TV Ratings: The Derby Attracted Most Viewers

Continuous coverage of former President Donald Trump’s trial is benefiting one news network more than the others. MSNBC was the only network to avoid any week-to-week declines across the board and during both dayparts. Meanwhile, Fox News continued to lead the way in total day and primetime in both measured categories with CNN remaining in third place.

Nielsen live plus same-day data for the week of May 6 saw FNC average 2.006 million total viewers and 186,000 viewers in the Adults 25-54 demo during primetime. The network was flat in total viewers, but fell by -12% in the demo relative to the week prior. In total day viewing, Fox News averaged 1.305 million total viewers and 147,000 A25-54 viewers for a flat result in the former category and a decline of -5% in the latter compared to the previous week.

Among all basic cable networks, Fox News fell back from second place to third place in total primetime viewers and dropped from fifth to sixth place in the primetime demo. In total day, the network held onto its No. 1 position in total viewers, but was stuck in third place in the total day demo.

MSNBC’s primetime lineup averaged 1.191 million total viewers and 117,000 viewers in the A25-54 demo for the week. Compared to the week prior, it was flat in total viewers and up +6% in the demo.  Among all basic cable networks, MSNBC remained the No. 4 cable network in total primetime viewers and moved from 18th to 15th place in the demo.

In primetime, CNN averaged 514,000 total viewers and 98,000 viewers in the A25-54 demo for the week. That’s a drop of -13% in both categories compared to the previous week. CNN’s primetime lineup finished the week in 11th place with total viewers and tied for 19th place with A&E in the A25-54 demo—a two-spot drop in both measured categories from the week prior.

Fox had 11 out of the 15 most-watched cable news shows of the week, led by The Five (3.093 million viewers at 5 p.m. ET). MSNBC took the remaining four spots, with Deadline: White House with Nicole Wallace (1.780 million viewers at 5 p.m. ET) leading the way at No. 7.

The Five also took the top spot in the A25-54 demo (279,000 viewers at 5 p.m. ET), with Fox claiming 13 out of the top 15 most-watched cable news show. MSNBC’s Deadline: White House (161,000 viewers at 4 p.m. ET) came in 12th place and 14th place (160,000 at 5 p.m. ET), respectively.

📺BROADCAST EVENING NEWS

ABC World News Tonight wDavid Muir

“World News Tonight with David Muir” ranked as the No. 1 newscast on all of broadcast and cable in Total Viewers (7.239 million), Adults 25-54 (983,000) and Adults 18-49 (654,000) during the week of May 6, 2024, based on Live + Same Day Data from Nielsen Media Research. “World News Tonight” outperformed “NBC Nightly News” (5.903 million, 831,000 and 523,000, respectively) by 1.336 million Total Viewers, by 152,000 Adults 25-54 and by 131,000 Adults 18-49, respectively.

“World News Tonight” increased its Total Viewer lead week to week over “NBC Nightly News” by 9% (1.336 million vs. 1.223 million).

“World News Tonight” has won the last 284 of 285 weeks in Total Viewers, including the last 128 weeks and 212 of the last 215 in Adults 25-54. It stood as the No. 2 program of the week in Total Viewers (7.239 million) on all of broadcast and cable.

Season to date, “World News Tonight” (7.916 million) is ranking No. 1 in Total Viewers for the 8th straight year, based on Most Current Data. “World News Tonight” is leading “NBC Nightly News” (6.652 million) by 1.264 million and “CBS Evening News” (4.807 million) by 3.109 million.

For the week, “World News Tonight” (7.239 million, 983,000 and 654,000, respectively) beat “CBS Evening News” (4.314 million, 625,000 and 417,000, respectively) by 2.925 million Total Viewers, by 358,000 Adults 25-54 and by 237,000 Adults 18-49.

📺TV SHOW RATINGS RANKER

Ranking is based on ratings data as of Friday, May 10, 2024. 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.