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CNN Has Most-Watched Prime Time Ever in Total Viewers

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CNN IS A TOP FIVE CHANNEL IN ALL OF CABLE FOR NINTH STRAIGHT MONTH

CNN Surpasses MSNBC in Prime Time, Total Day, Dayside and on Weekends in Key Demo Adults 25-54

Network Posts Robust Ratings Growth vs. Last Year

 

CNN hit historic ratings highs this month, with the network having its most-watched prime time ratings ever in full week (M-Su) and weekday (M-F) prime time among total viewers. In addition, key CNN programs including New Day with Alisyn Camerota and John Berman, The Lead with Jake Tapper, The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer, Erin Burnett Outfront, Anderson Cooper 360, Cuomo Prime Time and CNN Tonight with Don Lemon all had their highest October total viewer ratings on record. For the month, CNN surpassed MSNBC in prime time, total day, dayside and on weekends in the key demo 25-54. And, CNN continued to have robust ratings growth compared to a year ago, posting double and triple digits increases across all dayparts.

October marks the ninth consecutive month that CNN is a Top 5 cable network (not just news) among total viewers in total day and the seventh straight month as a Top 5 cable network in weekday (M-F) prime time.

 

Daypart Highlights

In total day, CNN easily surpassed MSNBC (363k vs. 247k), now for the 11th consecutive month in the key demographic adults 25-54.  In total viewers, CNN averaged 1.386 million, the network’s third best month on record (just after March and April of 2003). Compared to a year ago, CNN posted the most growth in cable news, increasing its audience by +78% in total viewers and +90% in the demo; FNC was up 56%/75% and MSNBC +28%/+35% respectively.

This month marks CNN’s best prime time ratings in the network’s 40-year history in total viewers in both full week prime (M-Su/2.497 million) and weekday prime (M-F/2.796 million).  Among adults 25-54, CNN outperformed MSNBC in M-Su prime time (717k vs. 484k) and in weekday prime (854k vs. 630k).  CNN had significant prime time ratings growth, increasing +96% in total viewers and +113% in the demo in M-Su prime and +80%106% respectively in M-F primetime compared to a year ago.

During dayside (9am-4pm), CNN beat MSNBC for the 80thstraight month, the longest monthly streak on record among adults 25-54 (331k vs. 225k).  This month was CNN’s second highest dayside October on record in total viewers (1.379 million), just after 2001 and third best in the demo (331k), following 2001 and 2002.  Compared to a year ago, CNN is up +59% in total viewers and +69% in adults 25-54 vs. last year.

On weekends, CNN was #1 in cable news in total day with 286k, FNC followed with 271k and MSNBC had 126k in the key demo 25-54.  CNN also beat FNC and MSNBC on Saturdays from 6-7am, every hour from 11am-8pm and every hour from 11pm-6pm.  On Sundays, CNN was #1 in cable news every hour from 12pm-2pm, 3p-8p and from 9pm-4am.  CNN outperformed MSNBC for all 24 out of 24 hours on both Saturdays and Sundays among 25-54.

 

October 2020 News Program Highlights:

  

Victor Blackwell, Kate Bolduan, Ana Cabrera, Poppy Harlow, Erica Hill, Brianna Keilar, John King, Christi Paul, Boris Sanchez, Jim Sciutto and Fredricka Whitfield all contributed to CNN Newsroom during dayside and/or weekend coverage during October 2020.

 

October Weekend Program Highlights

 

 October 2020 Presidential and VP Debates

7.508 million total viewers watched the second and final Presidential Commission Debate on CNN on October 22nd (9:04-10:37pm). Among adults 25-54, 3.019 million tuned in and 907k younger viewers (18-34).  CNN easily surpassed MSNBC and CBS in total viewers and the demos.  CNN ranked #2 across cable news during post-debate analysis (10:30pm-12pm) across all demos, outperforming MSNBC by double digits among adults 25-54 (+67%) and adults 18-34 (+87%) and was up 8% in total viewers. During late night coverage (1-3am), CNN ranked #1 among adults 25-54 and #2 among total viewers and 18-34.

For the VP Presidential Commission debate on October 7 (9:04-10:33pm), CNN attracted 7.705 million total viewers, 3.019 million viewers among adults 25-54 and 907k in younger viewers (18-34). CNN easily surpassed NBC, CBS, Fox (broadcast) and MSNBC.  CNN ranked #1 in cable news during post- debate coverage, topping FNC and MSNBC among adults 25-54 (1.948 million, FNC followed with 1.710 million and MSNBC had 1.086 million). In younger viewers, CNN was also top rated with 514k to FNC’s 413k to MSNBC;s 179k.  CNN surpassed MSNBC in total viewers (5.372 million vs. 4.947 million). During the network’s late night coverage, CNN was #1 across the board.

 

October Special Programming 

 

CNN Original Series

CNN’s newest Original Series, First Ladies has ranked #1 in both total viewers and adults 25-54 – averaging 2.230 million viewers and 412k among adults 25-54 across its three Sunday premiere episodes (Sundays 10pm).  The series is outperforming FNC by +16% in total viewers and +23% in adults 25-54 and topping MSNBC by +196%/+203% respectively.  So far in 2020TD, First Ladies ranks #5 among the Top 10 non-fiction historical series on cable television.

 

Median Age, Reach and Cross Platform

 

Digital-to-TV Lift

 

Out of Home Lift

 

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