With the search for Malaysian Air Flight 370 dying down, MSNBC reclaimed the outright second-place spot on the cable news leaderboard in May, besting CNN in both total day and primetime. But the network hit a series of seven-year lows in both total day and primetime this month.
The ratings for May 2014 (Nielsen Live + Same Day data):
- Primetime (Mon-Sun): 536,000 Total Viewers / 153,000 A25-54
- Total Day (Mon-Sun): 327,000 Total Viewers / 103,000 A25-54
Like its competitors, MSNBC was down compared to May 2013: the network was down -5% in total viewers and -10% in the A25-54 demographic in total day and -1% and -13%, respectively, in primetime. MSNBC was down the least of all the cable news networks for the month.
In total day, MNSBC delivered its lowest ratings in total viewers since December 2007 and in the A25-54 demo since June 2006. In primetime, the network had its lowest demo delivery since July 2006.
In primetime, “All In with Chris Hayes” and “The Rachel Maddow Show” were both up in total viewers but down in the demo compared to the same month last year: Hayes’ program was up +6% in total viewers and down -13% in the demo and Maddow’s program was up +3% and down -16%, respectively. “The Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell” was down -16% in total viewers and-12% in the A25-54 demo.
It was also a mixed bag for MSNBC’s early evening programming. “The Ed Show” and “Politics Nation” were both down in total viewers but up in the demo. They were the only two cable news shows to grow in the 5pmET and 6pmET timeslots. At 7pmET, “Hardball with Chris Matthews” was up in total viewers but down in the demo.
“Morning Joe” reclaimed the second-place spot among the cable news morning shows for the month, growing +13% in total viewers and +39% in the demo compared to May 2013.
MSNBC’s release, after the jump.
MSNBC TOPS CNN IN KEY DAYPARTS – MAY 2014 RATINGS
“The Ed Show,” “PoliticsNation,” “Hardball,” “All In” and “The Rachel Maddow Show” Up Compared to Last Year
Fox News Channel Hits 13 Year Lows in the Morning and Primetime Among A25-54
NEW YORK – May 28, 2014 – MSNBC topped CNN in key dayparts for the month of May. In addition, Fox News Channel (FNC) hit 13 year lows in the morning, primetime and total day according to data from Nielsen.
MSNBC ranked #2 in weekday primetime (M-F 8p-11p) among A25-54 (145,000 vs. CNN’s 131,000) and in total viewers (593,000 vs. 384,000) for the month. FNC had the network’s lowest A25-54 weekday primetime delivery since August 2001.
In M-Su primetime, MSNBC ranked #2 among A25-54 (153,000 vs. CNN’s 141,000) and in total viewers (536,000 vs. CNN’s 400,000). MSNBC ranked #1 among African-American viewers A25-54 for the 51st consecutive month in M-Su primetime.
MSNBC ranked #2 in total day (M-Su 6a-6a) among A25-54 (103,000) and total viewers (327,000). CNN ranked #4 in total day for the month among A25-54 behind HLN (HLN 103,000/CNN 93,000). FNC had the network’s lowest total day delivery since August 2001.
MSNBC ranked #2 in sales prime (M-Su 7p-2a) among A25-54 (148,000) and total viewers (458,000). CNN ranked #4 in both demo and total viewers, falling behind HLN. FNC had the lowest A25-54 sales prime delivery since August 2001.
MSNBC continued as the most diverse cable news network. In weekday primetime (M-F 8p-11p), MSNBC ranked #1 in African-American and Hispanic audiences for the month. In sales day (M-Sun 6a-2a), MSNBC ranked #1 among African-Americans and ranked #2 among Hispanic A25-54 audiences.
Below are additional MSNBC program and daypart highlights for May 2014:
“Morning Joe” (6-9 a.m.) topped CNN’s “New Day” among A25-54 (98,000 vs. CNN’s 80,000) and total viewers (331,000 vs. CNN’s 283,000). “Way Too Early” at 5:30 a.m. also beat CNN with 79,000 A25-54, up 39% from May 2013 and 195,000 total viewers, up 13% from last year. FNC’s “Fox and Friends” had the show’s lowest A25-54 delivery since August 2001.
At 5 p.m., “The Ed Show” ranked #2 with 124,000 among A25-54 and 536,000 total viewers. “The Ed Show” was up 20% among A25-54 compared to May 2013 and was the only cable news show to grow in the hour compared to last year. FNC’s “The Five” had the lowest A25-54 delivery in the time period since December 2008.
“PoliticsNation” with Rev. Al Sharpton at 6 p.m. was #2 with 122,000 A25-54 and 524,000 total viewers. “PoliticsNation” was up 2% among A25-54 compared to May 2013 and was the only cable news show to grow in the hour compared to last year.
“Hardball” with Chris Matthews at 7 p.m. ranked #2 with 138,000 A25-54 and 721,000 total viewers for the month. “Hardball” was up double-digits from last year– up 30% among total viewers compared to May 2013. For the month, FNC had the lowest A25-54 delivery in the time period since August 2001.
At 8 p.m., “All In” with Chris Hayes topped CNN’s “Anderson Cooper 360” among total viewers (559,000 vs. CNN’s 452,000). “All In” was up 6% in total viewers compared to May 2013, while CNN and FNC are down double-digits vs. last year. “The O’Reilly Factor” on FNC had the lowest A25-54 delivery at 8 p.m. since August 2001.
“The Rachel Maddow Show” at 9 p.m. ranked #2 with 176,000 A25-54 and 738,000 total viewers for the month. “Maddow” is up 3% among total viewers compared to May 2013, while CNN and FNC are down double digits compared to last year. CNN had the lowest total viewer monthly delivery in the time period since at least January 1998. FNC had the lowest A25-54 delivery in the hour since August 2001.
At 10 p.m., “The Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell” (M-Th) was #2 with 136,000 A25-54 and 536,000 total viewers. FNC had lowest demo delivery at 10 p.m. since August 2001. CNN had the lowest A25-54 delivery at 10 p.m. since May 2000.
On Sundays, “Up with Steve Kornacki” (8-10 a.m.) and “Melissa Harris-Perry” on Sundays (10 a.m. –noon) ranked #1 among the younger demo A18-34.
MSNBC ranked #1 in weekend sales prime (Sa/Su 7p-2a) among A25-54 for the 13th consecutive month.