February 2014 Ratings: MSNBC Remains #2 in Primetime, Total Day

By Jordan Chariton 

MSNBC remained in second place, ahead of CNN, in total day and primetime in both total viewers and the A25-54 demo.

The ratings for February 2014 (Nielsen Live + Same Day data):

  • Primetime (Mon-Sun): 722,000 Total Viewers / 230,000 A25-54
  • Total Day (Mon-Sun): 408,000 Total Viewers / 144,000 A25-54

Compared to February 2013, MSNBC is down -5% in viewers and up +3% in the demo for total day viewing. In primetime, the network is down -9% in viewers and down -2% in the demo. “The Rachel Maddow Show” finishes February as the 6th most-watched cable news show in the demo. Maddow remained flat in total viewers but was up +7% in the demo vs. February 2013, the first full month of Pres. Obama’s second term.

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“Hardball with Chris Matthews” at 7pmET was up +22% in total viewers +27% in demo viewers, year-over-year (last year, the 7pm was re-airing the live 5pm “Hardball”).  “Morning Joe,” “All In with Chris Hayes” and “Politics Nation with Al Sharpton” all came in second in their time periods.

More details in MSNBC’s release, after the jump…

MSNBC PRIMETIME HAS BEST MONTHLY DELIVERY SINCE DEC. 2012
“Hardball,” “All In,” “Maddow,” “The Last Word” Up Year-Over-Year Among A25-54
NEW YORK –February 25, 2014 – February was MSNBC’s best weekday demo delivery in thirteen months, according to data from Nielsen.

MSNBC ranked #2 in weekday primetime (M-F 8p-11p) with a 94% advantage over CNN among A25-54 (260,000 vs. CNN’s 134,000) and a 103% advantage in total viewers (871,000 vs. 429,000) for the month. MSNBC weekday primetime is up 1% among A25-54 compared to Feb. 2013 while CNN dropped -41% year-over-year.

In M-Su primetime, MSNBC ranked #2 with a 72% lead among A25-54 over CNN (230,000 vs. CNN’s 134,000) and an 81% advantage over CNN in total viewers (723,000 vs. CNN’s 399,000). Feb. 2014 was MSNBC’s best weekday and M-Su primetime demo delivery since December 2012.

MSNBC ranked #2 in total day (M-Su 6a-6a) among A25-54 and total viewers, with a 48% lead over CNN in the demo (142,000 vs. CNN’s 96,000) and a 35% lead among total viewers (413,000 vs. CNN’s 307,000). MSNBC is the only network to grow compared to Feb. 2013 – up 1% among A25-54 (CNN down 26% and FNC down 3% in A25-54 compared to Feb. 2013).

MSNBC ranked #2 in sales prime (M-Su 7p-2a), topping CNN by 80% with A25-54 (202,000 vs. CNN’s 112,000) and by 80% among total viewers (584,000 vs. CNN’s 311,000). MSNBC is the only network to grow vs. Feb. 2013 among A25-54, up 5% compared to last year (CNN down 32% and FNC down 2%). MSNBC also ranked #1 among the younger demo of A18-34 in sales prime for the month.

MSNBC was also the most diverse cable news network. In weekday primetime (M-F 8p-11p), MSNBC ranked #1 in African-American, Hispanic, and Asian A25-54 audiences for the month. In full day (M-Sun 6a-2a), MSNBC ranked #1 among African-Americans and Hispanic A25-54 audiences.

Please Note: All data excludes Olympics programming ratings.
Below are MSNBC morning and primetime program highlights for February 2014:
• “Morning Joe” (6-9 a.m.) topped CNN’s “New Day” for the 9th consecutive month. “Morning Joe” ranked #2 in February with 126,000 A25-54 and 378,000 total viewers. “Way Too Early” with Thomas Roberts (5:30 a.m.) had the show’s best A25-54 delivery since Nov. 2012. “Way Too Early” had 104,000 A25-54, up 33% from Feb. 2013 and 237,000 total viewers, up 17% from last year.
• At 5 p.m., “The Ed Show” ranked #2 with 152,000 among A25-54 and 570,000 total viewers. CNN’s “Situation Room” (87,000 A25-54) had the lowest demo delivery in the hour since July 2001.
• “PoliticsNation” with Rev. Al Sharpton at 6 p.m. was #2 with 178,000 A25-54 and 647,000 total viewers. CNN’s 6 p.m. hour (“Situation Room”/”Crossfire”) had the lowest A25-54 delivery in the hour since June 2012 with 91,000 A25-54.
• “Hardball” with Chris Matthews at 7 p.m. ranked #2 with 232,000 A25-54 and 925,000 total viewers for the month. “Hardball” was up double-digits from last year – up 17% in A25-54 and up 24% among total viewers compared to Feb. 2013. “Erin Burnett Outfront” had the show’s lowest demo delivery since May 2012 with 100,000 A25-54.
• At 8 p.m., “All In” with Chris Hayes was a solid #2, topping CNN’s “Anderson Cooper 360” for the 6thconsecutive month. “All In” had 234,000 among A25-54 and 787,000 total viewers. “All In” is up 15% among A25-54 compared to Feb. 2013.
• “The Rachel Maddow Show” at 9 p.m. ranked #2 with 287,000 A25-54 and 996,000 total viewers for the month. “Maddow” is up 7% among A25-54 compared to Feb. 2013. “Piers Morgan Live” on CNN had the lowest A25-54 monthly delivery ever for CNN in the time period with 100,000 A25-54.
• At 10 p.m., “The Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell” (M-Th) was #2 with 229,000 A25-54 and 794,000 total viewers. “The Last Word” is up 11% among A25-54 compared to Feb. 2013. “Hannity” on Fox News Channel had the show’s lowest demo delivery (269,000 A25-54) since moving to the 10 p.m. timeslot (since August 2013).
Below are MSNBC daytime and weekend program and time period highlights:
• “First Look” at 5 a.m. ranked #2 for the month with 98,000 A25-54 and 191,000 total viewers. “First Look” was up 48% among A25-54 and up 18% with total viewers compared to Feb. 2013.
• “The Daily Rundown” with Chuck Todd at 9 a.m. ranked #2 for the month with 102,000 A25-54 and 366,000 total viewers.
• MSNBC Live at noon ranked #2 for the month among A25-54 with 90,000.
• “Now with Alex Wagner” at 4 p.m. was #2 for the month with 109,000 A25-54 and 411,000 total viewers. On CNN, “The Lead with Jake Tapper” had the show’s lowest demo delivery ever and the lowest A25-54 delivery for CNN since May 2012.
• MSNBC ranked #1 in weekend sales prime (Sa/Su 7p-2a) among A25-54 for the 10thstraight month.
• “Up with Steve Kornacki” on Sundays (8-10 a.m.) ranked #2 in A25-54 (143,000) and total viewers (377,000) for the month. Compared to February. 2013, “Up” grew 3% in A25-54 and 16% in total viewers. This was “Up’s” best demo delivery since July 2013. “Up” Sundays also ranked #1 among younger viewers A18-34 for the month.
• “Melissa Harris-Perry” on Sundays (10 a.m. –noon) ranked #2 in A25-54 (141,000), up 21% compared to Feb. 2013. This was “MHP’s” best demo delivery since July 2013. “MHP” also ranked #1 among younger viewers A18-34 for the month
• “Weekends with Alex Witt” on Sundays (noon – 2 p.m.) ranked #2 among A25-54 for the month (103,000). “Witt” also ranked #1 among younger viewers A18-34 for the month.

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