The two-week saga of the manhunt for Danilo Cavalcante, the convicted murderer who escaped a Pennsylvania prison on August 31st, came to a conclusion on September 13th, when he was taken into custody that morning. Fox News, CNN, and MSNBC all dedicated major coverage to the event.
During his time on the run, the residents of South Coventry Township, which has a population of approximately 2,600, were gripped with fear as hundreds of law enforcement officials descended upon the area. Cavalcante was identified inside homes, slipped through police search perimeters, altered his appearance, appeared at the doorsteps of people he knew years ago, and stole both a van and a firearm.
Pennsylvania State Police had given daily updates on the search for the escaped convict. Fox News Channel led in live press conference coverage, according to Nielsen Media Research, for each of those days, including the final day (September 13th) when they had announced he was in custody:
Monday, September 11, 2023 (2:03-2:16 p.m.)
- Fox News Channel: (2-3 p.m.) 1.240 million viewers; 157,000 adults 25-54
- MSNBC: (1-3 p.m.) 0.785 million viewers; 97,000 adults 25-54
- CNN: (2-3 p.m.) 0.575 million viewers; 124,000 adults 25-54
Tuesday, September 12, 2023 (9:34-9:48 a.m.)
- Fox News Channel: (9-10 a.m.) 1.324 million viewers; 133,000 adults 25-54
- MSNBC: (9-10 a.m.) 0.978 million viewers; 112,000 adults 25-54
- CNN: (9-10 a.m.) 0.540 million viewers; 103,000 adults 25-54
Wednesday, September 13, 2023 (10:00-10:34 a.m.)
- Fox News Channel: (10-11 a.m.) 1.464 million viewers; 193,000 adults 25-54
- MSNBC: (10-11 a.m.) 0.919 million viewers; 72,000 adults 25-54
- CNN: (10-11 a.m.) 0.762 million viewers; 139,000 adults 25-54
On Thursday, September 14th, in Georgia, Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee denied District Attorney Fani Willis’ request to have all 19 defendants, including former President Donald Trump, to be tried together in October in the Georgia election subversion case. Instead, Trump and 16 co-defendants will move forward on their own schedule.
The two remaining co-defendants, pro-Trump lawyer Kenneth Chesebro and former Trump campaign lawyer Sidney Powell sought speedy trials and are scheduled to begin this month.
Fox News Channel also led its cable news competition in coverage of the Georgia hearing:
Thursday, September 14, 2023 (10-11 a.m.)
- Fox News Channel: 1.285 million viewers; 137,000 adults 25-54
- MSNBC: 0.952 million viewers; 135,000 adults 25-54
- CNN: 0.574 million viewers; 126,000 adults 25-54
Thursday, September 14, 2023 (11 a.m.-noon)
- Fox News Channel: 1.301 million viewers; 167,000 adults 25-54
- MSNBC: 0.886 million viewers; 124,000 adults 25-54
- CNN: 0.544 million viewers; 141,000 adults 25-54
Cable news averages for September 11-17, 2023:
Total Day (Sep. 11-17 @ 6 a.m.-5:59 a.m.)
- Fox News Channel: 1.111 million viewers; 138,000 adults 25-54
- MSNBC: 0.805 million viewers; 87,000 adults 25-54
- CNN: 0.433 million viewers; 82,000 adults 25-54
- Newsmax: 0.177 million viewers; 20,000 adults 25-54
- HLN: 0.124 million viewers; 32,000 adults 25-54
- CNBC: 0.120 million viewers; 27,000 adults 25-54
- Fox Business Network: 0.117 million viewers; 14,000 adults 25-54
- The Weather Channel: 0.097 million viewers; 21,000 adults 25-54
- NewsNation: 0.061 million viewers; 12,000 adults 25-54
Prime Time (Sep. 11-16 @ 8-11 p.m.; Sep. 17 @ 7-11 p.m.)
- Fox News Channel: 1.751 million viewers; 191,000 adults 25-54
- MSNBC: 1.259 million viewers; 116,000 adults 25-54
- CNN: 0.483 million viewers; 98,000 adults 25-54
- Newsmax: 0.296 million viewers; 31,000 adults 25-54
- NewsNation: 0.080 million viewers; 19,000 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, Tue. 9/12/2023 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.851 million viewers
2. The Five (FOXNC, Thu. 9/14/2023 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.746 million viewers
3. The Five (FOXNC, Mon. 9/11/2023 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.709 million viewers
4. The Five (FOXNC, Wed. 9/13/2023 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.648 million viewers
5. The Five (FOXNC, Fri. 9/15/2023 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.585 million viewers
6. Hannity (FOXNC, Wed. 9/13/2023 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.463 million viewers
7. Jesse Watters Primetime (FOXNC, Wed. 9/13/2023 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.454 million viewers
8. Jesse Watters Primetime (FOXNC, Thu. 9/14/2023 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.442 million viewers
9. Jesse Watters Primetime (FOXNC, Tue. 9/12/2023 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.385 million viewers
10. Rachel Maddow Show (MSNBC, Mon. 9/11/2023 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.255 million viewers
148. Anderson Cooper 360 (CNN, Wed. 9/13/2023 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.871 million viewers
375. Varney & Company (FBN, Mon. 9/11/2023 10:00 AM, 60 min.) 0.345 million viewers
415. Fast Money Halftime Report (CNBC, Wed. 9/13/2023 12:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.290 million viewers
432. Forensic Files (HLN, Tue. 9/12/2023 10:30 PM, 30 min.) 0.263 million viewers
451. America’s Weekend Headquarters (TWC, Sat. 9/16/2023 9:00 AM, 60 min.) 0.240 million viewers
670. Cuomo (NWSN, Wed. 9/13/2023 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.148 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. 9/13/2023 10:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.329 million adults 25-54
2. The Five (FOXNC, Thu. 9/14/2023 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.329 million adults 25-54
3. The Five (FOXNC, Mon. 9/11/2023 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.309 million adults 25-54
4. The Five (FOXNC, Tue. 9/12/2023 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.295 million adults 25-54
5. The Five (FOXNC, Fri. 9/15/2023 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.291 million adults 25-54
6. The Five (FOXNC, Wed. 9/13/2023 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.284 million adults 25-54
7. Hannity (FOXNC, Wed. 9/13/2023 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.279 million adults 25-54
8. Gutfeld! (FOXNC, Tue. 9/12/2023 10:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.275 million adults 25-54
9. Jesse Watters Primetime (FOXNC, Thu. 9/14/2023 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.265 million adults 25-54
10. Gutfeld! (FOXNC, Thu. 9/14/2023 10:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.264 million adults 25-54
15. Rachel Maddow Show (MSNBC, Mon. 9/11/2023 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.222 million adults 25-54
41. The Source with Kaitlan Collins (CNN, Wed. 9/13/2023 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.185 million adults 25-54
234. Forensic Files (HLN, Tue. 9/12/2023 10:30 PM, 30 min.) 0.091 million adults 25-54
341. Squawk On The Street (CNBC, Wed. 9/13/2023 9:00 AM, 180 min.) 0.064 million adults 25-54
356. America’s Weekend Headquarters (TWC, Sat. 9/16/2023 8:00 AM, 60 min.) 0.062 million adults 25-54
571. Cuomo (NWSN, Thu. 9/14/2023 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.037 million adults 25-54
603. Mornings with Maria Bartiromo (FBN, Wed. 9/13/2023 8:00 AM, 60 min.) 0.035 million adults 25-54
Source: Live+Same Day data, Nielsen Media Research
