CNN as expected, dominated in the ratings on New Year’s Eve, as has all-but-become tradition over the last few decades.
CNN’s New Year’s Eve Live with Anderson Cooper & Andy Cohen (11:00pm-12:30am) easily topped MSNBC and Fox combined in total viewers, adults 25-54 and younger viewers 18-34 on December 31st. In total viewers, CNN averaged 2.592 million, Fox followed with 811k and MSNBC had 298k. In adults 25-54, CNN averaged 966k to Fox’s 130k to MSNBC’s 30k.
Among younger viewers (18-34) CNN registered 297k, Fox had 19k and MSNBC followed with 2k. For the entire New Year’s Eve Live with Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen special (8pm-12:30am), CNN ranked #1 in total viewers with 1.727 million, Fox had 1.065 million and MSNBC had 744k. In the demo adults 25-54, CNN was also the most watched with 647k, topping Fox (148k) and MSNBC combined (89k).
CNN’s late-night New Year’s Eve special with Don Lemon and Brooke Baldwin was also #1 in its time period (12:30-1:30am), delivering 1.574 million total viewers, +138% more than Fox’s 662k and +632% more than MSNBC’s 215k. In the demo adults 25-54, CNN topped MSNBC and Fox combined with 659k, to Fox’s 126k and MSNBC’s 25k.
The New Year’s Day premiere of CNN Films: Linda Ronstadt, The Sound of My Voice, a powerful and touching documentary about her life and musical journey, debuted at #1 in cable news in both total viewers and among adults 25-54 (January 1, 9-10:55pm). In total viewers, Linda Ronstadt, The Sound of My Voice averaged 2.347 million total viewers, +45% more than Fox’s 1.615 million and a +271 % lead over MSNBC’s 632k.
This was CNN Films’ third-highest rated film in total viewers (following Three Identical Strangers and Glen Campbell I’ll Be Me). In the key demographic adults 25-54, the film attracted 378k, +141% more than MSNBC’s 157k and +63% more than Fox’s 232k.