Not surprisingly, the South Carolina GOP debate on CNN boosted them over their cable news rivals on Thursday night in primetime, but while closer to the election, CNN’s debate did not beat out the Fox News debate on Monday in viewership (although it did in the 25-54 demo). Considering the news in the intervening days – Gingrich/ABC report, Perry dropping out and the realization that Santorum really won Iowa, that's somewhat remarkable.
Here's the ratings data for all the GOP debates so far:
Live + Same Day Cable News Daily Ratings for January 19, 2012
| P2+ (000s) | 25-54 (000s) | 35-64 (000s) | ||
| Total Day | ||||
| FNC | 1,263 | 312 | 601 | |
| CNN | 960 | 323 | 427 | |
| MSNBC | 505 | 131 | 208 | |
| CNBC | 163 | 50 | 91 | |
| FBN | 51 | 10 | 22 | |
| HLN | 209 | 77 | 102 | |
| Primetime | P2+ (000s) | 25-54 (000s) | 35-64 (000s) | |
| FNC | 2,024 | 466 | 909 | |
| CNN | 4,216 | 1,444 | 1,913 | |
| MSNBC | 844 | 161 | 362 | |
| CNBC | 179 | 74 | 95 | |
| FBN | 39 | 8 | 13 | |
| HLN | 309 | 96 | 156 | |
| Net | Morning programs (6-9 AM) | P2+ (000s) | 25-54 (000s) | 35-64 (000s) |
| FNC | FOX & Friends | 1,054 | 291 | 584 |
| CNN | Early Start/Starting Point | 223 | 87 | 121 |
| MSNBC | Morning Joe | 415 | 146 | 178 |
| CNBC | Squawk Box | 122 | 52 | 86 |
| HLN | Morning Express w/ Meade | 327 | 155 | 170 |
| Net | 5PM | P2+ (000s) | 25-54 (000s) | 35-64 (000s) |
| FNC | FIVE, THE | 1,868 | 428 | 906 |
| CNN | Situation Room | 693 | 180 | 206 |
| MSNBC | HARDBALL WITH C. MATTHEWS | 880 | 174 | 288 |
| CNBC | 0 | 164 | 37 | 115 |
| HLN | HLN SPECIAL REPORT | 150 | 24 | 45 |
| Net | 6PM | P2+ (000s) | 25-54 (000s) | 35-64 (000s) |
| FNC | SPECIAL RPT W/BRET BAIER | 2,160 | 477 | 949 |
| CNN | John King USA | 501 | 140 | 172 |
| MSNBC | POLITICS NATION | 839 | 225 | 335 |
| CNBC | Mad Money | 176 | 59 | 117 |
| HLN | Prime News | 221 | 68 | 94 |
| Net | 7PM | P2+ (000s) | 25-54 (000s) | 35-64 (000s) |
| FNC | The Fox Report W/S.SMITH | 1,940 | 507 | 955 |
| CNN | ERIN BURNETT OUTFRONT | 738 | 209 | 277 |
| MSNBC | HARDBALL WITH C. MATTHEWS | 898 | 211 | 402 |
| CNBC | Kudlow Report | 127 | 42 | 82 |
| HLN | ISSUES | 323 | 71 | 141 |
| Net | 8PM | P2+ (000s) | 25-54 (000s) | 35-64 (000s) |
| FNC | THE OREILLY FACTOR | 2,394 | 480 | 1,053 |
| CNN | SOUTHERN GOP PRES DEBATE | 4,381 | 1,465 | 1,975 |
| MSNBC | Ed Show | 816 | 143 | 315 |
| CNBC | BILL GATES GEEK CHNG WRLD | 157 | 53 | 99 |
| HLN | Nancy Grace | 392 | 97 | 204 |
| Net | 9PM | P2+ (000s) | 25-54 (000s) | 35-64 (000s) |
| FNC | Hannity | 1,522 | 354 | 656 |
| CNN | Anderson Cooper 360 | 5,300 | 1,845 | 2,409 |
| CNN | SOUTHERN GOP PRES DEBATE | 5,685 | 1,978 | 2,643 |
| MSNBC | Rachel Maddow Show | 826 | 154 | 383 |
| CNBC | BEST BUY: BOX FIGHTS BACK | 204 | 81 | 90 |
| HLN | Dr. Drew | 313 | 101 | 135 |
| Net | 10PM | P2+ (000s) | 25-54 (000s) | 35-64 (000s) |
| FNC | ON THE RECORD W/GRETA | 2,153 | 564 | 1,018 |
| CNN | Anderson Cooper 360 | 2,580 | 892 | 1,124 |
| MSNBC | Last Word W/ L. ODONNELL | 885 | 187 | 388 |
| CNBC | BEST BUY: BOX FIGHTS BACK | 176 | 88 | 96 |
| HLN | Nancy Grace | 250 | 97 | 143 |
| Net | 11PM | P2+ (000s) | 25-54 (000s) | 35-64 (000s) |
| FNC | THE OREILLY FACTOR | 1,552 | 555 | 798 |
| CNN | SOUTHERN GOP PRES DEBATE | 1,081 | 449 | 602 |
| MSNBC | Ed Show | 560 | 133 | 233 |
| CNBC | Mad Money | 57 | 36 | 33 |
| HLN | SHOWBIZ TONIGHT | 266 | 82 | 126 |
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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.
