CNN Wraps 2023 as the Unequivocal Multiplatform Leader in News; Top 5 Cable Network and the #1 Global Digital News Outlet
OUTPACED MSNBC IN THE DEMO FOR THE 4TH CONSECUTIVE YEAR IN PRIMETIME PROGRAMMING AND 10TH CONSECUTIVE YEAR IN TOTAL DAY
REACHED YOUNGEST AND MOST DIVERSE AUDIENCE IN CABLE NEWS
#1 DIGITAL NEWS OUTLET IN UNIQUE VISITORS, YOUNGER VISITORS, MOBILE & POLITICS
CHARTBEAT’S STANDOUT LEADER IN ENGAGING NEWS ONLINE
New York, NY – (December 19, 2023) – CNN is closing out 2023 as a top 5 cable network in Total Day among P2+ (485k) for the fourth consecutive year, landing again as the #1 digital news outlet both in the United States and globally for every month of the year and 2023 as a whole, all while reaching an additional new audience on the 24/7 streaming news offering, CNN Max.
On CNN US, CNN ranked ahead of MSNBC in the advertising coveted P25-54 demo in M-Su Primetime programming (129k vs. 128k) for the fourth consecutive year and in Total Day for the tenth consecutive year, +9% ahead of MSNBC (96k vs. 88k). Additionally, CNN was ahead of MSNBC +26% in Dayside (115k vs. 91k), beating MSNBC for the 27th consecutive year.
CNN also ranked as a top 5 cable network in Total Day among P2+ for the fourth consecutive year and in the top 5 in Daytime among P2+ (#3) and P25-54 (#4), and reached the most viewers in cable news, with 66.7 million each quarter among P2+ (FXNC: 64.9 million; MS: 49.0 million) and 20.1 million among P25-54 (FXNC: 18.5 million; MSNBC: 13.5 million).
In 2023 among both P25-54 and P2+, CNN reached the most diverse audience in cable news among Black, Asian and Hispanic viewers (Black: 10.4M P2+, 2.3M P25-54; Asian: 4.1M P2+, 1.6M P25-54; Hispanic: 6.3M P2+, 2.7M P25-54) and posted a Total Day median age of 67 years, -3 years younger than FXNC (70) and -2 years younger than MSNBC (69).
Additionally, CNN’s brand-new primetime programming delivered wins ahead of MSNBC with NewsNight with Abby Phillip and Laura Coates Live surpassing MSNBC by +8% at 10p (148k vs. 137k) and by +4% at 11p (113k vs. 109k) among the P25-54 demo since launch.
In Q4 2023, CNN delivered its best quarter of the year among both demos, with the most quarter-over-quarter growth in cable news among P25-54. CNN was +19% ahead of MSNBC (105k vs. 88k) in Total Day, +17% ahead of MSNBC (141k vs. 121k) in M-Su Prime and +32% ahead of MSNBC (124k vs. 94k) in Daytime for the 45th consecutive quarter among P25-54. CNN also ranked as a top 5 cable network in Total Day in Q4 among P2+ (#5) for the sixth consecutive quarter and in the top 10 among P25-54 (#6, tied with Food Network). In Daytime, CNN ranked among the top 5 cable networks in both P2+ and P25-54 (#3).
On CNN Digital platforms, CNN swept the year, ranking consistently as the #1 digital news outlet in unique users, mobile users, younger users, and in politics.
CNN had a monthly average of 159 million unique visitors worldwide in 2023 across mobile and desktop. That ranked ahead of second-place MSN News (144 million), BBC (143 million), Yahoo News (127 million) and The New York Times (107 million).
In the United States, CNN similarly ranked as the #1 digital news outlet every month of the year and for 2023 as a whole with a monthly average of 124 million unique visitors across mobile and desktop (US data is January – December). That ranked ahead of second place Fox News Digital (96 million), CBSNews.com (95 million), The New York Times Brand (85 million) and NBCNews.com (82 million).
With the majority of CNN’s audience coming to CNN digitally on mobile platforms, CNN ranked as the #1 digital news in mobile every month of the year and for 2023 as a whole with a monthly mobile average of 99 million unique visitors (US data is January – December). That ranked ahead of second place CBSNews.com (79 million), Fox News Digital (73 million), NBCNews.com (69 million) and The New York Times Brand (67 million).
