CNN Press Room

2020 is CNN’s Best Year Ever

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Most-Watched Year Ever in Total Viewers and Key Demo 

All CNN Prime Time Programs and Dayparts Hit All-Time Highs

In Q4, CNN is #1 in All of Cable (not just news) in Total Day in Demo

 In Q4, CNN Beats Fox in Adults 25-54 for First Time in 19 Years 

Since Election Day, CNN is #1 in All of Cable (not just news) in Total Viewers;

Tops Fox and MSNBC for 41 Days  

An extraordinary thing happened in cable news this year:  CNN had its best year ever and ended the year as the most watched cable network for the final two months. CNN’s audience has been building significantly throughout the year, culminating with CNN emerging as the No. 1 cable news network since the election in both total viewers and the key sales target adults 25-54.  What’s more, CNN has been #1 in total day demos for more than 41 consecutive days, the longest streak in 19 years (following 9/11). The shift began in March, when viewers flocked to CNN for the latest news and information and a desire for facts around Coronavirus, the first global pandemic in over 100 years.  Throughout the year, the audience continued to come to CNN as the network covered the national political party conventions, Presidential Commission debates and ultimately the presidential election.  In 2020, CNN smashed its own ratings records and had its most successful and best ratings year in the network’s 40-year history.

Below is ratings data Since the Election (41 days), 4Q-To-Date and End of Year ratings.  Data will be updated after the holidays.

 

SINCE THE ELECTION

Total Day

CNN ranks #1 cable news network following the election (Nov. 4 through 12/14) in both total viewers and the demo, ending Fox’s reign after 19 years.  In Total Day, CNN has averaged 1.640 million total viewers, easily outperforming FNC’s 1.527 million and MSNBC’s 1.493 million.  The last time CNN beat FOX in Total Day among total viewers for at least a month was 19 years year ago (December 2001).  Among adults 25-54, CNN has been #1 for 41 straight days averaging 477k, the longest winning streak in 19 years, dating back to September 11, 2001. Fox trails with 286k and MSNBC follows with 263k in the key demo 25-54 since the election.

Dayside

CNN is also currently ranked #1 in ALL of cable (not just news) during dayside among both total viewers (1.934 million) and the demo (544k). The last time CNN beat FNC during the day for at least a month in total viewers was October 2002.

Prime Time

Post-election, CNN is #1 in prime time in the all-important key sales demographic adults 25-54 with 766k, FNC follows with 545k and MSNBC lags with 443k. And since the election, CNN ranks #2 in total viewers outperforming MSNBC for the first time since November 2016 (2.475 million vs. 2.451 million).

Most recently, on Monday (12/14), during CNN’s Electoral College Voting coverage, the network trounced the competition in both total viewers and the demo adults 25-54. During the coverage block (9am-7pm), CNN averaged 2.418 million total viewers, MSNBC was second with 1.635 million and Fox was third with 1.582 million. Among adults 25-54, CNN also outperformed the competition with 546k, MSNBC had 229k and Fox trailed with 222k.  And on that evening, during President-Elect Biden’s prime time speech, CNN was #1 with 3.356 million total viewers and 911k among adults 24-54, MSNBC followed with 3.082 million/537k and Fox lagged with 1.894 million/342k.

FOURTH QUARTER 2020

In Q4, CNN is #1 in All of Cable (not just news) in Total Day in Demo

In Q4, CNN Beats Fox in Adults 25-54 for First Time in 19 Years

Jake Tapper’s The Lead and State of the Union were #1 in the Demo during Q4

All of CNN’s Late Afternoon, Evening and Prime Time Programs Surpassed MSNBC in 25-54 this Quarter

CNN hit record ratings in the 4Q 2020, posting its highest Total Day, M-Su prime time, M-F prime time ratings EVER in both total viewers and adults 25-54. During the daytime, CNN had its highest total viewers on record and among 25-54, best on record since 4Q 2001.

CNN overtook Fox and MSNBC in the key demo adults 25-54 in 4Q in Total Day, dayside and on weekends.

CNN was not only #1 in cable news in Total Day and dayside in the demo this quarter, it was also #1 in All of cable television in the demo. This is the first time that CNN has been #1 in cable news in Total Day among adults 25-54 since 4Q 2001 and the first time CNN beat Fox in Total Day demo 25-54 for a full quarter since that time.

