CNN’s nonstop coverage of missing Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 continued to pay off in the form of ratings wins throughout the weekend. Since the beginning of the coverage (March 8) through Sunday night, CNN has grown +68% in total viewers and +79% in A25-54 viewers in Total Day, and +72% in total viewers and +91% in A25-54 viewers in primetime. On Saturday, Fox News won the day in total viewers and in the A25-54 demo, as it always does. But CNN was No. 1 in both measurements — a very rare feat — between 3-6pmET.
3pm, Saturday, 3/15
CNN: 970,000 / 291,000
FNC: 964,000 / 282,000
MSNBC: 315,000 / 69,000
4pm, Saturday, 3/15
CNN: 1.062M / 288,000
FNC: 728,000 / 194,000
MSNBC: 290,000 / 70,000
5pm, Saturday, 3/15
CNN: 1.121M / 313,000
FNC: 702,000 / 148,000
MSNBC: 201,000 / 77,000
On Sunday, CNN pulled out a win in the demo for both total day and primetime viewing, and was again No. 1 among total viewers between 4-6pmET. The last time CNN came in first in the demo on a Sunday was August 11, 2013, which was the conclusion of Hannah Anderson kidnapping.
4pm, Sunday, 3/16
CNN: 999,000 / 290,000
FNC: 939,000 / 154,000
MSNBC: 278,000 / 79,000
5pm, Sunday, 3/16
CNN: 1.189M / 380,000
FNC: 828,000 / 120,000
MSNBC: 220,000 / 80,000
Last week’s intense coverage of MH370 also made ratings history on CNN.
Anderson Cooper’s A25-54 demo victories on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday was the first time Cooper has beaten Fox News’s Bill O’Reilly three days in a row in that measurement. O’Reilly, was, as always, far out ahead in total viewers, beating Cooper all three nights. CNN also had demo victories at 6pm and 7pm on Friday.
Since Flight 370 coverage started CNN has averaged 527,000 total viewers and 174,000 A25-54 viewers in Total Day, and 706,000 total viewers and 256,000 A25-54 viewers in Primetime.
Prior to Malaysia CNN was averaging 314,000 total viewers and 97,000 A25-54 viewers in Total Day and 410,000 total viewers and 134,000 A25-54 viewers in primetime.