MSNBC and CNN were the top-rated networks for live coverage of the Senate impeachment trial on Wednesday afternoon.
For the broadcast and cable common coverage period of 1-5 p.m. ET, MSNBC averaged 1.8 million total viewers, more than any other broadcast and cable network. However, the network delivered just 245,000 A25-54 viewers, last among the networks.
CNN, on the other hand, finished No. 1 in the key Adults 25-54 demo, delivering 320,000 viewers. As expected, each of the networks (broadcast and cable) posted day-to-day audience losses.
Among the broadcast networks, CBS was No. 1 in total viewers (1.5 million), whereas NBC was No. 1 in the demo (311,000) on day 2 of the Senate impeachment trial.
Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2020
| Senate Impeachment Trial Day 2 Common Coverage | |||
| Network | Total Viewers (000) | A25-54 Viewers (000) | Time Period (ET) |
| MSNBC | 1,793,000 | 245,000 | 1–5 p.m. |
| Fox News | 1,715,000 | 310,000 | 1–5 p.m. |
| CBS | 1,523,000 | 297,000 | 1–5 p.m. |
| ABC | 1,294,000 | 284,000 | 1–5 p.m. |
| CNN | 1,270,000 | 320,000 | 1–5 p.m. |
| NBC | 1,263,000 | 311,000 | 1–5 p.m. |
*Preliminary Nielsen live-plus-same-day data
The 6 Nielsen-measured networks averaged a combined 8.9 million total TV viewers during the above-shown common coverage period. That’s -20% vs. day one. These figures do not include Americans who were streaming impeachment trial coverage or watching on non-Nielsen-rated networks like PBS or C-SPAN.
Fox News was the highest-rated network on opening day of the Senate trial (Tuesday, Jan. 21), not only in average total viewership but also in the A25-54 demo from the 12:30-5 p.m. ET coverage period. Fox News was also No. 1 on Wednesday in prime time.