Thanks to the highest rated primary debate in cable news history and strong ratings for primary coverage, CNN won the A18-49 demo in prime time for the month of January. It’s the first time in more than six years (Nov. 2001) that CNN has won the A18-49 demo (which industry observers acknowledge is not the demo preferred by advertisers).
In the cable news ad friendly A25-54 demo, CNN edged FNC at 9pmET (497,000 v. 484,000) and at 10pmET (485,000 v. 466,000). This also marks the first month since November 2001 that CNN beat Fox News Channel in the demo at 10pmET.
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CNN IS # 1 IN PRIMETIME FOR THE MONTH OF JANUARY AMONG YOUNGER VIEWERS P18-49
CNN Also Beats Fox News at 9:00 PM and 10:00 PM in P25-54 Demo
CNN Debates, Political Coverage and Programming Continue to be the First Choice for Viewers
CNN scored significant ratings wins in January, topping FNC and MSNBC among younger viewers throughout primetime, at 9:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. in the key demo P25-54, and during CNN debates, primary nights and political programming. For the first time in six years (since November 2001), more younger viewers turned to CNN primetime (M-Su) than any other cable news network, with CNN winning the key demographic P18-49 with 353k viewers, FNC placed second with 348k and MSNBC was third with 263k.
CNN won the key demographic P25-54 during the 9:00 p.m. and 10 p.m. time period (M-F) in January. At 9p.m CNN averaged 497k viewers, while FNC trailed with 484k and MSNBC had 304k.
During the 10:00 p.m. time period (M-F), CNN delivered the most viewers in the key demographic P25-54, with 485k viewers, while FNC posted 466k and MSNBC had 338k. In a head-to-head program comparisons, Anderson Cooper 360 was the top-rated program at 10pm throughout January with 382k viewers while FNC’s On the Record with Greta Van Susteren placed second with 360k. This represents CNN’s first monthly 10:00 p.m. time period and program wins in the key demographic P25-54 since November 2001.
During this political season, CNN achieved ratings milestones, and had key ratings wins and gains:
CNN has the top three debates in cable news history in total viewers, P18-34, P18-49, and P25-54:
• CNN/Congressional Black Caucus Democratic Debate in South Carolina — 4.9 million total viewers
• CNN YouTube GOP Debate in Florida — 4.5 million total viewers
• CNN Democratic Debate in Nevada — 4 million total viewers
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CNN’s primary election night coverage tops the competition:
• CNN coverage of the New Hampshire primary beat FNC and MSNBC in total viewers with 2.7 million tuning in from 8:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. CNN’s NH primary coverage also outperformed the competition in all the key demos that night.
• CNN coverage of the Iowa Caucus won in the key demographic P25-54, with 836,000 demo viewers tuning in from 8:00 p.m to 1:00 a.m.
• CNN coverage of the South Carolina GOP primary topped FNC and MSNBC in the P25-54 demo with 382,000 viewers tuning in from 6:30 p.m. to 10:30p.m.
• CNN coverage of the South Carolina Democratic primary won total viewers and the demo with more than 1.6 million total viewers tuning in from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
CNN political programming Ballot Bowl gains viewers:
CNN’s Ballot Bowl, the first-ever extended and unfiltered coverage of the candidates on the campaign trail, is a hit with viewers. Since its debut on January 1, the show continues to grow its audience. The most recent Ballot Bowl telecast, Sunday, January 27, posted 96% gains in total viewers (717k vs. 366k). and 111% growth in P25-54 (247k vs. 117k) versus prior quarter average.
CNN Digital Network was the #1 news and information site for New Hampshire primary and Iowa caucus coverage:
CNN Digital Network had 66.9 million total minutes and 80 million page views for the New Hampshire primary and 50.3 million total minutes and 58 million page views for the Iowa caucus.
CNN reached 70 million people in January-far more people than other news networks: CNN continues to dominate in reach with 70 million total viewers watching in January, 13 million more than FNC and 15 million more than MSNBC.
P2+ CNN: 69,796,000; FNC: 56,474,000; HLN: 55,498,000; MSNBC: 55,414,000
P25-54 CNN: 31,514,000; MSNBC: 26,321,000; HLN 26,066,000; FNC: 23,681,000