CNN’S GOP SOUTH CAROLINA DEBATE WAS #1 LAST NIGHT

DRAWS 5.03 MILLION VIEWERS AND 1.72 MILLION IN THE KEY DEMO 25-54 

AC 360 Top-Rated at 10 pm

According to Nielsen Fast National data, CNN’s GOP South Carolina debate (8:00-10:00pm*), moderated by John King, delivered 5.03 million total viewers and 1.72 million in the key demo 25-54 last night, Thursday, January 19.  CNN was, by far, #1 during the 8-10pm time period last night among cable news networks.

CNN’sSouth Carolinadebate outperformed FNC’sSouth Carolinadebate earlier this week (1/16) in the key demo (1.719m vs. 1.573m).  Last night’s debate was CNN’s best yet in this election cycle among the key demo (25-54) and its second best among total viewers (behind the Las Vegas GOP debate).

From 8-10pm, CNN topped FNC by +157% among total viewers (5.03m vs. 1.96m) and by +312% in the target demo 25-54 (1.72m vs. 417k).  CNN also topped MSNBC by +512% (5.03m vs. 821k) in total viewers and by +1061% in the key demo (1.72m vs. 148k).

Following the debate, CNN’s Anderson Cooper 360 ranked first in cable news at 10pm in total viewers, averaging 2.58 million, FNC followed with 2.15m and MSNBC posted 885k.  In the key demographic 25-54 CNN delivered 892k at 10pm, while FNC trailed with 564k and MSNBC averaged 187k.

Fast National data is representative of 8:00-10:00pm.  Final data will reflect actual debate time of 8:00pm-9:58pm.

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