CNN TOPS MSNBC IN PRIMETIME FOR TWO CONSECUTIVE MONTHS
CNN GROWS 31% IN M-Su PRIMETIME – MSNBC AND FNC LOSE VIEWERS IN FEB.
AC 360 Tops MSNBC at 10p
CNN Tops MSNBC in Total Day and Dayside
February 2012 Highlights:
- CNN tops MSNBC in M-F primetime in target demo
- CNN tops MSNBC in M-Su primetime in key demo
- CNN tops MSNBC in total day among total viewers and in key demo
- CNN tops MSNBC in dayside in total viewers and target demo
- AC 360 tops MSNBC at 10p in key demo
- Despite the Arab Spring a year ago, CNN shows growth in primetime and total day, while MSNBC and FNC decline.
In February, CNN topped MSNBC in M-F prime and M-Su prime in the target demo 25-54 and in both total viewers and in the key demo in total day and dayside. Anderson Cooper 360 at 10pm also topped MSNBC’s Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell among 25-54.
Despite cable news being fueled by coverage of the Arab Spring during this time a year ago, CNN showed the most growth this month vs. a year ago in primetime and total day, while MSNBC and FNC both down.
In Monday-Friday primetime, CNN topped MSNBC (270k vs. 252k) and increased +11% (270k vs. 243k) in the demo 25-54 and grew 5% in total viewers vs. last year. MSNBC is down -5% (252k vs. 266k) and FNC is off -13% (502k vs. 579k) in the demo, and down -1% and -3% respectively in total viewers compared to a year ago. February represents the second consecutive month that CNN has outperformed MSNBC in M-F prime in the key demo.
Anderson Cooper 360 at 10p continued to show a strong ratings performance, topping MSNBC’s Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell at 10p in the key demo (262k vs.238k).
In Monday-Sunday primetime, CNN topped MSNBC in the target demo (283k vs. 237k) and grew an impressive +31% (283k vs. 216k) vs. a year ago, while MSNBC is down -9% (237k vs. 260k) and FNC declined -10% (418k vs. 466k). In total viewers, CNN grew +20% (807k vs. 675k), while MSNBC declined -3% and FNC is flat.
In total day (6a-6a), CNN outperformed MSNBC in both total viewers (475k vs. 455k) and the target demo (163k vs. 145k). In the key demo 25-54, CNN is up +3% (163k vs. 159k) last year, with FNC dropping -6% (270k vs. 286k) and MSNBC declining -1% (145k vs. 146k).
During the dayside (9a-5p), CNN also topped MSNBC in total viewers by +11% (439k vs. 396k) and by +27% in the key demo (117k vs. 92k).
CNN reached a cumulative audience of 95.9 million viewers in February 2012, FNC followed with 79.3 million and MSNBC had 75.5 million.
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