President Biden addressed the nation on Thursday, October 19, 12 days following Hamas’ terrorist attack on Israel. He tied wars in Ukraine and Israel together as he pleaded for Americans (especially those in Congress with whom he is vying for financial aid) to support the two democracies that are currently facing existential threats.
“We can’t let petty partisan, angry politics get in the way of our responsibilities as a great nation. We cannot and will not let terrorists like Hamas and tyrants like Putin win. I refuse to let that happen,” President Biden added.
The 18–minute address from Biden aired across eleven networks at the start of prime time. Combined, it drew 22.6 million total viewers, according to Nielsen Media Research. The Big-3 networks led in coverage, headed up by ABC with 4.65 million. NBC (3.567 million) and CBS (3.459 million) had followed.
The Fox News Channel led all of cable with 3.376 million; its Fox broadcast network delivered 1.576 million. Nielsen tabulated the entire 8-9 p.m. hours for MSNBC (2.015 million), CNN (1.344 million), Newsmax (348,000), and NewsNation (146,000).
On the Spanish language networks, Univision (1.259 million) topped Telemundo (858,000).
Among the key 25-54 demographic, ABC (844,000) also topped all outlets, followed by CBS (733,000) and NBC (600,000). Univision (525,000) ranked fourth. Fox News (459,000) bested its broadcast parent Fox (439,000). Then came CNN (326,000), Telemundo (285,000), and MSNBC (245,000) and news netlets Newsmax (43,000) and NewsNation (21,000).
Cable news averages for October 16-22, 2023:
Total Day (Oct. 16-22 @ 6 a.m.-5:59 a.m.)
- Fox News Channel: 1.369 million viewers; 179,000 adults 25-54
- MSNBC: 0.918 million viewers; 101,000 adults 25-54
- CNN: 0.631 million viewers; 139,000 adults 25-54
- Newsmax: 0.186 million viewers; 18,000 adults 25-54
- HLN: 0.136 million viewers; 32,000 adults 25-54
- Fox Business Network: 0.113 million viewers; 15,000 adults 25-54
- CNBC: 0.109 million viewers; 25,000 adults 25-54
- The Weather Channel: 0.083 million viewers; 17,000 adults 25-54
- NewsNation: 0.076 million viewers; 11,000 adults 25-54
- Court TV: 0.037 million viewers; 12,000 adults 25-54
Prime Time (Oct. 16-21 @ 8-11 p.m.; Oct. 22 @ 7-11 p.m.)
- Fox News Channel: 2.049 million viewers; 251,000 adults 25-54
- MSNBC: 1.290 million viewers; 124,000 adults 25-54
- CNN: 0.687 million viewers; 182,000 adults 25-54
- Newsmax: 0.248 million viewers; 26,000 adults 25-54
- NewsNation: 0.110 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. Presidential Address (FOXNC, Thu. 10/19/2023 8:00 PM, 18 min.) 3.376 million viewers
2. The Five (FOXNC, Mon. 10/16/2023 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.113 million viewers
3. The Five (FOXNC, Wed. 10/18/2023 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.105 million viewers
4. Pres Address/Analysis (FOXNC, Thu. 10/19/2023 8:18 PM, 42 min.) 3.097 million viewers
5. The Five (FOXNC, Thu. 10/19/2023 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.081 million viewers
6. The Five (FOXNC, Tue. 10/17/2023 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.079 million viewers
7. The Five (FOXNC, Fri. 10/20/2023 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.879 million viewers
8. Jesse Watters Primetime (FOXNC, Tue. 10/17/2023 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.754 million viewers
9. Jesse Watters Primetime (FOXNC, Wed. 10/18/2023 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.678 million viewers
10. Hannity (FOXNC, Wed. 10/18/2023 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.534 million viewers
26. Rachel Maddow Show (MSNBC, Mon. 10/16/2023 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.146 million viewers
