MSNBC held on to the #2 spot in primetime for the second quarter of 2014, second only to Fox News in both total viewers and the A25-54 demographic. But in total day, the network slipped to third in total viewers and fourth (CNN and HLN were tied for second) in the A25-54 demographic.
The ratings for Q2 2014 (Nielsen Live + Same Day data):
- Primetime (Mon-Sun): 570,000 Total Viewers / 159,000 A25-54
- Total Day (Mon-Sun): 334,000 Total Viewers / 103,000 A25-54
Like all the cable news networks, MSNBC was down compared to the same quarter last year. In total day, the network was down -7% in total viewers and -16% in the A25-54 demographic, and in primetime, the network was flat and down -17%, respectively.
“The Rachel Maddow Show” and “All In with Chris Hayes” were the only primetime cable news shows to be up compared to the same quarter last year. Both shows grew 5% in total viewers, although Maddow’s program was down -18% and Hayes’ program was down -22% in the demo compared to Q2 2013. “The Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell” — which was guest-hosted in June by Ari Melber while O’Donnell recovered from a car accident — was down -12% in total viewers and -21% in the demo.