 

On weekends, CNN was #1 in Total Day in the demo (342k to FNC’s 240k to MSNBC’s 154k) and #2 in total viewers topping MSNBC (1.326 million vs. 894k).  In weekend prime, CNN was the most watched among adults 25-54 with 509k, FNC followed with 377k and MSNBC had 196k.  CNN outperformed MSNBC during prime time on the weekends (1.901 million to MSNBC’s 1.086 million).

CNN Newsroom was #1 in cable news on weekdays from 11am-4pm as was The Lead with Jake Tapper at 4pm in the demo 25-54 this quarter.  The Lead, TheSituation Room with Wolf Blitzer, Erin Burnett Outfront, Anderson Cooper 360, Cuomo Prime Time and CNN Tonight with Don Lemon all had their best ratings on record among total viewers and outperformed MSNBC in each hour during 4Q in the demo 25-54.

On Sundays, State of the Union with Jake Tapper was #1 in cable news in the demo at 9am and top-rated at noon in both total viewers and adults 25-54.  Fareed Zakaria GPS was also #1 in total viewers and the demo at 1pm and CNN programming was top rated in both total viewers and 25-54 from 3pm-8pm. CNN was #1 in the demo from 12pm-5am.

All of CNN programs far surpassed FNC and MSNBC in ratings growth this quarter vs. 4Q 2019.  

4Q data is from 9/28-12/13 2020

 

END OF YEAR 2020

2020 is CNN’s Most-Watched Year in History in Total Viewers and Demos

All CNN Prime Time Programs and Dayparts Hit All-Time Highs

CNN Beats MSNBC in Prime Time for the First Time since 2016 in Adults 25-54;

Also Outperforms MSNBC in Total Day and Dayside  

CNN Posts Robust Ratings Growth vs. Last Year, Far More than MSNBC or FNC

  

CNN ends 2020 having its most watched and most successful year in the history of the network.  In 40 years, CNN has never had bigger audiences than it did this year –including in Total Day and prime time in both in total viewers and the demo — breaking viewership records across the board. CNN also had its highest dayside ever in total viewers and second highest in dayside. CNN beat MSNBC in M-Su and M-F prime time for the first time since 2016 among adults 25-54.  Also this year, all of CNN prime time programs had their best years ever and surpassed MSNBC in the demo 25-54 in the 8pm and 10pm hours.  CNN was #1 in cable news every weekday hour from 12pm-5pm during 2020.  CNN posted huge rating gains this year, growing high-double to triple digits vs. a year ago, far more than FNC or MSNBC.  And, CNN’s digital platforms are also having record numbers, making CNN the most watched and most used news and information brand in the world.

CNN Original Series and CNN Films had banner ratings as well, ranking #1 or #2 in their time periods in either total viewers and/or adults 25-54 this year.  CNN had the youngest audience in cable news in total day and prime time and reached the largest cumulative TV audience for a record-setting 19 years. The network will close out 2020 ranking #2 in ALL of cable (not just news) in total day and dayside in the demo and #3 in all of cable in Mon-Fri prime time in both total viewers and 25-54.

 

2020 Daypart Highlights:

Total Day 

CNN had its highest Total Day ratings ever in 2020 in both total viewers (1.140 million) and among adults (314k).  For the seventh consecutive year, CNN beat MSNBC in Total Day in the demo (314k vs. 205k), while growing +90% vs last year.  MSNBC and FNC were up far less, increasing only +33%/+46% respectively in the demo.  CNN also had its best total viewer ratings on record with 1.140 million and growing +75%, while MSNBC was up only +27% and FNC increased +35% compared to last year.

Prime Time

CNN had its most-watched M-Su prime time ratings EVER in 2020 in both total viewers (1.817 million) and the demo 25-54 (528k). For the first time since 2016, CNN beat MSNBC in M-Su prime time (528k vs. 372k) among adults 25-54.  CNN also had the most robust ratings growth in M-Su prime time vs. a year ago, increasing an impressive +102%, while MSNBC was only up +29% and FNC +64% in the demo and in total viewers, CNN was up +83% to MSNBC’s +23% to FNC’s +44%.

