CNN Press Room

CNN Has Second-Best August Ever in Total Viewers

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BEATS MSNBC IN PRIME TIME FOR THE FIRST TIME IN NEARLY A YEAR IN DEMO

CNN Tops MSNBC for Record-Setting 50th Straight Month in Total Day 

The Lead and State of the Union with Jake Tapper Rank #1  

New Day, The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer, Erin Burnett Outfront, Anderson Cooper 360 and CNN Tonight with Don Lemon

All Have Second-Highest August in Both Total Viewers and Demo 25-54 

Cuomo Prime Time is CNN’s Highest-Rated News Program in August  

 CNN Ranks #7 in Total Day and #10 in Prime Time in ALL of Cable

 

With the Nielsen month of August ending on Sunday (8/26), CNN posted near record-high viewership in total day, prime time and daytime this month.  In total day (6am-6am), CNN had its second-best August ratings ever among total viewers (707k), just behind 2017. In prime time (M-Su 8-11pm), the network had its third-best August delivery on record among adults 25-54 (350k, also following 2017 and 2016).  The network had its third-highest August daytime (9am-4pm) ratings performance in 23 years (since 1995) among total viewers (755k), also just after 2017 and 2016. The morning (New Day) and all of CNN’s late afternoon and prime time programs are also having their second-best ratings on record in both total viewers and adults 25-54 (just after 2017 and/or 2016).

For the first time in nearly a year (September 2017), CNN beat MSNBC in prime time in the key demographic adults 25-54 (350k vs. 346k).  CNN also once again beat MSNBC in total day and daytime among adults 25-54.  In total day, CNN has now surpassed MSNBC for a record-setting 50 straight months in the key demographic 25-54 (210k vs. MSNBC’s 195k), the longest monthly streak since January 2010, and in dayside, for 54 straight months among adults 25-54 (185k vs. MSNBC’s 176k), the longest monthly streak on record.

CNN also easily outperformed MSNBC during weekend programming this month in both total day (181k vs. MSNBC’s 115k) and prime time (258k vs. MSNBC’s 109k) among adults 25-54. CNN also beat MSNBC in total viewers in total day (622k vs. 590k) and in prime time (783k vs. 663k) on weekends.  CNN was #1 on Saturdays from 1-5pm, topping both MSNBC and Fox News; while outperforming MSNBC for 22 out of 24 hours in the key demo 25-54.  On Sundays, CNN was #1 beginning at noon and continuing to 2am surpassing both MSNBC and Fox News.  CNN also topped MSNBC for 24 out of 24 hours on Sundays among adults 25-54.

CNN News Program Highlights:

For the second consecutive month, State of the Union with Jake Tapper ranked #1 in cable news at noon on Sundays in the key demo 25-54 with 224k, Fox News followed with 182k and MSNBC had 165k. The Tapper-led program has now ranked #1 across cable news for six of the past eight months at 12 noon on Sundays. Fareed Zakaria: GPS was #1 on Sundays at 1pm this month in the key demo adults 25-54 averaging 193k, Fox News had 158k and MSNBC trailed with 138k. CNN Newsroom with Fredricka Whitfield and CNN Newsroom with Ana Cabrera were #1 on Sundays in the key demo 25-54. Early Start with Christine Romans and Dave Briggs also ranked #1 from 4-6am among adults 25-54 (127k). CNN’s the Van Jones Show ranked #1 in its time period across cable news in the demo 25-54.

Other key CNN programs Inside Politics with John King, Wolf, CNN Newsroom with Brooke Baldwin, Smerconish, The Axe Files with David Axelrod, S.E. Cupp Unfiltered, State of the Union with Jake Tapper (9am), Fareed Zakaria GPS (10am), Reliable Sources and New Day on weekends all easily surpassed MSNBC this month, posting higher demo 25-54 audiences.

CNN Original Series Highlights:

So far in 2018, CNN’s The 2000s & History of Comedy S2 are ranking among the top 10 historical non-fiction series in All of Cable among 25-54. Both programs attract a more affluent, educated and diverse 25-54 audience than other series on History Channel and Discovery.  CNN claims 5 of the top 10 historical non-fiction series, the most of any cable network and ahead of History Channel.

August Monthly Tracker:  Key Demographic Adults 25-54

August Monthly Tracker:  Total Viewers

All of Cable:

Out of Home Viewing 3Q-18TD:

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