FOX News Channel’s special coverage of the Arizona and Michigan primary from 9PM-12AM was most-watched of the night with both total viewers and in the 25-54 demo. FNC beat CNN and MSNBC combined in primetime (averaging 2.4 million viewers) and nearly doubled each network in total viewers between 9pm-12am with 1.9 million viewers.
Here's a slice of the ratings from Nielsen of the 9-12pm primary coverage time period that's different from the primetime period 8-11pm numbers in our regular table below.
9PM-12AM coverage:
FNC’s America’s Election Headquarters: 1,859,000 in P2+; (489,000 in 25-54)
CNN’s Americas Choice 2012: 941,000 in P2+; (338,000 in 25-54)
MSNBC’s Special Coverage: 982,000 in P2+; (247,000 in 25-54)
Live + Same Day Cable News Daily Ratings for February 28, 2012
| P2+ (000s) | 25-54 (000s) | 35-64 (000s) | ||
| Total Day | ||||
| FNC | 1,191 | 299 | 538 | |
| CNN | 501 | 153 | 216 | |
| MSNBC | 552 | 154 | 234 | |
| CNBC | 193 | 60 | 107 | |
| FBN | 78 | 16 | 33 | |
| HLN | 228 | 78 | 127 | |
| Primetime | P2+ (000s) | 25-54 (000s) | 35-64 (000s) | |
| FNC | 2,381 | 597 | 1,029 | |
| CNN | 1,109 | 371 | 473 | |
| MSNBC | 1,169 | 294 | 496 | |
| CNBC | 248 | 104 | 132 | |
| FBN | 84 | 20 | 35 | |
| HLN | 375 | 106 | 229 | |
| Net | Morning programs (6-9 AM) | P2+ (000s) | 25-54 (000s) | 35-64 (000s) |
| FNC | FOX & Friends | 1,038 | 324 | 576 |
| CNN | Early Start/Starting Point | 220 | 86 | 120 |
| MSNBC | Morning Joe | 451 | 180 | 214 |
| CNBC | Squawk Box | 185 | 84 | 130 |
| HLN | Morning Express w/ Meade | 251 | 106 | 148 |
| Net | 5PM | P2+ (000s) | 25-54 (000s) | 35-64 (000s) |
| FNC | FIVE, THE | 1,810 | 368 | 770 |
| CNN | Situation Room | 898 | 189 | 340 |
| MSNBC | HARDBALL WITH C. MATTHEWS | 927 | 219 | 317 |
| CNBC | FAST MONEY | 195 | 44 | 101 |
| HLN | HLN SPECIAL REPORT | 221 | 32 | 82 |
| Net | 6PM | P2+ (000s) | 25-54 (000s) | 35-64 (000s) |
| FNC | SPECIAL RPT W/BRET BAIER | 1,741 | 316 | 689 |
| CNN | John King USA | 652 | 143 | 228 |
| MSNBC | POLITICS NATION | 896 | 211 | 314 |
| CNBC | Mad Money | 196 | 71 | 125 |
| HLN | Prime News | 213 | 47 | 89 |
| Net | 7PM | P2+ (000s) | 25-54 (000s) | 35-64 (000s) |
| FNC | The Fox Report W/S.SMITH | 1,801 | 395 | 787 |
| CNN | AMERICAS CHOICE 2012 | 669 | 234 | 340 |
| MSNBC | HARDBALL WITH C. MATTHEWS | 939 | 247 | 413 |
| CNBC | Kudlow Report | 145 | 49 | 68 |
| HLN | JANE VELEZ-MITCHELL | 315 | 86 | 183 |
| Net | 8PM | P2+ (000s) | 25-54 (000s) | 35-64 (000s) |
| FNC | THE OREILLY FACTOR | 2,934 | 724 | 1,304 |
| CNN | AMERICAS CHOICE 2012 | 1,030 | 330 | 467 |
| MSNBC | MSNBC SPECIAL COVERAGE | 1,150 | 282 | 482 |
| CNBC | S JOBS BLLN DOLLAR HIPPIE | 181 | 86 | 93 |
| HLN | Nancy Grace | 498 | 148 | 316 |
| Net | 9PM | P2+ (000s) | 25-54 (000s) | 35-64 (000s) |
| FNC | AEHQ: AZ & MI PRIMARY | 2,172 | 541 | 933 |
| CNN | AMERICAS CHOICE 2012 | 1,248 | 422 | 547 |
| MSNBC | MSNBC SPECIAL COVERAGE | 1,272 | 351 | 576 |
| CNBC | 60 Minutes ON CNBC | 233 | 84 | 140 |
| HLN | Dr. Drew | 357 | 86 | 204 |
| Net | 10PM | P2+ (000s) | 25-54 (000s) | 35-64 (000s) |
| FNC | AEHQ: AZ & MI PRIMARY | 2,030 | 527 | 848 |
| CNN | AMERICAS CHOICE 2012 | 1,047 | 360 | 406 |
| MSNBC | MSNBC SPECIAL COVERAGE | 1,065 | 248 | 427 |
| CNBC | 60 Minutes ON CNBC | 330 | 142 | 163 |
| HLN | Nancy Grace | 279 | 84 | 176 |
| Net | 11PM | P2+ (000s) | 25-54 (000s) | 35-64 (000s) |
| FNC | AEHQ: AZ & MI PRIMARY | 1,368 | 400 | 642 |
| CNN | AMERICAS CHOICE 2012 | 528 | 230 | 247 |
| MSNBC | MSNBC SPECIAL COVERAGE | 605 | 143 | 263 |
| CNBC | Mad Money | 102 | 77 | 77 |
| HLN | SHOWBIZ TONIGHT | 296 | 104 | 150 |
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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.
