It was around this time last year when the behind-the-scenes love affair of Amy Robach and T.J. Holmes, the then-anchors of ABC’s midday news program GMA3: What You Need to Know and each married to other spouses at that time, became public knowledge in the tabloids and gossip websites.
While the scandal was never specifically addressed on GMA3, its Dec. 1, 2022, and Dec. 2, 2022 editions of the program — what would be the duo’s final time on ABC — rose to above-average levels — in total viewers, 1.8 million and 1.7 million, respectively.
Last fall also featured the linear debut of NBC News Daily, NBC’s midday news program that originated on streaming and replaced the void left by the exit of longtime daytime soap Days of Our Lives. Back on the week of Dec. 12, 2022, the program averaged nearly 1.3 million viewers. That was also the week it garnered 338,000 within the key 25-54 demographic — a figure enough to best ABC’s GMA3 for the first time.
One year later, NBC News Daily topping ABC’s GMA3 in adults 25-54 has been a regular occurrence.
For the seven-week period of weekday afternoons from Sep. 25 through Nov. 10, NBC News Daily (257,000) held a slight 25-54 demo edge over GMA3 (256,000), according to Nielsen Media Research. Daily widened the demo gap by winning on Nov. 20-22, 2023 (262,000 vs. GMA3’s 246,000) and on Nov. 27-Dec. 1, 2023 (255,000 vs. GMA3’s 232,000).
Total audience figures slipped year-to-year for both news programs but GMA3 still remains on top there, as of Nov. 20-22, 2023 (1.375 million vs. NBC’s 1.237 million) and of Nov. 27-Dec. 1, 2023 (1.378 million vs. NBC’s 1.194 million), despite the steeper percentage declines for ABC’s show; down 15 percent and down 18 percent, respectively, in total viewers from the year-ago weeks.
Since mid-May 2023, GMA3 has been anchored by Eva Pilgrim and DeMarco Morgan, joining its already-installed host Dr. Jennifer Ashton.
NBC News Daily is hosted by Morgan Radford and Vicky Nguyen from noon-2 p.m. ET and Kate Snow and Zinhle Essamuah from 2-4 p.m. ET.
Although Nielsen usually tabulates its 1-2 p.m. ET hour — the time slot that is in direct competition with GMA3, several NBC affiliates air it in other hours suitable to their custom daytime lineups; for example, NBC’s New York affiliate WNBC airs it from noon-1 p.m. ET which is not opposite WABC’s GMA3.
Cable news averages for November 20-26, 2023:
Total Day (Nov. 20-26 @ 6 a.m.-5:59 a.m.)
- Fox News Channel: 1.010 million viewers; 124,000 adults 25-54
- MSNBC: 0.594 million viewers; 61,000 adults 25-54
- CNN: 0.435 million viewers; 83,000 adults 25-54
- HLN: 0.147 million viewers; 38,000 adults 25-54
- Newsmax: 0.126 million viewers; 9,000 adults 25-54
- CNBC: 0.120 million viewers; 30,000 adults 25-54
- Fox Business Network: 0.085 million viewers; 9,000 adults 25-54
- The Weather Channel: 0.081 million viewers; 17,000 adults 25-54
- NewsNation: 0.075 million viewers; 12,000 adults 25-54
- Court TV: 0.046 million viewers; 15,000 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. 11/22/2023 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.811 million viewers
2. The Five (FOXNC, Mon. 11/20/2023 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.743 million viewers
3. The Five (FOXNC, Tue. 11/21/2023 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.714 million viewers
4. Jesse Watters Primetime (FOXNC, Tue. 11/21/2023 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.489 million viewers
5. Jesse Watters Primetime (FOXNC, Mon. 11/20/2023 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.386 million viewers
6. The Ingraham Angle (FOXNC, Mon. 11/20/2023 7:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.224 million viewers
7. Special Report with Bret Baier (FOXNC, Mon. 11/20/2023 6:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.155 million viewers
8. Special Report with Bret Baier (FOXNC, Tue. 11/21/2023 6:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.110 million viewers
9. Rachel Maddow Show (MSNBC, Mon. 11/20/2023 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.109 million viewers
10. The Ingraham Angle (FOXNC, Tue. 11/21/2023 7:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.065 million viewers
100. CNN News Central (CNN, Fri. 11/24/2023 11:00 AM, 60 min.) 0.997 million viewers
285. Rob Schmitt Tonight (NMX, Tue. 11/21/2023 7:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.445 million viewers
365. Forensic Files II (HLN, Wed. 11/22/2023 10:30 PM, 30 min.) 0.309 million viewers
401. Varney & Company (FBN, Mon. 11/20/2023 11:00 AM, 60 min.) 0.262 million viewers
409. Closing Bell (CNBC, Tue. 11/21/2023 3:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.254 million viewers
502. Cuomo (NWSN, Tue. 11/21/2023 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.202 million viewers
582. Highway Thru Hell “A Moments Notice” (TWC, Sat. 11/25/2023 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.160 million viewers
694. FBI Files (COURT TV, Sun. 11/26/2023 12:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.120 million viewers
Top 10 cable news programs (and the top programs of other outlets with their respective associated ranks) among adults 25-54:
1. The Five (FOXNC, Wed. 11/22/2023 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.279 million adults 25-54
2. Gutfeld! (FOXNC, Tue. 11/21/2023 10:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.266 million adults 25-54
3. Jesse Watters Primetime (FOXNC, Fri. 11/24/2023 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.263 million adults 25-54
4. The Faulkner Focus (FOXNC, Wed. 11/22/2023 11:00 AM, 60 min.) 0.240 million adults 25-54
5. Gutfeld! (FOXNC, Wed. 11/22/2023 10:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.240 million adults 25-54
6. Jesse Watters Primetime (FOXNC, Mon. 11/20/2023 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.240 million adults 25-54
7. America’s Newsroom (FOXNC, Tue. 11/21/2023 9:00 AM, 60 min.) 0.236 million adults 25-54
8. The Faulkner Focus (FOXNC, Tue. 11/21/2023 11:00 AM, 60 min.) 0.227 million adults 25-54
9. Outnumbered (FOXNC, Wed. 11/22/2023 12:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.226 million adults 25-54
10. America’s Newsroom (FOXNC, Wed. 11/22/2023 10:00 AM, 60 min.) 0.226 million adults 25-54
23. Rachel Maddow Show (MSNBC, Mon. 11/20/2023 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.202 million adults 25-54
30. CNN News Central (CNN, Fri. 11/24/2023 11:00 AM, 60 min.) 0.191 million adults 25-54
156. Forensic Files Ii (HLN, Wed. 11/22/2023 10:00 PM, 30 min.) 0.103 million adults 25-54
319. The Exchange (CNBC, Tue. 11/21/2023 1:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.065 million adults 25-54
379. America’s Morning Headquarters (TWC, Thu. 11/23/2023 9:00 AM, 60 min.) 0.058 million adults 25-54
502. How To Rob Bank (COURT TV, Sat. 11/25/2023 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.040 million adults 25-54
542. Rob Schmitt Tonight (NMX, Wed. 11/22/2023 7:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.035 million adults 25-54
573. Cuomo (NWSN, Tue. 11/21/2023 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.031 million adults 25-54
640. The Evening Edit (FBN, Wed. 11/22/2023 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.026 million adults 25-54
Source: Live+Same Day data, Nielsen Media Research
