The June (and Q2 2015) cable news ratings are being released today by Nielsen, and there’s one daypart in particular seeing some tough times. From 6 a.m.-9 a.m. ET all four major cable news networks – Fox News, CNN, MSNBC, and HLN – had their worst collective month in the A25-54 demo since August 2001.
While still far out from of its competitors, June 2015 was the least-watched month for Fox & Friends in the demo since August, 2001. It was also the lowest in total viewers for the longtime Fox News morning show since Q3 2010. June was CNN New Day’s lowest demo viewership since July 2014, a month after it launched.
The cable news drop-off comes as competition intensifies among the broadcast morning shows. After 3 years in second place, NBC’s Today is beginning to gain on ABC’s Good Morning America. CBS This Morning, which still trails GMA and Today, is seeing the most growth. Last week CTM was the only network morning news program to show year-to-year gains in the demo, up +14 percent. Year-to-date CTM is up +13 percent in the demo and up +9 percent in viewers.
Because the morning cable newscasts can be politics-heavy, the decline will likely begin to turn when viewers start engaging with the 2016 election. But who knows when that will be.
Photo Illustration: Dianna McDougall