For the second straight quarter, CNN posted substantial, double-digit growth compared to the same period in 2010. “AC360” and “John King USA” were among the shows to see the most growth.
The numbers for Q2 2011:
- Total day (Mon-Sun): 493K Total / 172K A25-54
- Prime (Mon-Sun): 683K Total / 219K A25-54
Year-to-year, CNN was up in both total viewers and the demo in primetime and total day for Q2. The network had stronger growth than both MSNBC and Fox News, with the entire primetime lineup seeing growth year-to-year. CNN still placed third overall in primetime and second in total day in both total and demo viewers.
The strongest performs for the network included “AC360,” which topped MSNBC’s “The Ed Show” in both total and demo viewers, and was up +43% in the demo compared to 2010. “John King USA” was up +20% in total viewers and +32% in the demo compared to last year. “Piers Morgan Tonight” was up+16% in the demo compared to “Larry King Live” last year. Even 8 PM’s “In the Arena,” was up +14% in total viewers and +21% in the demo compared to 2010. “ITA” was the only 8 PM show on cable news to grow year to year in the demo.
CNN’s ratings release is after the jump.
CNN POSTS STRONG YEAR-OVER-YEAR QUARTERLY RATINGS GAINS – INCREASING +29% IN PRIMETIME AND +21% IN TOTAL DAY IN THE KEY DEMO; GROWS MORE THAN ANY OTHER CABLE NEWS NETWORK VS. A YEAR AGO
AC 360 is Up +43%, Piers Morgan Tonight Grew +16% and In the Arena Increased +21% Q2 vs. a Year ago
CNN BESTS MSNBC IN TOTAL DAY AND DAYSIDE AMONG TOTAL VIEWERS AND THE DEMO 25-54 DURING SECOND QUARTER 2011
In June, CNN’s Sister Network HLN Tops MSNBC in Total Day, Primetime and Every Hour thru 11 pm, Outperforms FNC at 2p, 3p & 4P
Other than HLN, CNN is the Only Network to Grow in M-F Primetime in Total Viewers in June; FNC Down More than any other Cable News Net in M-F Prime Total Viewers
Second Quarter 2011:
For the second quarter 2011, CNN’s M-F primetime (8-11p) and total day (6a-6a) ratings grew more than MSNBC and FNC in both total viewers and in the key demo 25-54 vs. the second quarter a year ago. In addition, CNN topped MSNBC in both total day and dayside among total viewers and the key demo during the second quarter 2011.
Primetime:
In M-F prime, CNN was up +16% in total viewers (725k vs. 625k) and +29% in the key demo (235k vs. 182k) compared to Q210, while MSNBC’s growth was less, increasing only 3% among total viewers (924k vs. 894k) and 13% in the demo 25-54 (277k vs. 245k). Fox News continued to lose viewers vs. the same quarter a year ago, declining -6% in M-F prime total viewers (2.151m vs. 2.293m) and down -14% in the demo 25-54 (506k vs. 585k).
Total Day and Dayside:
In total day, CNN increased +13% in total viewers (494k vs. 439k) and grew +21% in the key demo 25-54 (173k vs. 143k) compared to last year; MSNBC increased 11% in total viewers (442k vs. 397k) and only 15% in the demo (157k vs. 136k); and FNC was off -1% in total day/total viewers and down -6% in total day/demo 25-54 vs. the second quarter last year.
Also in total day, CNN topped MSNBC in both total viewers and the demo 25-54 this quarter, with CNN averaging 494k in total viewers, a 12% advantage over MSNBC’s 442k, and in the demo 25-54, CNN posted 173k, a 10% lead over MSNBC’s 157k during the second quarter 2011.
During dayside programming (9a– 5p) CNN Newsroom easily outperformed MSNBC each hour, with MSNBC placing either 3rd or 4th throughout the day during the second quarter. For the quarter, among dayside total viewers, CNN averaged 554k, 56% more than MSNBC’s 356k and posted 169k among adults 25-54, a 59% advantage over MSNBC’s 106k. Fox News was down -2% in total viewers and was off -14% during its dayside programming.
Second Quarter 2011 Program Highlights:
CNN’s AC 360 outperformed MSNBC’s The Ed Show/Docs at 10p in both total viewers (843k vs. 805k) and the demo (304k vs. 260k) with AC 360 growing +43% in the demo while MSNBC increased +27% and FNC was down -17% compared to a year ago.
CNN’s Piers Morgan Tonight increased +16% in the demo 25-54 (207k vs. 178k) vs. the second quarter a year ago. Since launching on January 17, Piers Morgan Tonight is up 15% in total viewers and 38% in the demo versus the same period last year.
CNN’s 8 pm program In the Arena was the only show to grow (among CNN, MSNBC and FNC) in both total viewers and the demo compared to the second quarter a year ago. During the quarter, ITA increased +14% in total viewers (545k vs. 477k) and was up +21% in the demo (168k vs. 139k), while MSNBC’s Lawrence O’Donnell decreased -12% in total viewers (946k vs. 1.071m) and was down -5% in the key demo (253k vs. 267k) compared to last quarter. The O’Reilly Factor lost -4% of its total viewer audience and -12% in the demo 25-54. HLN’s Nancy Grace was up +19% in total viewers and +9% in the demo for quarter.
John King, USA also grew the most this quarter compared to MSNBC and FNC – posting double-digit growth – up +20% in total viewers (540k vs. 450k) and +32% in the demo (188k vs. 142k). MSNBC was up only 7% in total viewers and 10% in the demo while FNC was up 3% and down -3% respectively.
The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer topped MSNBC in the demo at 6 pm (187k vs. 154k) and grew among total viewers by +15% (605k vs. 526k) and +19% (187k vs. 157k) in the demo vs. the second quarter 2010. At 5 pm, the Sit Room also topped MSNBC in the demo (192k vs. 169k) and increased +15% in total viewers and +19% in the demo vs. a year ago.
Cumulative Audience:
CNN reached a cumulative Q2 2011 average monthly audience of 100.4 million, Fox News followed with 83.2 million and MSNBC trailed with 80.3 million.