In a month that has been dominated by around-the-clock breaking and political news, MSNBC topped CNN among total viewers in all key dayparts, according to Nielsen.
For the month, MSNBC dayside (M-F 9am-5pm) was the #2 cable network for the 18th straight month (ahead of ESPN #4 and CNN #3), easily topping CNN for the 28th month in a row (1.1M vs CNN’s 860,000).
MSNBC total day (M-Su 6am-6am) averaged 1M total viewers, topping CNN by 251,000. MSNBC prime (M-F 8pm-11pm) ranked #2 for the 38th month in a row in total viewers and dominated CNN in total viewers (2.2M vs. CNN’s 1.5M).
Additionally, the historic Senate impeachment trial, which aired primarily during dayside, propelled MSNBC to #1 in all of television – both broadcast and cable networks – in total viewers (W-F 1/22-1/24 from 1pm-5pm) during coverage and analysis. Throughout the Senate impeachment trial, MSNBC prime was a leading source of analysis and breaking news: for the five days of the trial (1/21-1/25) MSNBC prime analysis during breaks in the Senate debate drew 984,000 more viewers than CNN during each night of the Senate debate, topping CNN viewership by +88%. During the first five days of the Senate impeachment trial of President Donald Trump (1/21- 1/25) more viewers turned to MSNBC for analysis than CNN. While the trial was live, during the five-day period, MSNBC analysis during breaks in the Senate debate topped CNN’s analysis in total viewers by 523,000 viewers or +52%.
“Morning Joe” continued to lead CNN in the mornings at 6am, doubling CNN in total viewers (1.1M vs. CNN’s 540,000) and finishing ahead of CNN in A25-54 (182,000 vs. CNN’s 133,000). January marked the 59th straight month “Morning Joe” beat CNN in total viewers and the 27th straight month “Morning Joe” beat CNN in A25-54.
For all of January, “The Rachel Maddow Show” was the #2 program in all of cable news for the 11th month in a row among total viewers and for the 2nd month in a row in A25-54. “Maddow” beat CNN in the 9pm time period for the 80th consecutive month in total viewers and 36th consecutive month in A25-54. “Maddow” averaged 3.1M total viewers (vs. CNN’s 1.2M) and 533,000 viewers A25-54 (vs. CNN’s 331,000). Additionally, “Maddow’s” explosive, exclusive interview with Rudy Giuliani associate Lev Parnas on Jan.15th scored a record-breaking 4.5M total viewers and 844,000 viewers A25-54, ranking #1 across all of cable and topping FOX News by more than half a million total viewers. The episode of “Maddow” was the program’s highest-rated show ever in total viewers. “Maddow” also more than tripled CNN in total viewers and topped CNN by more than 500,000 in A25-54.
“The Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell” at 10pm more than doubled CNN’s total audience with 2.2M total viewers (vs. CNN’s 1.1M) topping CNN for the last 56th months. “The Last Word” topped CNN for the 12th consecutive month with 342,000 viewers (vs. CNN’s 309,000).
“The 11th Hour with Brian Williams” at 11pm dominated CNN for the 42nd month in a row more than doubling CNN’s viewership with 1.6M total viewers (vs. CNN’s 793,000). In A25-54, “The 11th Hour” dominated CNN for the 14th month in a row with 284,000 viewers (vs. CNN’s 248,000). “The 11th Hour” ranked #2 in the hour in both total viewers and A25-54.
In January, every weekday MSNBC program from 5am-3am beat CNN in total viewers: “Morning Joe First Look” at 5am for the 27th straight month; “MSNBC Live with Stephanie Ruhle” at 9am for the 36th straight month; “MSNBC Live with Hallie Jackson” at 10am for the 28th straight month; “MSNBC Live with Craig Melvin” at 11am for the 28th straight month; “Andrea Mitchell Reports” at 12pm for the 31st straight month; “MSNBC Live with Velshi & Ruhle” at 1pm for the 27th straight month; “MSNBC Live with Katy Tur” at 2pm for the 15thstraight month; “MSNBC Live with Ali Velshi” at 3pm for the 27th straight month; “Deadline: White House” with Nicolle Wallace at 4pm for the 28th straight month; “MTP Daily” at 5pm for the 33rd straight month; “The Beat with Ari Melber” at 6pm for the 31st straight month, “Hardball with Chris Matthews” at 7pm for the 42nd straight month and “All in with Chris Hayes” at 8pm for the 38th straight month.
On Saturdays, “AM Joy” at 10am beat CNN for the 28th month in a row in total viewers. On Sundays, “AM Joy” at 10am beat CNN for the 14th straight month in total viewers and “Kasie DC” at 7pm beat CNN for the 22nd consecutive month. “PoliticsNation with Al Sharpton” on Sundays at 5pm delivered its best month since October 2018 in total viewers and A25-54, averaging 696,000 in total viewers and 131,000 in A25-54.