At this time last year, MSNBC was hitting record-lows. A lot has changed in the past 12 months, and all of the network’s key programs experienced significant year-over-year growth in April.
The Peacock’s cable news network rose this past month, particularly in the dayside daypart (9 a.m. – 5 p.m.) With near non-stop coverage of the 2016 election, the self-styled ‘Place for Politics’ was up 135 percent in adults 25-54, and was up 86 percent in average total viewers during the daypart.
The average impressions for April 2016 (Nielsen Live + Same Day data):
- Prime time (Mon-Sun): 858,000 total viewers / 223,000 A25-54
- Total Day (Mon-Sun): 497,000 total viewers / 133,000 A25-54
The network’s signature morning news program, Morning Joe, averaged 560,000 total viewers and 157,000 adults 25-54 in April. The 560,000 total viewer average is a 58 percent bump from April 2015.
Meet the Press Daily was up 110 percent in adults 25-54 and up 34 percent in total viewers from its April 2015 averages. Hardball with Chris Matthews delivered a 918,000 total viewer average in April, a year-over-year improvement of 35 percent.
MSNBC also had experienced improved ratings in Monday – Friday prime time. The network was up 138 percent from the previous April in adults 25-54, undoubtedly aided by six town halls the network aired during the month.
If we take Monday-Sunday prime time into account, the network averaged 858,000 total viewers (up 68 percent year-over-year) and 223,000 adults 25-54 (up 83 percent year-over-year).
All in with Chris Hayes was up 111 percent in adults 25-54 and up 61 percent in total viewers from April 2015. The Rachel Maddow Show had a strong month as well, up 127 percent in the demo and up 65 percent in total viewers from April 2015. The Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell hauled in a 981,000 total viewer average, an 81 percent improvement from its total viewer average in April 2015 (543,000).
Here’s the MSNBC release:
MORNING JOE TOPS CNN IN KEY A25-54 DEMO AND TOTAL VIEWERS
MSNBC Dayside Growth Continues to Far Outpace CNN and Fox News
“The Rachel Maddow Show” Gains in A25-54; Closest to Fox News in 2 YearsNEW YORK – April 26, 2016- For the month of April 2016, more viewers tuned into “Morning Joe” than to CNN’s “New Day” in both the key demo and total viewers. “Morning Joe” outperformed CNN in the Adults 25-54 by 16% (157,000 vs. 135,000). In total viewers, “Morning Joe” notched another monthly win (596,000 vs. 438,000), pushing the program’s consecutive winning streak to 14 months over CNN.
While the other cable new networks saw minimal ratings movement in April 2016 for the Monday-Friday 9a-5p daypart, MSNBC’s news-focused dayside continued to soar, up 135% in A25-54 over last year (compared to Fox News at +21% and CNN at +16%) and a strong gain of 86% in total viewers over last year (compared to Fox News at +13% and at CNN +27%). During the 5p hour, “MTP Daily” also saw strong growth in April 2016, up 110% in A25-54 and 34% in total viewers over April 2015.
In Prime, “The Rachel Maddow Show” saw significant year-over-year growth in A25-54, up 127% compared over April 2015, versus CNN’s growth of 84% and Fox News at 11% over the prior year. “The Rachel Maddow Show” also continues to close the ratings gap with Fox News, posting the program’s closest ratings to “The Kelly File” in two years for A25-54 and in three years for total viewers. With the show’s April 2016 win over CNN in total viewers (1,212,000 vs. 895,000), “The Rachel Maddow Show” runs its winning streak to 35 consecutive months.
For April 2016, “Hardball with Chris Matthews” topped CNN in total viewers (918,000 vs. 830,000) and “The Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell” outpaced CNN for the 11th consecutive month in total viewers (981,000 vs.838,000). “All In with Chris Hayes” also came in with a solid showing, up 111% in A25-54 and 61% in total viewers. During Monday-Friday primetime 8-11p, MSNBC saw more year-over-year growth than Fox News in the A25-54 demo (138% vs. 12%).