CNN Press Room

CNN Has Most-Watched July in 40 Years

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CNN BEATS MSNBC IN PRIME TIME FOR THE 5TH STRAIGHT MONTH AND IN TOTAL DAY FOR THE 8TH CONSECUTIVE MONTH IN DEMO

CNN is the #1 Television Network in All of Cable (not just news) Throughout Dayside 

Burnett, Tapper, Stelter Are #1 in Cable News in July in Demo;

Cooper Tops MSNBC in 25-54; Cuomo and Lemon Have Highest July Ratings Ever among Total Viewers

Network Posts Most Growth in Cable News (by far) during this Unprecedented News Cycle

 

CNN had its most-watched July in the network’s 40-year history in total day and second best in prime time among total viewers this month (just following the 2016 presidential election).  The network beat MSNBC in prime time for the fifth straight month and in total day for the eighth consecutive month in the key demographic 25-54.  CNN was #1 in all of cable (not just news) in dayside (9am-4pm) for the fourth month in a row in the demo.  On weekends, CNN was #1 in total day topping both Fox and MSNBC throughout most of the day/evenings and surpassed MSNBC for 24 out of 24 hours on Saturdays and Sundays among 25-54.  CNN had the highest growth (triple and high double digits) across cable news in all key dayparts vs. a year ago, far greater growth than Fox or MSNBC.

CNN key programs posted their best July ratings on record and all surpassed MSNBC in the demo 25-54. CNN prime time programs Cuomo Prime Time and CNN Tonight with Don Lemon both hit historic audience levels, with each program registering its best July ratings ever.  Anderson Cooper 360 had its second best July ratings on record among both total viewers and the demo and Erin BurnettOutfront, The Lead with Jake Tapper, Newsroom with Poppy Harlow and Jim Sciutto as well as all CNN weekday dayside programs ranked #1 in cable news in the coveted demo adults 25-54.

CNN’s digital platforms are also having record numbers, making CNN the most watched and most used news and information brand in the world.

 

Daypart Highlights:

In total day, CNN had its best July in history among total viewers, averaging 998k and second highest among adults 25-54 since the presidential election cycle of 2016.  In the key demographic adults 25-54, CNN outperformed MSNBC (253k vs. 177k) for the eighth straight month.  Compared to a year ago, CNN grew far more than Fox or MSNBC in total viewers, increasing its audience by +77%, while Fox was up +19% and MSNBC was +41%.  In the key demo adults 25-54, CNN was up an impressive +90% to Fox’s +17% to MSNBC’s +40% in total day vs. last year.

CNN had its second most-watched July prime time on record (after 2016) averaging 1.525 million total viewers in M-Su prime and 1.697 million in M-F prime time.  Among adults 25-54, CNN outperformed MSNBC in M-Su prime time (396k vs. 308k) and in weekday prime (449k vs. 387k), for the fifth straight month.  In M-Su prime time, CNN grew much more than the others, increasing +82% in total viewers and adults 25-54, compared to Fox’s +31%/+36% and MSNBC’s +38%/+34%.  In weekday prime (Monday-Friday), CNN’s growth was also significant, up +92% in total viewers and an impressive +109% among 25-54.  MSNBC’s marquee M-F prime time programs were up far less this month, increasing only +41% in total viewers and +37% in the demo adults 25-54; Fox was up +31%/+36% respectively.

During dayside (9a-4p), CNN was #1 in all of cable  (not just news) this month now for the fourth consecutive month among 25-54. Compared to cable news, CNN averaged 304k, Fox followed with 254k, and MSNBC had 180k in the demo. CNN has now surpassed MSNBC for the 77th straight month among 25-54 during dayside, the longest streak ever.  In total viewers, CNN averaged 1.187 million this month, the network’s highest dayside July delivery on record and second highest demo delivery (304k), following July 1995.  Compared to a year ago, CNN is up +86% in total viewers and +129% in adults 25-54. Fox was up +12%/+14% and MSNBC was up +44%/+58% respectively during the hours 9am-4pm.

On weekends, CNN was #1 in cable news in total day (196k) topping both Fox (195k) and MSNBC (103k) and every hour from11am-8pm on Saturdays and every hour on Sundays from 11a-2p and 3p-5a in the key demo 25-54.  CNN also outperformed MSNBC every hour on both Saturdays and Sundays in 25-54.  And in weekend prime time, CNN outperformed MSNBC in the key demo 25-54 (264k vs. 111k) and total viewers (1.094 million vs. 801k).

 

All of Cable, Median Age, Reach and Cross Platform:

Among ALL cable networks (not just news), CNN ranked #1 in dayside in the demo (for the fourth consecutive month) and #3 in total day and primetime in total viewers in July.  CNN continues to have the youngest audience in cable news in total day and prime.  Additionally, CNN reaches the largest average monthly cumulative TV audience (among both total viewers and adults 25-54) of any cable news network 2020 to date.  Across platforms, CNN reaches more total people than any other cable news brand across TV and digital and more people ages 25-54 than any other news brand across TV and digital.

 

July 2020 News Program Highlights:

 

Brooke Baldwin, Victor Blackwell, Kate Bolduan, Pam Brown, Ana Cabrera, Bianna Golodryga, Poppy Harlow, Erica Hill, Brianna Keilar, John King, Alex Marquardt, Christi Paul, Abby Phillip,  Martin Savidge, Jim Sciuttoand Fredricka Whitfield all contributed to CNN Newsroom during dayside and/or weekend coverage in July.

 

Weekend Program Highlights

 

CNN Original Series

Season five of CNN’s Original Series United Shades of America with W. Kamau Bell premiered at #1 in cable news in the key demo adults 25-54 this month:

 

CNN Special Programming

 

Digital-to-TV Lift

 

Out of Home Lift

 

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