Unsurprisingly, FNC led last night's cable news coverage of the Illinois primary. In primetime, FNC beat both CNN and MSNBC combined in total viewers and adults 25-54. Below are the coverage ratings and the 9pm-12am ratings (FNC presented an election night edition of Special Report with Bret Baier from 11pm-12am).
PRIMETIME COVERAGE:
FNC: 2,166,000 total viewers (467,000 in 25-54)
CNN: 584,000 total viewers (204,000 in 25-54)
MSNBC: 824,000 total viewers (256,000 in 25-54)
9PM-12AM COVERAGE*:
FNC: 1,490,000 total viewers (374,000 in 25-54)
CNN: 547,000 total viewers (199,000 in 25-54)
MSNBC: 632,000 total viewers (216,000 in 25-54)
Live + Same Day Cable News Daily Ratings for March 20, 2012
| P2+ (000s) | 25-54 (000s) | 35-64 (000s) | ||
| Total Day | ||||
| FNC | 1,102 | 278 | 492 | |
| CNN | 358 | 106 | 145 | |
| MSNBC | 439 | 125 | 186 | |
| CNBC | 176 | 57 | 105 | |
| FBN | 70 | 14 | 29 | |
| HLN | 209 | 78 | 120 | |
| Primetime | P2+ (000s) | 25-54 (000s) | 35-64 (000s) | |
| FNC | 2,166 | 467 | 878 | |
| CNN | 584 | 204 | 241 | |
| MSNBC | 824 | 256 | 380 | |
| CNBC | 230 | 104 | 139 | |
| FBN | 59 | 16 | 30 | |
| HLN | 374 | 130 | 237 | |
| Net | Morning programs (6-9 AM) | P2+ (000s) | 25-54 (000s) | 35-64 (000s) |
| FNC | FOX & Friends | 974 | 278 | 499 |
| CNN | Early Start/Starting Point | 224 | 91 | 112 |
| MSNBC | Morning Joe | 374 | 133 | 159 |
| CNBC | Squawk Box | 164 | 77 | 117 |
| HLN | Morning Express w/ Meade | 189 | 84 | 118 |
| Net | 5PM | P2+ (000s) | 25-54 (000s) | 35-64 (000s) |
| FNC | FIVE, THE | 1,631 | 366 | 712 |
| CNN | Situation Room | 672 | 160 | 235 |
| MSNBC | HARDBALL WITH C. MATTHEWS | 772 | 164 | 286 |
| CNBC | FAST MONEY | 134 | 38 | 75 |
| HLN | HLN SPECIAL REPORT | 212 | 58 | 130 |
| Net | 6PM | P2+ (000s) | 25-54 (000s) | 35-64 (000s) |
| FNC | SPECIAL RPT W/BRET BAIER | 1,544 | 296 | 583 |
| CNN | John King USA | 430 | 122 | 162 |
| MSNBC | POLITICS NATION | 738 | 168 | 257 |
| CNBC | Mad Money | 192 | 67 | 122 |
| HLN | Prime News | 196 | 58 | 101 |
| Net | 7PM | P2+ (000s) | 25-54 (000s) | 35-64 (000s) |
| FNC | The Fox Report W/S.SMITH | 1,694 | 414 | 728 |
| CNN | ERIN BURNETT OUTFRONT | 425 | 102 | 139 |
| MSNBC | HARDBALL WITH C. MATTHEWS | 826 | 191 | 333 |
| CNBC | Kudlow Report | 190 | 44 | 93 |
| HLN | JANE VELEZ-MITCHELL | 401 | 154 | 196 |
| Net | 8PM | P2+ (000s) | 25-54 (000s) | 35-64 (000s) |
| FNC | THE OREILLY FACTOR | 2,940 | 625 | 1,168 |
| CNN | Anderson Cooper 360 | 487 | 176 | 225 |
| MSNBC | Ed Show | 974 | 267 | 419 |
| CNBC | BMW: A DRIVING OBSESSION | 136 | 52 | 81 |
| HLN | Nancy Grace | 448 | 178 | 255 |
| Net | 9PM | P2+ (000s) | 25-54 (000s) | 35-64 (000s) |
| FNC | Hannity | 2,157 | 465 | 939 |
| CNN | Piers Morgan Tonight | 655 | 191 | 219 |
| MSNBC | Rachel Maddow Show | 776 | 254 | 379 |
| CNBC | 60 Minutes ON CNBC | 302 | 145 | 188 |
| HLN | Dr. Drew | 353 | 90 | 217 |
| Net | 10PM | P2+ (000s) | 25-54 (000s) | 35-64 (000s) |
| FNC | ON THE RECORD W/GRETA | 1,389 | 309 | 526 |
| CNN | Anderson Cooper 360 | 611 | 246 | 278 |
| MSNBC | Last Word W/ L. ODONNELL | 719 | 245 | 341 |
| CNBC | 60 Minutes ON CNBC | 253 | 115 | 149 |
| HLN | Nancy Grace | 325 | 119 | 237 |
| Net | 11PM | P2+ (000s) | 25-54 (000s) | 35-64 (000s) |
| FNC | SPECIAL RPT W/BRET BAIER | 918 | 349 | 498 |
| CNN | ERIN BURNETT OUTFRONT | 375 | 159 | 176 |
| MSNBC | Ed Show | 398 | 149 | 191 |
| CNBC | Mad Money | 140 | 65 | 102 |
| HLN | SHOWBIZ TONIGHT | 183 | 81 | 108 |
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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.
