HLN ended 2014 down -13% in total viewers and down -6% in the demo compared to last year. HLN’s highlight is in the morning where it tied for 2nd in the daypart with sister network CNN, and surpassing MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” in the A25-54 demo. “Morning Express with Robin Meade” and CNN’s “New Day” tied for the year, both ahead of “Morning Joe” by 4%, a first for HLN since 2011. HLN topped MSNBC in the mornings for the last eight months of 2014.
The ratings for 2014 (Nielsen Live + Same Day data):
- Primetime (Mon-Sun): 333,000 Total Viewers / 117,000 A25-54
- Total Day (Mon-Sun): 257,000 Total Viewers / 105,000 A25-54
With a new direction and aiming to become the all-screens home for the best social news and lifestyle content in the world, HLN ended 2014 on a ratings high. HLN posted the biggest increase among cable news networks in fourth quarter of 2014 in both total viewers and the demo
But most of that growth is from the popular oft-repeated crime show “Forensic Files.” It was HLN’s top program in the demo, while “Nancy Grace” finishes slightly ahead in total viewers. Grace finished 42nd among all programs in total viewers, with “Forensic Files” finishing 47th.