2016 Ratings: MSNBC Weekday Shows Deliver Record Ratings

By A.J. Katz 

It has been well established at this point that 2016 was a landmark year for cable news. That statement holds true for MSNBC, which had its most-watched year since the network launched in 1996.

Not only did the NBC cable network see its best total viewer figures ever, but it delivered more year-over-year growth than rivals CNN and Fox News. While still trailing its rivals, MSNBC grew +87 percent in total prime time viewers and +97 percent in the prime time demo from 2015. The network also shot up +71 percent in total day viewers and +72 in the demo from 2015.

Here are the final 2016 averages (Nielsen Live + Same Day data):

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  • Primetime (Mon-Sun): 1,081,000 Total Viewers / 270,000 A25-54
  • Total Day (Mon-Sun): 603,000 Total Viewers / 153,000 A25-54

In weekday prime time (M-F, 8 – 11 p.m.), MSNBC ranks No. 8 across all of basic cable for 2016. The network gained +95 percent in total viewers, and +134 percent in A25-54 viewers in that daypart from 2015. No top-100 cable network grew more on weeknights than MSNBC.

The network’s shift to live, breaking news during dayside (9 a.m. – 5 p.m.) also seemed to pay dividends. The network more than doubled the competition, year-over-year, among both total viewers and the demo.

A number of MSNBC shows set network records in 2016. Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski had a particularly strong year as Morning Joe delivered MSNBC’s biggest total viewer audience in the time period ever, and beat CNN’s New Day in both total viewers and the key A25-54 category. This marks Morning Joe’s 7th straight year topping CNN in total viewers.

The Rachel Maddow Show had a huge year at 9 p.m. ET. Maddow delivered MSNBC’s biggest total viewer and demo audiences in the hour ever, and topped CNN’s regular programming among total viewers for the 7th straight year.

Andrea Mitchell Reports, Hardball with Chris Matthews, The Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell, The 11th Hour with Brian Williams.

AM Joy, hosted by Joy Ann Reid, delivered the biggest-ever total audience for the network in the 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. weekend time period.

Here is MSNBC’s full ratings release:

 MSNBC DELIVERS MOST-WATCHED YEAR EVER
MSNBC Shatters Ratings Records with Biggest Total Day and Dayside Audiences Ever

MSNBC is Fastest-Growing Top 100 Cable Network in Weekday Prime
MSNBC Posts Significantly Higher Year-Over-Year Growth than CNN or FOX News Across Multiple Key Dayparts and Demographics

“Morning Joe” and “The Rachel Maddow Show” Mark Biggest Total and Demo Audiences in Network’s 20-Year History; Both Top Third-Place CNN for Seventh Straight Year in Total Viewers
DECEMBER 28, 2016 — MSNBC marked its most-watched year ever in 2016, hitting all-time highs in multiple dayparts including Total Day, Dayside, Morning News, Weekday Prime, as well as several key shows and demographics.
Year over year, MSNBC was the fastest-growing top 100 cable network in weekday prime with gains of +95% in total viewers and +134% in the A25-54 demo (vs. CNN: +77% in total viewers, +81% in A25-54; FOX: +31% in total viewers, +37% in A25-54). MSNBC Weekday Prime (M-F 8-11p) ranked #8 among all cable networks in total viewers and delivered its biggest demo audience since 2008.

In Total Day (M-Su 6a-6a), MSNBC delivered its biggest total viewer audience in the network’s 20-year history and best A25-54 demo audience since 2012 (excl. Olympics). MSNBC posted significantly higher year-to-year Total Day growth than either CNN or FOX News in both total viewers and the key A25-54 demo (MSNBC: +72% in total viewers, +72% in A25-54; CNN: +54% in total viewers, +56% in A25-54; FOX: +29% in total viewers, +35% in A25-54).

MSNBC Dayside (M-F 9a-5p) also posted the biggest total viewer audience in the network’s history and best demo delivery since 2008. Fueled by the strategic shift to live, breaking news, MSNBC Dayside more than doubled the competition in year-to-year growth among both total viewers and the demo (MSNBC: +88% in total viewers, +133% in A25-54; CNN: +42% in total viewers, +42% in A25-54; FOX: +20% in total viewers, +31% in A25-54).

“Morning Joe” (M-F 6-9a) delivered MSNBC’s biggest total viewer and demo audiences in the time period ever (demo: tied with 2012) and beat third-place CNN in both categories. This marks Morning Joe’s seventh straight year topping CNN in total viewers.

“The Rachel Maddow Show” (M-F 9-10p) delivered MSNBC’s biggest total viewer and demo audiences in the time period ever. “Maddow” beat third-place CNN’s regular programming among total viewers for the seventh consecutive year.

“Andrea Mitchell Reports,” “Hardball with Chris Matthews,” “The Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell,” “The 11th Hour with Brian Williams,” and “AM Joy” all delivered the biggest-ever total audiences in their respective time periods.

NOTE: 2016 year-end ratings are based on Nielsen Live+Same data day for 12/28/15-12/25/16. Individual show data represents regular programming only, excluding conventions, debates, election night and breaking news.

