Kristen Welker, NBC News’ longtime co-chief White House correspondent, debuted as moderator of NBC’s Sunday morning public affairs program Meet the Press on September 17th. She took over from Chuck Todd after his nine-year stint.
The first edition of the show hosted by Kristen Welker was highly criticized by observers for her interview of current GOP presidential candidate frontrunner Donald Trump; most of the criticism stemmed from her lack of challenging his unfounded claims. Yet, the spot did grow Meet the Press enough to top its Sunday morning competition on September 17th in both viewers and demo — not a commonplace occurrence in recent years.
According to Nielsen Media Research, it averaged 3.06 million total viewers including 516,000 within the key 25-54 demographic. In addition, these figures are well above what the program has done this year (thru Sep. 17) — 2.38 million viewers and 437,000 in 25-54; for all of 2022, it did 2.53 million viewers and 529,000 in the 25-54 demo.
For that same September 17th morning, usual Sunday morning public affairs leader Face the Nation on CBS drew 2.66 million viewers and 501,000 adults 25-54 for its first half-hour (note: not all CBS affiliates carry its second half-hour). ABC’s This Week posted 2.49 million viewers and 464,000 adults 25-54.
On Welker’s second edition on September 24, she interviewed Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, presidential candidate and former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R), and Rep. James Clyburn (D-S.C.).
Meet the Press led its direct competition for the second consecutive Sunday in adults 25-54. For Sep. 24, it delivered 456,000 within the key demo, +17,000 over ABC’s This Week and +56,000 from CBS’ Face the Nation. Nonetheless, the total viewer crown went to the George Stephanopoulos-led This Week (2.542 million). Meet the Press was runner-up with 2.474 million total viewers; Face the Nation was third (2.178 million) and Fox News Sunday (957,000 viewers / 243,000 adults 25-54) trailed behind.
Meet the Press did accomplish outdrawing Face the Nation in total viewers in back-to-back weeks for the first time since February 2021.
Cable news averages for September 18-24, 2023:
Total Day (Sep. 18-24 @ 6 a.m.-5:59 a.m.)
- Fox News Channel: 1.089 million viewers; 132,000 adults 25-54
- MSNBC: 0.801 million viewers; 84,000 adults 25-54
- CNN: 0.419 million viewers; 75,000 adults 25-54
- Newsmax: 0.156 million viewers; 15,000 adults 25-54
- HLN: 0.136 million viewers; 37,000 adults 25-54
- CNBC: 0.119 million viewers; 30,000 adults 25-54
- Fox Business Network: 0.110 million viewers; 12,000 adults 25-54
- The Weather Channel: 0.092 million viewers; 20,000 adults 25-54
- NewsNation: 0.067 million viewers; 15,000 adults 25-54
Prime Time (Sep. 18-23 @ 8-11 p.m.; Sep. 18 @ 7-11 p.m.)
- Fox News Channel: 1.738 million viewers; 186,000 adults 25-54
- MSNBC: 1.243 million viewers; 112,000 adults 25-54
- CNN: 0.512 million viewers; 97,000 adults 25-54
- Newsmax: 0.232 million viewers; 21,000 adults 25-54
- NewsNation: 0.094 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. 9/19/2023 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.770 million viewers
2. The Five (FOXNC, Wed. 9/20/2023 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.743 million viewers
3. The Five (FOXNC, Mon. 9/18/2023 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.627 million viewers
4. The Five (FOXNC, Fri. 9/22/2023 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.590 million viewers
5. The Five (FOXNC, Thu. 9/21/2023 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.565 million viewers
6. Jesse Watters Primetime (FOXNC, Wed. 9/20/2023 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.487 million viewers
7. Hannity (FOXNC, Wed. 9/20/2023 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.443 million viewers
8. Jesse Watters Primetime (FOXNC, Tue. 9/19/2023 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.346 million viewers
9. Jesse Watters Primetime (FOXNC, Thu. 9/21/2023 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.301 million viewers
10. Rachel Maddow Show (MSNBC, Mon. 9/18/2023 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.226 million viewers
168. Anderson Cooper 360 (CNN, Wed. 9/20/2023 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.790 million viewers
405. Forensic Files (HLN, Tue. 9/19/2023 11:30 PM, 30 min.) 0.309 million viewers
407. Varney & Company (FBN, Mon. 9/18/2023 10:00 AM, 60 min.) 0.304 million viewers
450. Fast Money Halftime Report (CNBC, Fri. 9/22/2023 12:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.262 million viewers
468. Weather Channel Live “Live Storm Coverage” (TWC, Sat. 9/23/2023 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.248 million viewers
611. Newsnation Prime (NWSN, Sat. 9/23/2023 7:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.178 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. 9/20/2023 10:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.338 million adults 25-54
2. Hannity (FOXNC, Wed. 9/20/2023 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.310 million adults 25-54
3. The Five (FOXNC, Tue. 9/19/2023 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.289 million adults 25-54
4. Gutfeld! (FOXNC, Fri. 9/22/2023 10:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.281 million adults 25-54
5. The Five (FOXNC, Thu. 9/21/2023 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.267 million adults 25-54
6. The Five (FOXNC, Fri. 9/22/2023 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.266 million adults 25-54
7. The Five (FOXNC, Wed. 9/20/2023 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.261 million adults 25-54
8. The Five (FOXNC, Mon. 9/18/2023 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.258 million adults 25-54
9. The Faulkner Focus (FOXNC, Fri. 9/22/2023 11:00 AM, 60 min.) 0.254 million adults 25-54
10. Jesse Watters Primetime (FOXNC, Wed. 9/20/2023 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.248 million adults 25-54
33. All In with Chris Hayes (MSNBC, Tue. 9/19/2023 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.174 million adults 25-54
58. The Source with Kaitlan Collins (CNN, Tue. 9/19/2023 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.154 million adults 25-54
203. Forensic Files (HLN, Wed. 9/20/2023 11:00 PM, 30 min.) 0.096 million adults 25-54
277. Weather Channel Live “Live Storm Coverage” (TWC, Sat. 9/23/2023 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.079 million adults 25-54
328. The Exchange (CNBC, Thu. 9/21/2023 1:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.071 million adults 25-54
547. Cuomo (NWSN, Wed. 9/20/2023 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.044 million adults 25-54
736. Varney & Company (FBN, Mon. 9/18/2023 10:00 AM, 60 min.) 0.028 million adults 25-54
Source: Live+Same Day data, Nielsen Media Research
