MSNBC had its best month since last January and was back in second place, ahead of CNN, in total day and in primetime in both total viewers and the A25-54 demo. The network finished 2013 in third behind CNN in total day viewership.
The ratings for January 2014 (Nielsen Live + Same Day data):
- Primetime (Mon-Sun): 677,000 Total Viewers / 231,000 A25-54
- Total Day (Mon-Sun): 404,000 Total Viewers / 148,000 A25-54
Compared to last January, MSNBC is down -17% in viewers and down -8% in the demo for total day viewing. In primetime, the network is down -14% in viewers and down -2% in the demo. “The Rachel Maddow Show” finishes January as the 5th most-watched cable news show in the demo (Fox News programs took the top 4 spots). Maddow was down -4% in viewers and down -1% in the demo vs. January 2013, which featured the start of Pres. Obama’s second term.
“Hardball with Chris Matthews” had the best A25-54 share in the program’s 14 year history on MSNBC, and was up +11% in the demo and up +2% in viewers, year-over-year. “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 POSTS DOUBLE DIGIT GROWTH IN KEY DAYPARTS – Jan 2014 ratings
MSNBC is Only Cable News Net to Grow Year-Over-Year in Primetime
“Hardball” at 7 p.m. Has Show’s Best A25-54 Share Ever
“All In,” “The Rachel Maddow Show” and “The Last Word” Up Double Digits From Dec. 2013
NEW YORK – January 28, 2014 – MSNBC had a strong start to 2014 posting the network’s best total day performance in a year and beating CNN across the board in key dayparts for the month of Jan. 2014. MSNBC was the only network to grow year-over-year in primetime and closed the A25-54 gap with Fox News Channel in both total day and primetime, according to data from Nielsen.
MSNBC ranked #2 in total day (M-Su 6a-6a) among A25-54 and total viewers, with a 51% lead over CNN in the demo (148,000 vs. CNN’s 98,000) and a 27% lead among total viewers (404,000 vs. 317,000). MSNBC total day is up 14% in the demo and 12% in total viewers compared to Dec. 2013. This was MSNBC’s best total day delivery since Jan. 2013 and the closest gap to Fox News Channel since Jan. 2013.
MSNBC ranked #2 in weekday primetime (M-F 8p-11p) with a 78% advantage over CNN among A25-54 (252,000 vs. CNN’s 142,000) and a 75% advantage in total viewers (798,000 vs. 457,000). MSNBC weekday primetime is up 40% in A25-54 and up 29% in total viewers compared to Dec. 2013. MSNBC was also up 2% among A25-54 compared to Jan. 2013 while CNN dropped -40% and FNC is down -3% since last year. Jan. 2014 was MSNBC’s best weekday primetime demo delivery since April 2013 and the closest demo performance to Fox News Network since Dec. 2012.
MSNBC ranked #2 in sales prime (M-Su 7p-2a), topping CNN by 87% with A25-54 (217,000 vs. CNN’s 116,000) and by 67% among total viewers (565,000 vs. CNN’s 338,000). MSNBC is up 13% in both A25-54 and total viewers compared to Dec. 2013. This was MSNBC’s best sales prime delivery and closet gap to Fox News Channel since Dec. 2012.
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.
Below are MSNBC program highlights for January 2014:
“Morning Joe” (6-9 a.m.) was #2 for the month, topping CNN by 81% in A25-54 (134,000 vs. CNN’s 74,000) and 83% in total viewers (384,000 vs. CNN’s 210,000). CNN’s “New Day” had the program’s worst A25-54 month ever and the worst demo performance in the time period since May 2012. In addition, both “First Look” at 5 a.m. and “Way too Early” at 5:30 a.m. ranked #2 in total viewers and A25-54 for the month.
“The Ed Show” at 5 p.m. was #2 for the month, beating CNN by 70% in the demo (168,000 vs. CNN’s 99,000) and 47% among total viewers (608,000 vs. CNN’s 414,000). “The Ed Show” is up 14% in A25-54 and 3% in total viewers compared to Dec. 2013.
“PoliticsNation” with Rev. Al Sharpton at 6 p.m. ranked #2 topping CNN by 93% among A25-54 (195,000 vs. CNN’s 101,000) and by 101% in total viewers (676,000 vs. CNN’s 336,000). This was “PoliticsNation’s” best demo delivery in a year (since Jan. 2013) and CNN’s lowest A25-54 delivery since June 2012. “PoliticsNation” is up 10% in A25-54 and 4% in total viewers compared to Dec. 2013. CNN’s “Crossfire” (6:30p) had the lowest performance since the program’s debut and the lowest delivery in the time period since June 2012.
