TV Ratings: In Spite Of Olympics, Cable News Viewing Grew

Despite the blockbuster numbers posted by NBC News’ coverage of the Paris Olympics, cable news viewership grew during the first week of August. 

Chalk that up to the excitement surrounding Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris and her newly-named running mate, Tim Walz. All three cable news nets recorded week-to-week gains during primetime and total day even with the competition of the Summer Games.

TV Newser reports Nielsen live plus same-day data for the week of August 5 saw FNC average 2.394 million total viewers and 301,000 viewers in the advertiser-coveted A25-54 demo during primetime. The network saw respective gains of +6% and +10%  in those measured categories compared to the week prior. In total day, Fox News averaged 1.467 million total viewers and 965,000 demo viewers for week-to-week gains of +2% in both categories.

Among all basic cable networks, Fox News remained at No. 1 in total primetime viewers and repeated at No. 2 in the demo. In total day, it retained first place in total viewers and second place in the demo. USA Network continued to stand at the top of the demo podium in both primetime and total day as a result of the Paris Olympics.

MSNBC’s primetime lineup averaged 1,391,000 total viewers and 159,000 viewers in the A25-54 demo. The network saw respective week-to-week gains of +25% and +49% in both measured categories. In total day, MSNBC averaged 965,000 total viewers and 109,000 demo viewers for gains of +23% and +42%, respectively. Among all basic cable networks, MSNBC jumped from third to second place in total primetime viewers and from 10th to sixth place in the demo.

CNN averaged 696,000 total primetime viewers and 136,000 A25-54 viewers during primetime, for week-to-week gains of +9% and +13%, respectively. In primetime, CNN stayed in fourth place with total viewers and fell from seventh to ninth place in the demo.

Fox News occupied 10 of the 15 spots for the week’s most-watched cable news shows, with The Five (3.393 million viewers at 5 p.m. ET) taking the gold. MSNBC occupied the remaining slots, with The Beat with Ari Melber (2.123 million viewers at 6 p.m. ET) landing in seventh place.

Among the most-watched shows in the A25-54 demo, Hannity (368,000 viewers at 9 p.m. ET) finished first as FNC claimed 12 out of the 15 spots. MSNBC’s The Beat (272,000 viewers at 6 p.m. ET) came in at No. 5.

📺BROADCAST NETWORK EVENING NEWS

The 2024 Paris Olympics continued to provide the perfect lead-in for NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt, as the evening newscast remained on top in both total viewers and the Adults 25-54 demo for the week of August 5.

Nightly News was the most-watched TV program, excluding sports, syndication and specials. The program’s back-to-back wins in these measured categories were the first time it topped ABC World News Tonight with David Muir for a two-week period in nearly seven years.

However, Nightly News was not the only newscast to see some golden luster. ABC’s newscast was the only evening broadcast to record week-to-week gains in total viewers and the demo. On the flip side, CBS Evening News with Norah O’Donnell was the only broadcast to see week-to-week declines in both measured categories.

WNT averaged 7.524 million total viewers and 1.007 million viewers in the A25-54 demo for the week. That translates to respective gains of +1% and +4% compared to the previous week. Looking at its performance alongside the same week in 2023 (the week of Aug. 7), WNT was up in total viewers by +3%, but down by -8% in the demo.

NBC Nightly News remained at No. 1 in total viewers and the demo, averaging 7.619 million and 1.474 million viewers, respectively. CBS Evening News with Norah O’Donnell attracted 4.453 million total viewers and 583,000 viewers in the demo for the week.

📺TV SHOW RATINGS RANKER

Ranking is based on ratings data as of Friday, August 9, 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.