2016 BROADCAST YEAR PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS
Total Day (M-Su 6a-6a)
• 2016 marked MSNBC’s biggest Total Day total viewer audience in the network’s 20-year history and best A25-54 demo average since 2012 (excl. Olympics).
• MSNBC’s year-to-year growth far outpaced the competition with gains of +72% in total viewers (vs. +54% for CNN and +29% for FOX News) and +72% in the demo (vs. +56% for CNN and +35% for FOX News) compared to 2015.
Weekday Prime (M-F 8-11p)
• MSNBC was the fastest-growing top 100 cable network in weekday prime among both total viewers and the A25-54 demo year over year.
• MSNBC weekday prime delivered its biggest A25-54 demo audience since 2008.
• MSNBC ranked #8 out of all cable networks in total viewers.
• MSNBC posted significantly more year-to-year growth than the cable news competition, with gains of +95% in total viewers (vs. +77% for CNN and +31% for FOX News) and +134% in the demo (vs. +81% for CNN and +37% for FOX News) compared to 2015.
• MSNBC drew its biggest share of the cable news demo audience since 2013, gaining 7 share points over 2015.
Monday-Sunday Prime (M-Su 8-11p)
• MSNBC drew its biggest total viewer M-Su prime audience ever and best demo delivery since 2012.
Morning Joe (M-F 6-9a)
• “Morning Joe” beat third-place CNN in both total viewers and the demo, marking the show’s seventh consecutive total viewer win over CNN.
• “Morning Joe” delivered MSNBC’s biggest total viewer and demo audiences in the 6-9a time period ever (note: demo tied with 2012).
• “Morning Joe” averaged 677,000 total viewers (ahead of CNN’s 508,000) and 166,000 viewers A25-54 (ahead of CNN’s 159,000).
Dayside (M-F 9a-5p)
• MSNBC Dayside drew its biggest total viewer audience ever and best demo average since 2008.
• MSNBC Dayside more than doubled the competition in year-to-year growth with gains of +88% in total viewers (vs. +42% for CNN and +20% for FOX News) and +133% in the demo (vs. +42% for CNN and +31% for FOX News) compared to 2015.
• MSNBC Dayside averaged 567,000 total viewers and 121,000 viewers A25-54.
• “Andrea Mitchell Reports” (M-F 12-1p) delivered MSNBC’s biggest total viewer audience in the time period ever and best demo average since 2008. “AMR” averaged 558,000 total viewers and 122,000 viewers A25-54.
MTP Daily with Chuck Todd (M-F 5-6p)
• “MTP Daily” posted the 5pm hour’s biggest total viewer and demo audiences since 2012.
• “MTP Daily” averaged 771,000 total viewers and 151,000 viewers A25-54.
“With All Due Respect” / “MSNBC Live” (M-F 6-7p)
• “WADR” and MSNBC’s live programming delivered the 6pm hour’s biggest total viewer audience since 2012 and biggest demo audience since 2013.
• For the year, “WADR” and other 6pm programming averaged 694,000 total viewers and 146,000 viewers A25-54.
“Hardball with Chris Matthews” (M-F 7-8p)
• “Hardball” delivered MSNBC’s biggest total viewer audience in the 7pm hour ever and best demo audience since 2008.
• “Hardball” beat third-place CNN in total viewers for the 7th straight year.
• “Hardball” averaged 1.079 million total viewers (ahead of CNN’s 948,000) and 221,000 viewers A25-54.
“All In with Chris Hayes” (M-F 8-9p)
• “All In” delivered the 8pm hour’s biggest total viewer audience since 2009 and best demo audience since 2010.
• “All In” averaged 1.089 million total viewers and 251,000 viewers A25-54.
“The Rachel Maddow Show” (M-F 9-10p)
• “The Rachel Maddow Show” delivered MSNBC’s biggest total viewer and demo audiences in the 9pm hour ever.
• “The Rachel Maddow Show” beat third-place CNN in both total viewers (7th straight year) and the demo.
• “The Rachel Maddow Show” averaged 1.444 million total viewers (ahead of CNN’s 1.036) and 339,000 viewers A25-54 (ahead of CNN’s 327,000).
“The Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell” (M-Th 10-11p)
• “The Last Word” delivered MSNBC’s biggest total viewer audience in the 10pm hour ever and best demo average since 2012.
• “The Last Word” beat third-place CNN for the seventh consecutive year.
• “The Last Word” averaged 1.252 million total viewers (ahead of CNN’s 940,000) and 277,000 viewers A25-54.
“The 11th Hour with Brian Williams” (M-Th 11-11:30p)
• “The 11th Hour,” which launched September 6, 2016, beat third-place CNN in total viewers.
• “The 11th Hour” delivered MSNBC’s biggest total viewer audience in the time period ever.
• To date, “The 11th Hour” is averaging 1.181 million total viewers (ahead of CNN’s 945,000) and 276,000 viewers A25-54.
• For the year, “The 11th Hour” and other 11pm programming averaged 876,000 total viewers (ahead of CNN’s 849,000) and 218,000 viewers A25-54.
AM Joy (Sa-Su 10a-12p)
• “AM Joy,” which launched May 7, 2016, delivered MSNBC’s biggest total viewer audience in the time period ever.
• Saturday editions of “AM Joy” delivered the best demo average since 2008; Sunday editions delivered the best demo average since 2003.
• For the year, Saturday editions of “AM Joy” and other 10a-12p programming averaged 631,000 total viewers and 144,000 viewers A25-54. Sunday editions of “AM Joy” and other 10a-12p programming averaged 509,000 total viewers and 131,000 viewers A25-54.
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