers
7. The Five (FOXNC, Thu. 8/17/2023 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.584 million viewers
8. Hannity (FOXNC, Mon. 8/14/2023 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.401 million viewers
9. 11th Hour with Stephanie Ruhle “Fulton Cnty Indicts Trump 2020 Election” (MSNBC, Mon. 8/14/2023 12:00 AM, 60 min.) 2.268 million viewers
10. The Five (FOXNC, Fri. 8/18/2023 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.206 million viewers
67. CNN Primetime “Trump Georgia Indictment” (CNN, Mon. 8/14/2023 11:00 PM, 60 min.) 1.442 million viewers
313. Weather Channel Live “Live Coverage: Tracking Hilary” (TWC, Sun. 8/20/2023 7:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.563 million viewers
421. Varney & Company (FBN, Wed. 8/16/2023 10:00 AM, 60 min.) 0.340 million viewers
428. Forensic Files (HLN, late Tue. 8/15/2023 12:00 AM, 30 min.) 0.325 million viewers
500. Squawk on the Street (CNBC, Mon. 8/14/2023 9:00 AM, 180 min.) 0.247 million viewers
687. Cuomo (NWSN, Tue. 8/15/2023 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.157 million viewers
Top 10 cable news programs (and the top programs of other outlets with their respective associated ranks) among adults 25-54:
1. Rachel Maddow Show “Fulton Cnty Indicts Trump-Hillary Clinton Interview” (MSNBC, Mon. 8/14/2023 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.538 million adults 25-54
2. 11th Hour with Stephanie Ruhle “Fulton Cnty Da On Indictment 1137-1147” (MSNBC, Mon. 8/14/2023 11:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.496 million adults 25-54
3. Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell “Fulton Cnty Indicts Trump 2020 Election” (MSNBC, Mon. 8/14/2023 10:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.436 million adults 25-54
4. CNN Primetime “Trump Georgia Indictment” (CNN, Mon. 8/14/2023 11:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.348 million adults 25-54
5. 11th Hour with Stephanie Ruhle “Fulton Cnty Indicts Trump 2020 Election” (MSNBC, Mon. 8/14/2023 12:00 AM, 60 min.) 0.336 million adults 25-54
6. Gutfeld! (FOXNC, Wed. 8/16/2023 10:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.331 million adults 25-54
7. The Five (FOXNC, Wed. 8/16/2023 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.314 million adults 25-54
8. The Five (FOXNC, Mon. 8/14/2023 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.297 million adults 25-54
9. The Five (FOXNC, Tue. 8/15/2023 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.295 million adults 25-54
10. Gutfeld! (FOXNC, Tue. 8/15/2023 10:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.289 million adults 25-54
93. Weather Channel Live “Live Coverage: Tracking Hilary” (TWC, Sun. 8/20/2023 3:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.155 million adults 25-54
212. Forensic Files (HLN, late Tue. 8/15/2023 12:30 AM, 30 min.) 0.116 million adults 25-54
461. Squawk on the Street (CNBC, Mon. 8/14/2023 9:00 AM, 180 min.) 0.063 million adults 25-54
641. Cuomo (NWSN, Mon. 8/14/2023 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.039 million adults 25-54
674. Varney & Company (FBN, Fri. 8/18/2023 9:00 AM, 60 min.) 0.036 million adults 25-54
Source: Live+Same Day data, Nielsen Media Research Rachel Maddow