As the 2024 US Presidential Election approaches, CNN also continued its 8-year streak in 2023 as the #1 digital news outlet in politics with a monthly average of 35 million unique visitors on politics content (US data is January – December). That ranked ahead of second place THEHILL.com (34 million), POLITICO.com (24 million), AXIOS.com (21 million) and Fox News Politics (19 million).
And delivering on CNN’s efforts to continue to engage with younger audiences across platforms, digitally, CNN was the #1 news outlet in unique multiplatform visitors between the ages of 18-34 for 2023 with a monthly average of 23 million unique visitors (US data is January – December). That ranked ahead of second place The New York Times Brand (20 million), CBSNews.com (17 million), NBCNews.com (14 million) and NYPost.com (13.3 million).
Additionally, in Chartbeat’s annual ranking of the top 100 most engaging stories, CNN was by far the leader with 39 of the top 100 stories. This was nearly double the next leading news outlet, the BBC (18) and triple the third, Fox News (13). The New York Times held 7 of the most engaging stories of the year according to Chartbeat.
***
TV Source: The Nielsen Company. 2023 and 4Q23 thru Sunday, 12/10/23. Reach (Millions), Weighted Quarterly Average. 1-Minute Qualifier. 75% Unification. All of Cable Total Day ranks exclude Nick-at-Nite and Adult Swim due to partial programming day. Based on most current Live+7 data streams, including OOH for average audience.
Digital US Source: Comscore Media Metrix® Multi-Platform, Desktop & Mobile, Custom-Defined List, January-December 2023 monthly average, U.S. Based on CNN.com entity compared to a custom list of single brand competitors that are also in the News/Information Category. CNN Brand entity used prior to October 2018.
Digital Mobile Source: Comscore Media Metrix® Multi-Platform, Custom-Defined List, Total Mobile Persons 13+, January – December 2023 monthly average, U.S. Based on CNN.com entity compared to a custom list of single brand competitors that are also in the News/Information Category. CNN Brand entity used prior to October 2018.
Digital Politics Source: Comscore Media Metrix® Multi-Platform, News/Information – Politics, Desktop & Mobile – Desktop 2+ and Total Mobile 13+, January– December 2023 monthly average, U.S.
Digital 18-34 Source: Comscore Media Metrix® Multi-Platform, Custom-Defined List, Desktop & Mobile Persons 18-34, January–December 2023 monthly average, U.S. Based on CNN.com entity compared to a custom list of single brand competitors in the News/Information Category. CNN Brand entity used prior to October 2018
###
About CNN Worldwide
CNN Worldwide is the most honored brand in cable news, reaching more individuals through television, streamingand online than any other cable news organization in the United States. Globally, people across the world can watch CNN International, which is widely distributed in over 200 countries and territories. CNN Digital is the #1 online news destination, with more unique visitors than any other news source. Max, Warner Bros. Discovery’s streaming platform, features CNN Max, a 24/7 streaming news offering available to subscribers alongside expanded access to News content and CNN Originals. CNN’s award-winning portfolio includes non-scripted programming from CNN Original Series and CNN Films for broadcast, streaming and distribution across multiple platforms. CNN programming can be found on CNN, CNN International and CNN en Español channels, via CNN Max and the CNN Originals hub on discovery+ and via pay TV subscription on CNN.com, CNN apps and cable operator platforms. Additionally, CNN Newsource is the world’s most extensively utilized news service partnering with over 1,000 local and international news organizations around the world. CNN is a division of Warner Bros. Discovery.
About Warner Bros. Discovery
Warner Bros. Discovery (NASDAQ: WBD) is a leading global media and entertainment company that creates and distributes the world’s most differentiated and complete portfolio of content and brands across television, film and streaming. Available in more than 220 countries and territories and 50 languages, Warner Bros. Discovery inspires, informs and entertains audiences worldwide through its iconic brands and products including: Discovery Channel, discovery+, CNN, DC, Eurosport, HBO, HGTV, Food Network, OWN, Investigation Discovery, TLC, Magnolia Network, TNT, TBS, truTV, Travel Channel, Max, MotorTrend, Animal Planet, Science Channel, Warner Bros. Film Group, Warner Bros. Television Group, Warner Bros. Games, New Line Cinema, Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, Turner Classic Movies, Discovery en Español, Hogar de HGTV and others. For more information, please visit www.wbd.com.
Press Contact
Emily.Kuhn@CNN.com