CNN had a very robust prime time ratings performance and tremendous growth this month, with the network easily dominating MSNBC in the key demographic adults 25-54 in November.
For the first time since February 2017, CNN beat MSNBC in weekday (M-F) primetime (459k vs. 431k) among adults 25-54. CNN also topped MSNBC in M-Su prime time (395k vs. 360k) in the key demo 25-54, now for the second straight month. CNN grew an impressive +42% in total viewers and +36% among adults 25-54 in weekday prime time vs. last year, while MSNBC is down double digits (-10%) in the key demo.
CNN also grew by double digits in M-Su prime time. CNN’s November ratings hit near presidential election year levels, with the network posting its third-highest November M-F prime time audience in 17 years (since 2001) in total viewers (just after 2008 and 2016). The network also registered its third-highest November M-Su prime time since 2001 in total viewers (also following 2008 and 2016).
CNN also surpassed MSNBC in the other dayparts including total day, daytime and weekends among adults 25-54 this month. CNN has now beaten MSNBC for 53 straight months in total day in the key demographic 25-54 (231k vs. 183k), the longest monthly streak since January 2010. This was also CNN’s third-highest November total day since 2001 in total viewers (behind presidential election years 2016, 2008).
Every hour of CNN’s daytime programming (9am-4pm) topped MSNBC’s dayside programming this month among adults 25-54. During the day, CNN had a +30% advantage over MSNBC in the key demographic adults 25-54 (218k vs. 168k), with CNN now outperforming MSNBC for 57 consecutive months in this important daypart. This is the longest streak on record. And this was CNN’s third-highest November daytime average in total viewers since 2001 (after 2016, 2008).
CNN easily outperformed MSNBC during weekend programming among adults 25-54 in both total day (167k vs. MSNBC’s 100k) and prime time (172k vs. MSNBC’s 110k). On Saturdays, CNN delivered higher demo audiences than MSNBC for 22 out of 24 hours and on Sundays, beat MSNBC for 23 of 24 hours among adults 25-54. CNN ranked #1 in cable news among adults 25-54 on Saturdays at 11am and from 1-7pm and on Sundays from 3-5pm, 6p-8p, 9p-12a, 1a-3a and at 4am.
Among ALL cable networks, CNN ranked #6 in total viewers and adults 25-54 in total day this month. This marks the 11th straight month that CNN is a Top 10 cable network among total viewers in total day. In M-F prime time, CNN ranked #6 in total viewers and #7 among adults 25-54, the fifth straight month that CNN ranks as a Top 10 cable network among total viewers in M-F prime time.