On Wednesday, September 6th, the first hearing in the Georgia 2020 election interference case took place in Fulton County. For the first time in a case against former President Donald Trump, there were cameras in the courtroom, and MSNBC and Fox News were the beneficiaries.
The alleged misconduct of Trump and his 18 co-defendants — including pro-Trump lawyer Kenneth Chesebro and former Trump campaign lawyer Sidney Powell — in the case is tied to the state’s RICO law: the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act.
From 1:00-3:00 PM ET on September 6th, MSNBC (1.135 million) and Fox News (1.134 million) were in an approximate share of the lead among total viewers for live hearing coverage on cable. While CNN trailed behind with 927,000 viewers, it topped all of cable news within the key 25-54 demographic, drawing 158,000, according to Nielsen Media Research. FNC had 143,000 and MSNBC 111,000.
Cable news averages for September 4-10, 2023:
Total Day (Sep. 4-10 @ 6 a.m.-5:59 a.m.)
- Fox News Channel: 1.032 million viewers; 131,000 adults 25-54
- MSNBC: 0.732 million viewers; 80,000 adults 25-54
- CNN: 0.473 million viewers; 83,000 adults 25-54
- Newsmax: 0.179 million viewers; 18,000 adults 25-54
- HLN: 0.134 million viewers; 36,000 adults 25-54
- The Weather Channel: 0.101 million viewers; 21,000 adults 25-54
- CNBC: 0.111 million viewers; 27,000 adults 25-54
- Fox Business Network: 0.105 million viewers; 14,000 adults 25-54
- NewsNation: 0.053 million viewers; 11 ,000 adults 25-54
Prime Time (Sep. 4-9 @ 8-11 p.m.; Sep. 10 @ 7-11 p.m.)
- Fox News Channel: 1.550 million viewers; 174,000 adults 25-54
- MSNBC: 1.021 million viewers; 103,000 adults 25-54
- CNN: 0.586 million viewers; 108,000 adults 25-54
- Newsmax: 0.331 million viewers; 35,000 adults 25-54
- NewsNation: 0.077 million viewers; 17,000 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. 9/6/2023 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.689 million viewers
2. The Five (FOXNC, Tue. 9/5/2023 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.633 million viewers
3. The Five (FOXNC, Thu. 9/7/2023 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.626 million viewers
4. Jesse Watters Primetime (FOXNC, Tue. 9/5/2023 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.391 million viewers
5. The Five (FOXNC, Fri. 9/8/2023 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.368 million viewers
6. Jesse Watters Primetime (FOXNC, Wed. 9/6/2023 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.249 million viewers
7. Jesse Watters Primetime (FOXNC, Thu. 9/7/2023 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.155 million viewers
8. Gutfeld! (FOXNC, Wed. 9/6/2023 10:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.061 million viewers
9. Hannity (FOXNC, Wed. 9/6/2023 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.024 million viewers
10. Hannity (FOXNC, Tue. 9/5/2023 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 1.997 million viewers
12. Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell (MSNBC, Tue. 9/5/2023 10:00 PM, 60 min.) 1.868 million viewers
115. CNN Films “Little Richard” (CNN, Mon. 9/4/2023 9:00 PM, 120 min.) 1.036 million viewers
398. Varney & Company (FBN, Thu. 9/7/2023 10:00 AM, 60 min.) 0.314 million viewers
402. Forensic Files (HLN, late Fri. 9/8/2023 1:00 AM, 30 min.) 0.305 million viewers
454. Heavy Rescue: 401 “(311) Only One Shot” (TWC, Sat. 9/9/2023 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.245 million viewers
474. Fast Money Halftime Report (CNBC, Fri. 9/8/2023 12:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.229 million viewers
750. Newsnation Prime (NWSN, Sat. 9/9/2023 7:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.121 million viewers
Top 10 cable news programs (and the top programs of other outlets with their respective associated ranks) among adults 25-54:
1. Gutfeld! (FOXNC, Wed. 9/6/2023 10:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.357 million adults 25-54
2. Jesse Watters Primetime (FOXNC, Tue. 9/5/2023 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.305 million adults 25-54
3. The Five (FOXNC, Tue. 9/5/2023 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.270 million adults 25-54
4. The Five (FOXNC, Thu. 9/7/2023 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.258 million adults 25-54
5. Hannity (FOXNC, Tue. 9/5/2023 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.249 million adults 25-54
6. The Five (FOXNC, Wed. 9/6/2023 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.246 million adults 25-54
7. Gutfeld! (FOXNC, Tue. 9/5/2023 10:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.245 million adults 25-54
8. Jesse Watters Primetime (FOXNC, Wed. 9/6/2023 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.239 million adults 25-54
9. The Five (FOXNC, Fri. 9/8/2023 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.232 million adults 25-54
10. Hannity (FOXNC, Wed. 9/6/2023 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.225 million adults 25-54
13. All In with Chris Hayes (MSNBC, Wed. 9/6/2023 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.207 million adults 25-54
21. The Source with Kaitlan Collins (CNN, Tue. 9/5/2023 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.197 million adults 25-54
241. Forensic Files (HLN, late Fri. 9/8/2023 1:00 AM, 30 min.) 0.088 million adults 25-54
295. Weekend Recharge (TWC, Sun. 9/10/2023 10:00 AM, 60 min.) 0.074 million adults 25-54
469. Fast Money Halftime Report (CNBC, Wed. 9/6/2023 12:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.047 million adults 25-54
641. Banfield (NWSN, Fri. 9/8/2023 10:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.032 million adults 25-54
684. Varney & Company (FBN, Thu. 9/7/2023 9:00 AM, 60 min.) 0.029 million adults 25-54
Source: Live+Same Day data, Nielsen Media Research
