This is TVNewser’s basic cable network ranker and cable news report for the week of October 21, 2024.
With the presidential election two weeks away, the big three cable news networks focused on politics and were rewarded with high viewership. CNN, Fox News and MSNBC were all up in both measured categories across both dayparts.
CNN’s Anderson Cooper-moderated town hall with Democratic presidential candidate Vice President Kamala Harris gave the network a boost as it was the most-watched program on Wednesday evening among all the cable networks with 3.334 million total viewers. The network saw double digit increases across the board compared to the previous week.
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Nielsen live plus same-day data for the week of October 21 saw FNC average 2.769 million total viewers and 366,000 A25-54 viewers during primetime. The network was up by +6% and +11% in those respective categories relative to the week prior.
In total day viewing, Fox News averaged 1.669 million total viewers and 211,000 A25-54 viewers for week-to-week gains of +2% in the former category and +1% in the latter.
Among all basic cable networks, Fox News reclaimed its No. 1 spot in total primetime viewers, and jumped to third place in the primetime demo. It led in total viewers across total day and placed second in the total day demo.
MSNBC’s primetime lineup averaged 1.296 million total viewers and 154,000 viewers in the A25-54 demo for respective week-to-week gains of +1% and +15% compared to the week prior.
During total day, MSNBC averaged 896,000 total viewers and 98,000 A25-54 viewers, which translates to a +2% gain in the former category and +9% gain in the latter.
Among all basic cable networks, MSNBC went from fifth to third place in total primetime viewers, and climbed one spot to seventh in the demo. During total day, it was the No. 2 network in total viewers and slid from fifth to sixth in the demo.
During primetime, CNN averaged 956,000 total viewers and 198,000 A25-54 viewers in the demo. That translates to double digit gains +54% in the former category and +69% in the latter. Across total day, the network saw 541,000 total viewers and 107,000 viewers in the demo for gains of +12% and +24%, respectively.
CNN rose to fourth place with total viewers in primetime and jumped from No. 11 to No. 5 in the primetime demo. In total day, the network finished fourth with both total viewers and the demo.
When looking at these networks’ performance during the same period a year ago (the week of Oct. 23):
- During primetime, Fox News was up by +34% in total viewers and +53% in the A25-54 demo. During total day, the network saw gains of +18% in total viewers and +21% in the demo.
- MSNBC’s primetime lineup was up +4% in total viewers and +25% in the demo. During total day, the network was down -1% in total viewers and -3% in the demo.
- In primetime, CNN rose by +25% in total viewers and +5% in the demo. During total day, CNN declined -12% in total viewers and -19% in the demo.