TV Ratings: ABC's World News Tonight Sets The Pace

With Nielsen live plus same day data for last week officially in, the big three cable news networks–Fox News Channel, MSNBC and CNN–all shed viewers from the prior week.  Nevertheless, Fox News retains its usual position as the top-rated cable news network in total viewers and among Adults 25-54, according to TV Newser.

In total day viewing, FNC averaged 1.23 million total viewers, No. 1 on all of basic cable, and 149,000 A25-54 viewers, No. 2 on all of basic cable behind ESPN (401,000). The 1.23 million and 149,000 are -3% and -4%, respectively, from what Fox averaged in those measurements the week prior (which was highlighted by coverage of special elections in several states and of the NBC News GOP debate).

In primetime, Fox News averaged nearly 1.84 million total viewers for the week, No. 2 on basic cable, and 213,000 A25-54 viewers, No. 6 on basic cable. The network’s 1.84 million total primetime viewer average for the week is -2% from what the network averaged the previous week, while its 213,000 A25-54 average in primetime is -7% from the week prior.

Changing channels, MSNBC averaged more than 1.24 million total primetime viewers for the week of Nov. 13, No. 4 on all of basic cable (behind FNC, ESPN and Hallmark), and -8% from the week prior. The network additionally averaged 115,000 A25-54 viewers in primetime for the week, more than CNN but No. 19 on all of basic cable and -18% from the week prior.

With no major breaking news events to cover, CNN saw a steep week-to-week audience decline. The network averaged 509,000 total viewers and 110,000 Adults 25-54 in primetime this past week, -26% and -35% respectively, from what the network averaged in those categories the previous week.  The 509,000 total primetime viewer average places CNN at No.  14 on all of basic cable for the week, and the 110,000 A25-54 primetime viewer average for the week is No. 22 on all of basic cable.

Graphics Courtesy of ROADMN (w/permission)

Fox News and CNN trended poorly relative to the year-ago week.  Fox News is -23% in total primetime viewers, -33% in the primetime demo, -22% in total day viewers and -31% in the total day demo vs. the week of Nov. 14, 2022. After a positive stretch, CNN is a whopping-42% in total primetime viewers, -46% in the primetime demo, -27% in total day viewers and -34% in the total day demo versus the year-ago week. MSNBC’s year-over-year trend, on the other hand, is more of a mixed bag. The network is -5% in total primetime viewers, -20% in the primetime demo, +2% in total day viewers but -10% in the total day demo versus the year-ago week.

📺TOP 20  TV SHOWS RANKING:

Ranking is based on ratings data as of Thursday, November 16, 2023. The audience figures are derived from the latest Nielsen daily, weekly, or monthly P2+ program audience averages, whichever is the most recently available within the past seven-day window.

📺BROADCST EVENING NEWS

ABC's David Muir, CBS' Norah O'Donnell, NBC's Lester Holt

“World News Tonight with David Muir” stood as the No. 1 program of the week in Total Viewers (7.910 million) on all of broadcast and cable (excluding sports) during the week of Nov. 13, 2023, based on Live + Same Day Data from Nielsen Media Research.

“World News Tonight” ranked as the No. 1 newscast on all of broadcast and cable in Total Viewers (7.910 million), Adults 25-54 (1.090 million) and Adults 18-49 (743,000). “World News Tonight” outdelivered “NBC Nightly News” (6.806 million, 1.022 million and 699,000, respectively) by 1.104 million Total Viewers, by 68,000 Adults 25-54 and by 44,000 Adults 18-49.

On Tuesday (11/14/23), “World News Tonight” turned in its most-watched telecast (8.520 million) in more than 7 months — since 3/28/23.

“World News Tonight” is ranking No. 1 in Adults 25-54 and Adults 18-49 for the 5th consecutive season. “World News Tonight” is leading NBC in Adults 25-54 (+54,000 – 1.113 million vs. 1.059 million) and in Adults 18-49 (+42,000 – 762,000 vs. 720,000). In addition, “World News Tonight” is leading “CBS Evening News” (687,000 and 455,000, respectively) by 54,000 Adults 25-54 and by 42,000 Adults 18-49.

For the week, “World News Tonight” (7.910 million, 1.090 million and 743,000, respectively) beat “CBS Evening News” (4.802 million, 669,000 and 448,000, respectively) by 3.108 Total Viewers, by 421,000 Adults 25-54 and by 295,000 Adults 18-49.

📺COLLEGE FOOTBALL TV RATINGS: 

The following networks or services are not Nielsen-rated and thus are not included: SEC Network, ACC Network, CBS Sports Network, ESPN+, Pac-12 Network, Peacock.

Week twelve games

For just the second time since week zero, no college football game last weekend managed to hit the six million viewer mark. Georgia-Tennessee topped the charts with 5.73 million on the SEC on CBS, followed by Michigan-Maryland on FOX “Big Noon Saturday” at 5.43 million.

Other notables in week twelve include season-highs for both BTN and The CW, which averaged 2.02 million for Ohio State-Minnesota and 1.33 million for South Alabama-Florida State respectively.