This is TVNewser’s basic cable network ranker and cable news report for the week of Nov. 25, 2024.
The long Thanksgiving holiday resulted in all three networks experiencing week-to-week declines in total viewers and the Adults 25-54 demo. Double-digit drops in both measured categories were recorded during this slow news period.
Fox News continued to lead in primetime and total day, capturing 70% of the total day A25-54 share and occupying 98 of the week’s top 100 cable news shows.
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Nielsen live plus same-day data for the week of Nov. 25 saw FNC average 2.012 million total viewers and 237,000 A25-54 viewers during primetime. The network was down in total viewers by -25% and -27% in the A25-54 demo relative to the week prior.
Fox News averaged 1.359 million total viewers and 163,000 A25-54 viewers in total day viewing for week-to-week declines of -20% and -21%, respectively.
Among all basic cable networks, FNC finished second in total viewers and the demo during primetime, falling behind ESPN in both cases. In total day, the network was No. 1 in total viewers and No. 2 in the demo.
MSNBC’s primetime lineup averaged 465,000 total viewers and 37,000 A25-54 viewers for respective declines of -29% and -38% compared to the week prior.
During the total day, MSNBC averaged 346,000 total viewers and 29,000 A25-54 viewers for declines of -29% and -31%, respectively. The last time MSNBC recorded low viewership in the demo during both dayparts was back in 1997.
Among all basic cable networks, MSNBC landed in ninth place in total viewers during primetime and fell from 29th to 43rd in the demo. During total day, the network slipped to the fifth position in total viewers and tumbled from No. 23 to No. 38 in the demo.
During primetime, CNN averaged 297,000 total viewers and 51,000 A25-54 viewers for declines of -28% and -35% in the demo compared to the previous week.
In total day, the network saw 268,000 total viewers and 41,000 viewers in the demo for declines of -20% and -23%, respectively. CNN once again finished ahead of MSNBC in the demo in both primetime and total day.
On the basic cable charts, CNN ranked at No. 23 among total viewers during primetime, and at No. 34 in the primetime demo. During total day, CNN it landed at eighth place with total viewers, and dropped to No. 24 in the demo.
When looking at these networks’ performance during the same period a year ago (the week of Nov. 27):
- During primetime, Fox News was up by +3% in total viewers and +9% in the A25-54 demo. During total day, the network also saw gains of +15% in total viewers and +9% in the demo.
- MSNBC’s primetime lineup was down by -59% in total viewers and -61% in the demo. During total day, the network was down -55% in total viewers and -59% in the demo.
- In primetime, CNN fell by -41% in total viewers and -55% in the demo. During total day, CNN was down -40% in total viewers and -48% in the demo.