FOX News Channel’s debate this past Monday night (MLK holiday) in South Carolina attracted 5.5 million viewers with 1.6 million in the 25-54 demographic – even with the holiday, FNC’s debate beat the last debate held by NBC’s Meet The Press in both total viewers and in the demo. It also beat CBS’s last debate in the 25-54 demo.
FNC continues to hold the record as having the top debate ratings in cable news. Additionally, FNC’s debate (9-11PM) more than tripled the competition combined on Monday night (747,000 for MSNBC and 518,000 for CNN from 9-11pm).
Live + Same Day Cable News Daily Ratings for January 16, 2012
| P2+ (000s) | 25-54 (000s) | 35-64 (000s) | ||
| Total Day | ||||
| FNC | 1,618 | 417 | 766 | |
| CNN | 382 | 120 | 170 | |
| MSNBC | 454 | 98 | 204 | |
| CNBC | 155 | 60 | 77 | |
| FBN | 52 | 15 | 24 | |
| HLN | 276 | 84 | 137 | |
| Primetime | P2+ (000s) | 25-54 (000s) | 35-64 (000s) | |
| FNC | 4,769 | 1,294 | 2,184 | |
| CNN | 553 | 181 | 258 | |
| MSNBC | 773 | 147 | 345 | |
| CNBC | 280 | 110 | 115 | |
| FBN | 28 | 8 | 11 | |
| HLN | 376 | 114 | 210 | |
| Net | Morning programs (6-9 AM) | P2+ (000s) | 25-54 (000s) | 35-64 (000s) |
| FNC | FOX & Friends | 989 | 308 | 595 |
| CNN | American Morning | 189 | 98 | 129 |
| MSNBC | Morning Joe | 416 | 108 | 215 |
| CNBC | Squawk Box | 52 | 16 | 31 |
| HLN | Morning Express w/ Meade | 255 | 109 | 143 |
| Net | 5PM | P2+ (000s) | 25-54 (000s) | 35-64 (000s) |
| FNC | FIVE, THE | 1,746 | 357 | 746 |
| CNN | Situation Room | 580 | 126 | 219 |
| MSNBC | HARDBALL WITH C. MATTHEWS | 866 | 150 | 277 |
| CNBC | AMERICAN GREED | 162 | 80 | 97 |
| HLN | HLN SPECIAL REPORT | 228 | 45 | 109 |
| Net | 6PM | P2+ (000s) | 25-54 (000s) | 35-64 (000s) |
| FNC | SPECIAL RPT W/BRET BAIER | 2,008 | 454 | 897 |
| CNN | John King USA | 516 | 131 | 203 |
| MSNBC | POLITICS NATION | 734 | 148 | 272 |
| CNBC | AMERICAN GREED | 220 | 89 | 131 |
| HLN | Prime News | 330 | 58 | 144 |
| Net | 7PM | P2+ (000s) | 25-54 (000s) | 35-64 (000s) |
| FNC | The Fox Report W/S.SMITH | 1,886 | 447 | 874 |
| CNN | ERIN BURNETT OUTFRONT | 477 | 150 | 182 |
| MSNBC | HARDBALL WITH C. MATTHEWS | 740 | 189 | 368 |
| CNBC | AMERICAN GREED | 212 | 92 | 125 |
| HLN | ISSUES | 461 | 78 | 197 |
| Net | 8PM | P2+ (000s) | 25-54 (000s) | 35-64 (000s) |
| FNC | THE OREILLY FACTOR | 3,343 | 731 | 1,472 |
| CNN | Anderson Cooper 360 | 623 | 181 | 306 |
| MSNBC | Ed Show | 815 | 137 | 364 |
| CNBC | BILLIONS BEHIND BARS | 236 | 114 | 103 |
| HLN | Nancy Grace | 527 | 149 | 278 |
| Net | 9PM | P2+ (000s) | 25-54 (000s) | 35-64 (000s) |
| FNC | REPUBLICAN PRES DEBATE | 5,168 | 1,433 | 2,343 |
| CNN | Piers Morgan Tonight | 510 | 167 | 222 |
| MSNBC | Rachel Maddow Show | 831 | 180 | 360 |
| CNBC | CRIME INC: COUNTERFEIT | 335 | 93 | 110 |
| HLN | Dr. Drew | 351 | 117 | 194 |
| Net | 10PM | P2+ (000s) | 25-54 (000s) | 35-64 (000s) |
| FNC | REPUBLICAN PRES DEBATE | 5,783 | 1,713 | 2,727 |
| CNN | Anderson Cooper 360 | 525 | 194 | 247 |
| MSNBC | Last Word W/ L. ODONNELL | 664 | 124 | 304 |
| CNBC | CRIME INC: HUMAN TRAFFICK | 269 | 124 | 130 |
| HLN | Nancy Grace | 278 | 83 | 170 |
| Net | 11PM | P2+ (000s) | 25-54 (000s) | 35-64 (000s) |
| FNC | Hannity | 2,976 | 940 | 1,494 |
| CNN | ERIN BURNETT OUTFRONT | 271 | 99 | 125 |
| MSNBC | Ed Show | 483 | 105 | 225 |
| CNBC | CRIME INC: STOLEN GOODS | 188 | 78 | 81 |
| HLN | SHOWBIZ TONIGHT | 223 | 64 | 89 |
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For other days cable news ratings click here.
P2+ = viewers over the age of 2
(25-54) = Adults 25-54 viewing
(35-64) = Adults 35-64 viewing
Prime Time = 8-11pm
LIVE+SD: The number that watched a program either while it was broadcast OR watched via DVR on the same day [through 3AM the next day] the program was broadcast. For more information see Numbers 101.
Scratch = when a show's audience fails to meet minimum Nielsen reporting levels. For more information go here.
Nielsen Cable Network Coverage Estimates (as of July, 2011)
CNN/HLN: 101.12 million HHs
CNBC: 98.62 million HHs
FNC: 99.15 million HHs
MSNBC: 95.72 million HHs
Fox Business: 58.15 million HHs
Nielsen TV Ratings Data: ©2012 The Nielsen Company. All Rights Reserved.
