Fox News was the first cable news channel to report U.S.-led airstrikes had begun in Syria. It was also the most-watched. Fox News beat CNN and MSNBC combined in both total viewers and the A25-54 demo last night. Coverage peaked in viewers at 9pmET during Megyn Kelly’s show and in the demo at 10pmET during Shepard Smith’s special coverage.
CNN showed the most primetime growth of the networks compared to last Monday. CNN was up +57% in viewers and up +62% in the demo; MSNBC was up +29% in viewers and up +60% in the demo and Fox News was up +6% in viewers and up +12% in the demo.
- Primetime (8-11pmET) 9/23/14
Total Viewers / A25-54 demo
FNC: 2,041,000 / 452,000
CNN: 587,000 / 206,000
MSNBC: 646,000 / 174,000
- 9pmET
FNC’s Kelly File: 1,984,000 / 378,000
CNN’s Anderson Cooper: 469,000 / 172,000
MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow: 767,000 / 192,000
- 10pmET
FNC’s Shepard Smith: 1,924,000 / 534,000
CNN Tonight: 882,000 / 339,000
MSNBC’s Lawrence O’Donnell: 619,000 / 162,000
- 11pmET
FNC’s Shepard Smith: 1,309,000 / 345,000
CNN Tonight: 707,000 / 245,000
MSNBC’s Chris Hayes: 384,000 / 101,000