TV Ratings: Trump Trial Props-Up CNN

Two legal matters involving former President Donald Trump last week drove the bulk of cable news coverage last week, and helped third-place CNN make the most significant gains during primetime and total day in both total viewers and the Adults 25-54 demo. Meanwhile, MSNBC—which also provided extensive coverage of both Trump cases—posted gains with total viewers in primetime, as well as with total viewers and in the demo during the total day. Fox News, on the other hand, was the only network to see week-to-week declines across the board.

Nielsen live plus same-day data for the week of April 22 saw FNC average 1.930 million total viewers and 194,000 A25-54 viewers during primetime. The network was down in total viewers by -3% and -9% in the A25-54 demo relative to the week prior (the week beginning April 15).

In total day viewing, Fox News averaged 1.271 million in total viewers and 154,000 in A25-54 viewers for a week-to-week decline of -2% and -1% respectively.

Among all basic cable networks, Fox News fell from first place to third place in total primetime viewers and dropped from fifth place to seventh in the primetime demo. In total day, the network held its No. 1 position in total viewers and remained in third place in the total day demo.

MSNBC averaged 1.438 million total viewers and 133,000 viewers in the A25-54 demo in primetime. While the network was up +6% in total viewers, it experienced a -1% drop in the demo from the week prior. CNN’s primetime line-up averaged 772,000 in total viewers and 125,000 in the A25-54 demo. That translates to a total viewers gain of +30% and an uptick of +7% in the demo compared to the previous week.

MSNBC remained in fourth place among all basic cable networks in total primetime viewers and 15th place in the demo. During total day, it ranked as the No. 2 network in total viewers and moved up one spot from eighth to seventh in the total day demo. CNN finished the week rising from eighth place to fifth place in primetime with total viewers but dropped from 17th place to 18th place in the demo from the week prior. It also fell from No. 4 to No. 5 in total day viewers, but moved up from ninth to eighth place in the total day demo.

Fox had nine out of the 15 most-watched cable news shows of the week, led by The Five (3.079 million viewers at 5 p.m. ET). MSNBC took the remaining six spots, led by Deadline: White House with Nicole Wallace (1.910 million viewers at 4 p.m. ET).

Gutfeld! continued to hold the top spot among A25-54 viewers (270,000 viewers at 10 p.m. ET), and Fox News had 10 of the top 15 cable news shows in the demo overall. The 5 p.m. edition of MSNBC’s Deadline White House (194,000 viewers) helped the network occupy the remaining five spots.

📺BROADCAST EVENING NEWS

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

“World News Tonight with David Muir” ranked as the No. 1 newscast on all of broadcast and cable in Total Viewers (7.522 million), Adults 25-54 (1.040 million) and Adults 18-49 (667,000) during the week of April 22, 2024, based on Live + Same Day Data from Nielsen Media Research. “World News Tonight” outdelivered “NBC Nightly News” (5.928 million, 776,000 and 508,000, respectively) by 1.594 million Total Viewers, by 264,000 Adults 25-54 and by 159,000 Adults 18-49, respectively.

“World News Tonight” was up over the previous week in Adults 25-54 (+6,000/+1% – 1.040 million vs. 1.034 million), standing as the only evening newscast to grow in the key Adult news demo week to week.

“World News Tonight” increased its Adults 25-54 lead week to week over “NBC Nightly News” by 20% (264,000 vs. 220,000) to its largest lead in 11 months — since w/o 5/29/23.

“World News Tonight” widened its Total Viewer margin over “NBC Nightly News” on the year-ago week by 10% (1.594 million vs. 1.455 million).

“World News Tonight with David Muir” stood as the No. 2 program of the week in Total Viewers (7.522 million) on all of broadcast and cable (excluding sports).

Season to date, “World News Tonight” (7.958 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” (6.698 million) by 1.260 million and “CBS Evening News” (4.842 million) by 3.116 million.

For the week, “World News Tonight” (7.522 million, 1.040 million and 667,000, respectively) beat “CBS Evening News” (4.419 million, 606,000 and 404,000, respectively) by 3.103 million Total Viewers, by 434,000 Adults 25-54 and by 263,000 Adults 18-49.

📺TELEVISION SHOW RATINGS RANKING

Ranking is based on ratings data as of Friday, April 26, 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.