This year also marks CNN’s best M-F weekday prime time ratings in the history of the network in total viewers (1.987 million) and among adults 25-54 (589k). And, CNN also beat MSNBC in M-F prime (589k vs 460k) for the first time in four years (since 2016) in the key demo 25-54.  All of CNN’s evening/prime time programs – Erin Burnett Outfront, Anderson Cooper 360, Cuomo Prime Time and CNN Tonight with Don Lemon — had their best ratings ever and surpassed MSNBC’s prime lineup in the demo adults 25-54 this year in the 7pm, 8pm and 10pm hours.  Compared to 2019, CNN was up +92% in the demo and +72% in total viewers in weekday primetime, far surpassing MSNBC’S growth +25%+21%and FNC’s +62%/43% respectively.

Dayside

CNN had its best dayside (9am-4pm) ratings on record this year in total viewers (1.288 million) and second highest among adults 25-54 (338k, behind 1995). CNN was #1 in cable news every hour from 12pm-5pm during 2020.  For the year, CNN easily surpassed MSNBC in the demo 25-54 (338k vs. 201k), now for the 24th straight year.  CNN had triple digit growth during dayside in 2020, increasing a staggering +101% among adults 25-54 and +73% in total viewers, while FNC was up far less  +41%/+28% and MSNBC was up +48%/+28% respectively compared to last year.

Weekends

During weekends in prime time, CNN was #1 in cable news in the key demo 25-54 in 2020 with 376k, FNC followed with 372k and MSNBC had 150k.  CNN was up compared to last year, increasing +147%, FNC increased +75% and MSNBCs was up +67%.  In total viewers, CNN topped MSNBC (1.392 million vs. 902k), growing +133% to FNC’s +53% to MSNBC’s +45%.   In weekend total day, CNN (259k) outperformed FNC (258k) and MSNBC (125k) among adults 25-54, with CNN up +102% to FNC’s +51% to MSNBC’s +44%.  In weekend total day among total viewers, CNN topped MSNBC (1.005 million vs. 750k); while growing the most vs. a year ago up +93%, FNC was up +42% and MSNBC +41%.

On Saturdays, CNN was #1 in cable news topping both FNC and MSNBC in total viewers from 12pm-8pm and from 2am-6am. On Sunday, the network was also top-rated from 2pm-5am.  CNN topped MSNBC for 24 out of 24 hours on Saturdays and Sundays in the coveted key demo.

2020 News Program Highlights:

CNN’s weekday programming from 12 noon-4pm ranked #1 in cable news in 2020, topping both FNC and MSNBC in the demo adults 25-54.  A team of CNN anchors led CNN Newsroom coverage throughout the year, during Coronravirus and the presidential election.  The team included:  Jim Acosta, Brooke Baldwin, Dana Bash, John Berman, Victor Blackwell, Wolf Blitzer, Kate Bolduan, Pam Brown, Ana Cabrera, Anderson Cooper, Jessica Dean, Bianna Golodryga, Poppy Harlow, Nia-Malika Henderson, Erica Hill, Brianna Keilar, John King, Alex Marquardt, Ryan Nobles, Christi Paul, Abby Phillip, Boris Sanchez, Martin Savidge, Jim Sciutto, Amara Walker, and Fredricka Whitfield have all anchored CNN Newsroomduring weekday and/or weekend dayside coverage during 2020.

 Weekend Program Highlights:

CNN Original Series:  

 

CNN Films and CNN Films Presents:

 

CNN Special Programming:

CNN had many hours of substantive long form and special programming in 2020, ranking #1 or #2 in cable news:

And recently, one of the most inspirational programs of the year, CNN Heroes: An All Star Tribute aired on Sunday, 12/13 (8pm-10pm) and attracted 174k among the 25-54 demo and 944k among total viewers. The special ranked #2 for the demo adults 25-54 and total viewers. It was the highest rated Heroes program since 2017 among both total viewers and the demo.

2020 Politics Programming Highlights: 

 On Election Day (11/3/20):

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

 

Election Week (11/3 –11/9):

Election 2020 Leadup Events:

Median Age, Cross Platform and Reach:

CNN continues to have the youngest audience in cable news in total day and prime. This year, 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 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:

 

2020 data is from 9/28-12/13 2020. Two weeks remain until Nielsen’s year end on 12/27/20.  Data will be updated after the holidays. 

  

Be well, be safe and happy holidays to you and your friends and families!  #FactsFirst

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