“Hardball with Chris Matthews” at 7 p.m. had the best A25-54 share in the program’s 14 year history on MSNBC. “Hardball” ranked #2 beating CNN by 139% in A25-54 (253,000 vs. CNN’s 106,000) and 176% in total viewers (923,000 vs. CNN’s 335,000). “Hardball” is up 23% in A25-54 and 9% in total viewers compared to Dec. 2013. “Hardball” is also up 15% among A25-54 compared to Jan. 2014, while CNN is down -35% and FNC is down -8%. “Hardball” ranked #1, beating Fox News Channel’s “On the Record” in A25-54 for nine shows this month.
“All In” with Chris Hayes at 8 p.m. ranked #2, beating CNN’s “Anderson Cooper 360” by 80% in A25-54 (246,000 vs. CNN’s 137,000) and by 67% in total viewers (809,000 vs. CNN’s 484,000). “All In” saw double digital growth from Dec. 2013, up 47% in A25-54 and up 25% in total viewers compared to last month. Compared to Jan. 2013, MSNBC at 8 p.m. is up 9% among A25-54 while CNN is down -25% and FNC is down -10%. This was MSNBC’s best demo performance at 8 p.m. in more than a year – since Dec. 2012 – and the best demo performance ever for “All In.”
“The Rachel Maddow Show” at 9 p.m. ranked #2 across the board, beating CNN’s “Piers Morgan Tonight” by 156% with A25-54 (305,000 vs. CNN’s 119,000) and by 147% among total viewers (1.04 million vs. CNN’s 421,000). “Maddow” is up 49% in A25-54 and 31% in total viewers compared to Dec. 2013. This was “Maddow’s” best demo performance since April 2013 and FNC’s “The Kelly Files’” lowest delivery to date and the lowest time period performance for FNC since Sept. 2013. “The Rachel Maddow Show” ranked #1 in the A25-54 demo seven shows this month.
“The Last Word” with Lawrence O’Donnell at 10 p.m. ranked #2 topping CNN’s “AC 360 Later” by 109% in A25-54 (232,000 vs. CNN’s 111,000) and a 143% lead in total viewers (815,000 vs. CNN’s 336,000). “The Last Word” is up 41% in A25-54 and 29% in total viewers compared to Dec. 2013. Fox News Channel’s “Hannity” had the show’s lowest 10 p.m. delivery to date and the lowest A25-54 time period delivery since Aug. 2013.
MSNBC daytime (M-F 9a-5p) had the best time period delivery since Oct. 2013, up 16% with A25-54 and 11% with total viewers compared to December 2013.
MSNBC ranked #1 in weekend sales prime (Sa/Su 7p-2a) for the month among A25-54, 130% ahead of CNN and 86% ahead of FNC (223,000 vs. CNN’s 97,000 FNC 120,000). This was CNN’s lowest weekend sales prime demo performance since June 2012 and FNC’s lowest since Jan. 2013.
Below are additional MSNBC daytime and weekend highlights:
“The Daily Rundown” with Chuck Todd at 9 a.m. ranked #2 with total viewers (369,000 vs. CNN’s 334,000) and is up 15% in A25-54 and 7% in total viewers compared to December 2013.
At 3 p.m., “The Cycle” had its best demo delivery since Feb. 2013 and tied CNN for #2 among A25-54 with 110,000. “The Cycle” is up 24% with A25-54 and 14% in total viewers compared to Dec. 2013.
“Now with Alex Wagner”/MSNBC Live at 4 p.m. ranked #2 in both total viewers and A25-54 for the month, topping CNN by 23% in A25-54 (124,000 vs. CNN’s 101,000) and a 15% lead in total viewers (441,0000 vs. CNN’s 385,000). The 4 p.m. hour is up 25% in A25-54 and 17% in total viewers compared to Dec. 2013.
“Up with Steve Kornacki” on Saturdays (8-10 a.m.) ranked #2 in total viewers topping CNN by 18% (378,000 vs. 320,000). Compared to Dec. 2013, “Up” grew 68% in A25-54 and 53% in total viewers.