CNN Press Room

CNN Has Second-Highest First Quarter in Nine Years

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Beats MSNBC for 16th Straight Quarter in Key Demo

New Day Has Best First Quarter Ever

Tapper, Blitzer and Burnett Top MSNBC among Adults 25-54

AC360 and CNN Tonight Have Second-Best 1Q Ever

CNN Original Series The Kennedys and Pope are #1

The Lead with Jake Tapper and Reliable Sources with Brian Stelter Rank #1 in Cable News in March

FIRST QUARTER 2018:

Despite record high viewership during President Trump’s first three months in office a year ago, CNN had its second-best first quarter among adults 25-54 and third-highest among total viewers in nine years (since 2009) in total day.  The network had its second-best first quarter dayside performance in nine years (since 2009) in both adults 25-54 and total viewers.  And in prime time, its third-best first quarter since 2008 among 25-54.

With the first quarter 2018 ending on Sunday, CNN once again surpassed MSNBC in total day, daytime and weekends among adults 25-54 this quarter.  CNN has now outperformed MSNBC for 16 straight quarters in total day in the key demographic 25-54 (234k vs. 223k), the longest quarterly streak since 2Q 2010.

Every hour of CNN’s daytime programming (9am-4pm) topped MSNBC’s dayside’s programming this quarter among adults 25-54.  During the day, CNN had a +19% advantage over MSNBC in the key demographic adults 25-54 (228k vs. 191k), with CNN now outperforming MSNBC for 22 straight quarters in this important daypart.

CNN also easily outperformed MSNBC during weekend programming among adults 25-54 in both total day (198k vs. MSNBC’s 138k) and prime time (218k vs. MSNBC’s 130k) this quarter.  On Saturdays, CNN delivered higher demo audiences than MSNBC for 22 out of 24 hours and on Sundays, beat MSNBC all 24 hours among adults 25-54.  CNN ranked #1 in cable news among adults 25-54 on Saturdays at 1pm, 3pm and 4pm and on Sundays, every hour from 12-2pm, 3-7pm, 9pm-12am and 4am hours during the first quarter 2018.

Among ALL cable networks, CNN ranked #8 in total viewers in total day this quarter.  This marks the seventh straight quarter and longest quarterly streak in over 22 years (since 4Q 1995) that CNN is a Top 10 cable network among total viewers in total day.

First Quarter Program Highlights:

New Day with Chris Cuomo and Alisyn Camerota had its best first quarter ever among adults 25-54 (217k) and total viewers (610k) and the network’s second best 1Q delivery 6-9am time period performance since 2003 in both demos.  New Day was up +6% in adults 25-54 and +4% in total viewers vs. last year.

Erin Burnett Outfront (7pm) topped MSNBC’s Hardball with Chris Matthews for 14 of the last 15 quarters among adults 25-54 (359k vs. 356k). EBOF had its second-best 1Q delivery on record.  Anderson Cooper 360 (8pm) is also having its second-best 1Q delivery ever in both 25-54 (394k) and total viewers (1.168 million) and is CNN’s top-rated prime time program.  CNN Tonight with Don Lemon (10pm) had its second-best 1Q on record in adults 25-54 (373k) and total viewers (1.007 million).

The Lead with Jake Tapper had its second-best first quarter ever in both 25-54 (259k) and total viewers (948k).  The Tapper-led program easily topped MSNBC in the demo (259k vs. 242k), now beating MSNBC every quarter since the program’s launch.  The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer topped MSNBC during the 5pm (279k vs. 254k) and 6pm (306k vs. 289k) hours for the 15th straight quarter, the longest quarterly streak in years.

Other key CNN programs such as Early Start with Christine Romans and Dave Briggs, Smerconish, State of the Union with Jake Tapper at 9am (#1 at Noon), Inside Politics with John King, Fareed Zakaria GPS at 10am (#1 at 1pm) and Reliable Sources with Brian Stelter all easily surpassed MSNBC this quarter, ranking #2 in cable news and posting higher demo 25-54 audiences.

The Van Jones Show ranked #1 in cable news for the quarter in the demo adults 25-54 and #2 among total viewers and The Axe Files with David Axelrod ranked #2 in cable news for the quarter in the Saturday 7-8pm time period.

First Quarter CNN Original Series and Films Highlights:

Median Age:

For the first quarter this year, CNN attracted an audience (61 years) that is five years younger than Fox News (66 years) and four years younger than MSNBC (65 years) in total day.  CNN (60 years) is six years younger than Fox News and MSNBC (66 years) in prime time.  MSNBC is tracking at its oldest yearly median age on record in total day and prime time.

Out-of Home-Viewing

First quarter in total day among adults 25-54, CNN is averaging a +5% lift with Out-of-Home viewers. Among ALL reportable Out-of-Home cable networks, CNN ranks #2 with 11k adults 25-54 Out-of-Home viewers, behind only ESPN (26k).

MONTH OF MARCH:

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