118. Anderson Cooper 360 (CNN, Thu. 10/19/2023 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 1.344 million viewers
286. Real Time With Bill Maher (HBO, Fri. 10/20/2023 10:00 PM, 59 min.) 0.637 million viewers
302. Rob Schmitt Tonight (NMX, Mon. 10/16/2023 7:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.589 million viewers
426. The Daily Show “Oct 16, 23 – Michael Kosta” (CMDY, Mon. 10/16/2023 11:00 PM, 30 min.) 0.367 million viewers
432. Last Week Tonight (HBO, Sun. 10/22/2023 11:06 PM, 38 min.) 0.360 million viewers
457. Kudlow (FBN, Mon. 10/16/2023 4:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.326 million viewers
476. Forensic Files (HLN, Wed. 10/18/2023 11:00 PM, 30 min.) 0.294 million viewers
498. Fast Money Halftime Report (CNBC, Mon. 10/16/2023 12:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.274 million viewers
560. Cuomo (NWSN, Wed. 10/18/2023 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.229 million viewers
599. Highway Thru Hell “(1110) Wreck Attack” (TWC, Wed. 10/18/2023 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.204 million viewers
1034. I Survived (COURT TV, late Sat. 10/21/2023 12:00 AM, 60 min.) 0.081 million viewers
Top 10 cable news programs (and the top programs of other outlets with their respective associated ranks) among adults 25-54:
1. Presidential Address (FOXNC, Thu. 10/19/2023 8:00 PM, 18 min.) 0.459 million adults 25-54
2. Gutfeld! (FOXNC, Wed. 10/18/2023 10:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.398 million adults 25-54
3. Pres Address/Analysis (FOXNC, Thu. 10/19/2023 8:18 PM, 42 min.) 0.386 million adults 25-54
4. Jesse Watters Primetime (FOXNC, Wed. 10/18/2023 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.358 million adults 25-54
5. Hannity (FOXNC, Wed. 10/18/2023 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.358 million adults 25-54
6. Hannity (FOXNC, Tue. 10/17/2023 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.335 million adults 25-54
7. Gutfeld! (FOXNC, Tue. 10/17/2023 10:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.335 million adults 25-54
8. Anderson Cooper 360 (CNN, Thu. 10/19/2023 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.326 million adults 25-54
9. The Five (FOXNC, Wed. 10/18/2023 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.320 million adults 25-54
10. The Five (FOXNC, Mon. 10/16/2023 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.319 million adults 25-54
47. All In with Chris Hayes “Biden Addresses Nation 801-816” (MSNBC, Thu. 10/19/2023 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.245 million adults 25-54
217. The Daily Show “Oct 17, 23 – Michael Kosta” (CMDY, Tue. 10/17/2023 11:00 PM, 30 min.) 0.138 million adults 25-54
325. Real Time With Bill Maher (HBO, Fri. 10/20/2023 10:00 PM, 59 min.) 0.096 million adults 25-54
336. Forensic Files (HLN, late Wed. 10/18/2023 3:30 AM, 30 min.) 0.091 million adults 25-54
360. Last Week Tonight (HBO, Sun. 10/22/2023 11:06 PM, 38 min.) 0.082 million adults 25-
54
367. Fast Money Halftime Report (CNBC, Mon. 10/16/2023 12:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.080 million adults 25-54
418. Rob Schmitt Tonight (NMX, Mon. 10/16/2023 7:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.066 million adults 25-54
441. Barrons Roundtable (FBN, Sat. 10/21/2023 9:30 AM, 30 min.) 0.062 million adults 25-54
522. America’s Morning Headquarters (TWC, Wed. 10/18/2023 8:00 AM, 60 min.) 0.048 million adults 25-54
639. Cuomo (NWSN, Wed. 10/18/2023 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.035 million adults 25-54
730. Someone They Knew (COURT TV, Mon. 10/16/2023 7:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.028 million adults 25-54
Source: Live+Same Day data, Nielsen Media Research
