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CNN Smashes Ratings Records in November; Has Its Most-Watched Month Ever

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CNN is #1 in ALL OF CABLE (not just news) in Adults 25-54 in November

CNN Beats Fox and MSNBC In Total Day, Prime Time, Daytime in Demo in November 

Since Election Day, CNN Is #1 in Cable News in Total Viewers and Adults 25-54;

Has Topped Fox and MSNBC in Adults 25-54 for 27 Straight Days, Longest Streak in 19 Years

 

November 2020 was CNN’s most-watched month ever.

In its 40 year history, the network has never had a bigger audience than it did last month, when it broke every record for viewership.

In addition, CNN was the #1 network in cable news for the month, easily beating Fox and MSNBC in the key sales target of adults 25-54 in total day, prime time and daytime. Among total viewers, CNN was #1 in cable news during the day, and handily beat MSNBC in total viewers in total day and prime time.

In ALL of cable television (not just news), CNN was the #1 network among adults 25-54 in November in total day and finished #2 in prime time. In total viewers in ALL of cable television, CNN was #1 in daytime and #2 in total day and prime time.

Since the day after the election (11/4-11-30), CNN has been the most watched cable news network. With Americans desperate for the facts, CNN has emerged as the #1 cable news network overall in total day among total viewers. And, among adults 25-54, CNN has been #1 for 27 straight days, the longest winning streak in 19 years, dating back to September 11, 2001.

CNN also grew triple digits vs. a year ago, far more than Fox or MSNBC.

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

 

 

November 2020 Daypart Highlights:

Total Day 

CNN had record total day ratings in during the month of November, far surpassing Fox and MSNBC and ranking #1 in cable news in the demo 25-54 for the first time since October 2016.  For the first time since October 2016, CNN topped Fox in total day in the demo 25-54 (560k vs. 417k). And for the first time since April 2020, CNN has topped MSNBC in total viewers (1.787 million vs. 1.599 million) and outperformed MSNBC in adults 25-54 (560k vs. 305k) for the 12th straight month. CNN’s average of 1.787 million total viewers in November is the network’s highest monthly rating on record.  And compared to a year ago, CNN was up and impressive +209% in the demo and +135% in total viewers – far more than either Fox or MSNBC.

Since the day after the election (11/4 to-date, 27 days) CNN ranked #1 in total viewers, averaging 1.834 million, Fox followed with 1.613 million and MSNBC had 1.572 million.  Among adults 25-54, CNN was also top rated each day, and overall averaged 572k , Fox had 329k and MSNBC had 297k setting the networks longest winning streak since September 2001.

 

Prime Time

CNN also had historic ratings highs in prime time, ranking #1 in cable news for the first time since August, 2019 with 952k, Fox was second with 844k and MSNBC lagged with 543k among adults 25-54.   CNN also had its most-watched monthly prime time EVER in total viewers (2.821m) and highest since 2003 among adults 25-54 (952k). CNN also had robust growth in prime time vs. a year ago, up a staggering +290% in the demo and +178% in total viewers.

In weekday (M-F) prime time, CNN was also #1 in cable news with 1.050 million, Fox was second with 1.021 million and MSNBC was third with 641k in the key demo adults 25-54.   This is the first time CNN was No. 1 in weekday prime time in the key demo 25-54 since August, 2019.  All of CNN’s evening/prime time programs – Erin Burnett Outfront, Anderson Cooper 360, Cuomo Prime Time and CNN Tonight with Don Lemon — had bigger audiences than MSNBC’s prime lineup in the demo adults 25-54 this month.  Compared to last year, CNN was up +270% in the demo and +163% in total viewers in weekday primetime, far surpassing Fox’s growth +96%+40%and MSNBC’s +35%/18% respectively.

 

Dayside

During dayside (9am-4pm), was #1 in cable news in total viewers and adults 25-54.  In total viewers, CNN beat Fox and MSNBC for the first time since October 2002, with CNN attracting 2.017 million, to Fox’s 1.938 million to MSNBC’s 1.612 million.  This is CNN highest total viewer dayside ratings in the 40 year history of the network, and highest in the demo since April 2003. In the demo, CNN was also #1 with 595k, Fox was second 395k and MSNBC was third with 292k.  In ALL of cable (not just news), CNN was #1 in both the demo 25-54 and total viewers for the month of November. CNN had triple digit growth during dayside in November increasing 163% among adults 25-54 and 98% in total viewers, while Fox increased +41%/+5% and MSNBC was up +48%/+13% respectively.

 

Weekends

On weekends, CNN was #1 in total day topping both Fox and MSNBC in the demo (CNN 436k,  Fox 252k, MSNBC 200k) and total viewers (CNN 1.530m, Fox 1.345m, MSNBC 1.047m).  CNN was also up +254% in the demo and +184% in total viewers vs. last year.   In prime time, CNN was #1 in the demo 25-54 with 706k, Fox was second with 398k and MSNBC was third with 299k.

On Saturdays, CNN was #1 in cable news at 6am, every hour from 10am-10pm and from 11am-6am.  On Sundays, the network was top rated at 6am, 8-10am and every hour from 11am-5am. CNN topped MSNBC for 24 out of 24 hours on Saturdays and Sundays in the coveted key demo.

 

November 2020 News Program Highlights:

CNN programs including New Day, The Lead, The Situation Room, Erin Burnett Outfront, AC360, Cuomo Prime Time and CNN Tonight all drew higher audiences than MSNBC in the demo adults 25-54 in November.  CNN’s weekday programming at 11am, noon, 1pm, 2p, 3pm and 4pm all ranked #1 in cable news, beating both Fox and MSNBC among adults 25-54.

 

Brooke Baldwin, Dana Bash, Victor Blackwell, Kate Bolduan, Pam Brown, Ana Cabrera, Jessica Dean, Bianna Golodryga, Poppy Harlow, Nia-Malika Henderson, Erica Hill, Brianna Keilar, John King, Christi Paul, Boris Sanchez, Jim Sciutto, Amara Walker, and Fredricka Whitfield, have all anchored to CNN Newsroom during dayside and/or weekend coverage during November 2020.

 

Weekend Program Highlights:

 

CNN Original Series:

 

Election 2020 Highlights: 

 On Election Day (11/3/20):

 

On Election Day 5 – Biden Projected Winner (11/7/20):

 

Election Week (11/3 –11/9):

 

CNN Special Programming:

CNN’s updated special report Fight for the White House: Joe Biden’s Long Journey hosted by Gloria Borger on Saturday, 11/14 (10pm-12am) attracted 438k among the 25-54 demo and 1.839 million total viewers. The program ranked #1 across cable news in the demo and #2 among total viewers.

 

Median Age, Cross Platform and Reach:

CNN continues to have the youngest audience in cable news in total day and prime. In November, CNN had its lowest median age in Total Day and M-Su Prime since September 2017. Across platforms, CNN reaches more total people in the U.S. than any other cable news brand across TV and digital.  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, making this the 19th consecutive year on record for the network.

 

 

Digital-to-TV Lift:  

 

Out of Home Lift:

 

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