CNN, MS NOW & Fox News Ratings Show Dramatic Swings
What To Know
- CNN was the only major cable news network to see increases in both total viewers and the key demo during the first week of May.
- Fox News remained the top-rated cable news network despite declines in both total viewers and the key demo.
- MS NOW experienced declines in both total and demo viewership across primetime and total day.
The cable news ratings are in for the first full week of May, and it’s good news for CNN, the only network to show increases in both total viewers and the coveted Adults 25-54 demographic across primetime.
According to AdWeek, citing national live+same-day big data plus program ratings from Nielsen, CNN averaged 683,000 total primetime viewers and 126,000 demo viewers for the week of May 4. This was up 8 percent in total viewers and up 25 percent in the demo compared to the week prior.
CNN was also up 11 percent in the key demo during total day, averaging 80,000 viewers. However, the network dropped by 1 percent in total viewers, averaging 484,000.
Despite the gains, CNN still trailed its competitors, with Fox News remaining in the top slot for both total and demo viewers. In fact, Fox News also finished above ESPN in total viewers during primetime for the third week running.
In primetime, Fox News averaged 2.469 million total viewers and 222,000 demo viewers. This was down 5 percent in total viewers and down 7 percent in the key demo compared to the previous week.
During total day, Fox News averaged 1.57 million total viewers and 147,000 demo viewers. These numbers were also down from the week before, with a 4 percent drop in total viewers and a 3 percent drop in the demo.
MS NOW averaged 972,000 total viewers and 91,000 demo viewers in primetime for the week of May 4. This was down 6 percent in total viewers and down 13 percent in the demo compared to the previous week.
In total day, MS NOW averaged 606,000 total viewers and 62,000 demo viewers. This was down 6 percent in total viewers and down 9 percent in the demo compared to the week before.
Fox News also claimed 13 of the 15 most-watched cable news shows of the week, with The Five once again topping the list with 3.663 million total viewers. The Five also held the top spot in the Adults 25-54 demo, averaging 318,000 viewers.
The only non-Fox News shows in the Top 15 were MS NOW’s The Rachel Maddow Show, which landed in fourth place with 234,000 demo viewers, and CNN NewsNight with Abby Phillip, which averaged 1370,000 demo viewers.
Conversation20 Comments
Please read the TV Insider Community Guidelines.
Register or sign in to join the conversation.
-
8
Only one of these "news" networks had to pay nearly a BILLION dollars and admit that they were pushing lies and propaganda disguised as news. Even their own hosts admitted that they lied about the 2020 election results purely for the sake of ratings.
67
-
M
We shouldn't even be comparing these three. One is reporting news, one is commentary on current events and one is pushing false information as propaganda.
58
-
S
it is terrible that Fox only reports news why the Communist News Network and MS Democrat Propahanda Now are even allowed on the tv. it is a shame
4
-
D
Projection is powerful, but kinda tricky. It's hard to pull off. Keep practicing.
7
-
-
T
Correct. In court, Fox News said they were not a news network. They’re a propaganda network.
20
-
J
MSNOW said the same thing in court.
-
-
K
Fox = news
Cnn = Commentary
MSDNC = Propaganda
2
-
B
They're all propaganda networks. The only difference is Fox News opinions are largely based on facts, not fiction.
2
-
-
D
After all these years of lying, why is the propaganda network still getting away with it? Why would you compare this fake news network with the other two? Stop ignoring the elephant in the room.
40
-
J
They have an audience that has a limited knowledge of reality
3
-
-
J
Fox is a horrible. one sided slant on the world , exactly what it's viewers want.
10
-
G
And CNN and MSDNC isnt?
2
-
-
D
There is only one maga regime network while the other 60 percent of America is divided into watching all the remaining networks. That will change now that the regime has acquired other stations once they too have become propaganda machines for maga
9
-
D
lets face it 24 hr news with only 15 min of value.
6
-
M
I'm not surprised. Fox is getting a little greedy with the amount of time they are devoting to religious matters.
4
-
S
The sheep refuse to wake up. It is all propaganda. All of it, designed to divide and polarize, to distract from the real machinations of the elite and government, from the things in life that really matter.
2
-
M
But even though MS Now pushes the false narrative, folks still watch it.
1
-
C
Seems like the ones making negative comments about Fox News don’t actually watch it,, or are hired by CNN .
-
D
Nonsense. As you know.
1
-
-
G
Maybe MSNow viewers are down because they can't come to an agreement with streaming like FUBO and others. I know I'm not going ad another streaming network just for them.,