What a difference a year makes. MSNBC, the self-proclaimed “Place for Politics,” broke ratings records across key dayparts for both the month of June and the second quarter of 2016.
The network delivered its biggest total audience average since Q4 of 2012. Its performance in prime time was particularly notable. The network was up +72 percent in total prime time viewers and up +68 percent in A25-54 from the same quarter in 2015.
Below are the network’s average live+ same day impressions for Q2 2016 (Nielsen data):
- Prime time (Mon-Sun): 880,000 total viewers / 219,000 A25-54
- Total Day (Mon-Sun): 513,000 total viewers / 131,000 A25-54
MSNBC’s No. 1 show, The Rachel Maddow Show topped CNN in the 9 p.m. time slot in both total viewers and the demo – marking the 27th straight quarterly win in total viewers and the second straight in the demo. Maddow was up +73 percent in total viewers and +110 percent in the demo and was the only non-Fox News show to crack the Top 10. All in with Chris Hayes was up +74 percent in total viewers and up +105 percent in the demo while The Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell was up +96 percent in total viewers and up +102 percent in the demo.
The year-over-year growth during Q2 continued in total day. The network delivered more year-over-year growth than its competition, up +61 percent in total viewers (vs. +46 percent for CNN and +18 percent for Fox News) and up +54 percent in the demo (vs. +36 percent for CNN and +16 percent for Fox News) compared to Q2 2015.
This past quarter, Morning Joe drew the biggest total viewer audience for the 6 – 9 a.m. timeslot in network history as well as the show’s best demo average in over three years (since Q4 2012). Morning Joe beat CNN’s New Day in both total viewers and the demo – marking the fifth straight quarterly win over CNN in total viewers and the second straight in the demo.
Here’s MSNBC’s release:
MSNBC SHATTERS RATINGS RECORDS IN JUNE & 2ND QUARTER OF 2016
MSNBC PRIME TOPS CNN IN TOTAL VIEWERS FOR JUNE & 2ND QUARTER“MORNING JOE” BEATS CNN IN TOTAL VIEWERS & DEMO, DELIVERS BIGGEST MORNING AUDIENCE IN NETWORK’S HISTORY
DAYSIDE DELIVERS MOST-WATCHED QUARTER IN OVER THREE YEARS WITH SKY-HIGH GROWTH ACROSS THE BOARD
JUNE 28, 2016 — MSNBC broke ratings records across all key dayparts for both the month of June and the second quarter of 2016, and continues to post significantly higher year-to-year growth than its cable news competitors.MSNBC prime (8-11pm) beat CNN outright to rank #2 among total viewers for the quarter and delivered its biggest total viewer audience since 4Q12. At 9pm, “The Rachel Maddow Show” topped CNN in both total viewers and the demo – marking the 27th straight quarterly win over CNN in total viewers and the second straight in the demo.
For the quarter, “Morning Joe” drew the biggest total viewer audience for the 6-9am timeslot in MSNBC’s history as well as the show’s best demo average in over three years (since 4Q12). “Morning Joe” beat CNN’s “New Day” in both total viewers and the demo – marking the fifth straight quarterly win over CNN in total viewers and the second straight in the demo.
MSNBC’s breaking news-focused dayside programming (9am-5pm) topped the previous quarter’s record, delivering the daypart’s best total viewer average since 4Q12 and best demo average since 1Q13. Dayside’s year-to-year growth continues to far outpace the competition with gains of +93% in total viewers (vs. just +34% for CNN and +12% for FOX) and +130% in the key demo (vs. just +25% for CNN and +14% for FOX) compared to 2Q15.
MSNBC’s Total Day (M-Su 6am-6am) audience hit its highest numbers since 4Q12 in total viewers and since 1Q14 in the demo. MSNBC is posting more Total Day growth than the competition, up +61% among total viewers (vs. 46% for CNN and +18% for FOX) and up +54% in the demo (vs. 36% for CNN and +16% for FOX) compared to 2Q15.
2Q 2016 PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS
MORNING JOE (M-F 6-9am)
• “Morning Joe” delivered the biggest total viewer audience for the 6-9am timeslot in MSNBC’s history, as well as its best demo average in over three years (since 4Q12).
• “Morning Joe” topped CNN’s “New Day” among both total viewers and the demo. This marks the fifth straight quarterly win over CNN in total viewers and the second straight quarter in the demo.
• “Morning Joe” posted significantly higher year-to-year growth than the competition, up +68% among total viewers (vs. +36% for CNN’s and +16% for FOX) and up +95% in the demo (vs. +23% for CNN and +7% for FOX).
• “Morning Joe” averaged 608,000 total viewers (ahead of CNN’s 448,000) and 154,000 viewers A25-54 (ahead of CNN’s 135,000).
DAYSIDE (M-F 9am-5pm)
• MSNBC dayside’s year-to-year growth continues to soar over the competition, posting gains of +93% in total viewers (vs. +34% for CNN and +12% for FOX) and +130% in the key demo (vs. +25% for CNN and +14% for FOX).
• 2Q16 marks MSNBC dayside’s biggest total viewer audience since 4Q12 and best demo average since 1Q13.
• More cable news viewers are choosing MSNBC: the 9am-5pm daypart pulled in its largest share of the total viewer audience since 4Q12 and largest share of the demo audience since 1Q13.
EARLY EVENING (M-F 5-8pm)
• “MTP Daily with Chuck Todd,” which launched in September 2015, posted the 5pm time period’s best total viewer average since 4Q13 and best demo average since 1Q14.
• “With All Due Respect,” which debuted on MSNBC in January 2016, delivered the 6pm time period’s highest total viewer average since 1Q14 and highest demo average since 2Q14.
• “Hardball with Chris Matthews” topped CNN among total viewers and delivered the show’s best total viewer average since 4Q13. “Hardball” also delivered its best demo average since 1Q14.
WEEKDAY PRIME (M-F 8-11pm)
• MSNBC beat CNN outright to rank #2 in prime among total viewers.
• MSNBC prime delivered its biggest total viewer audience since 4Q12.
• Compared to 2Q15, MSNBC prime is up +90% in total viewers (vs. +88 for CNN and +21% for FOX) and +113% in the demo (vs. +71% for CNN and +15% for FOX).
• “All In with Chris Hayes” delivered its best averages in both total viewers and the demo since 4Q12.
• Compared to 2Q15, “All In” is up +74% in total viewers (vs. +50% for CNN and +19% for FOX) and up +105% in the demo (vs. +37% for CNN and +10% for FOX).
• “The Rachel Maddow Show” ranked #2 in both total viewers and the demo, beating CNN’s regular programming for the 27th straight quarter in total viewers and second quarter in the demo.
• “The Rachel Maddow Show” delivered its biggest total viewer audience since 4Q12 and biggest demo audience since 4Q12.
• Compared to 2Q15, “The Rachel Maddow Show” is up +73% in total viewers (vs. 60% for CNN and +14% for FOX) and up +110% in the demo (vs. 43% for CNN and +8% for FOX).
• “The Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell” topped CNN’s regular programming in total viewers for the fourth straight quarter.
• “The Last Word” delivered its best averages in both total viewers and the demo since 4Q12.
• Compared to 2Q15, “The Last Word” is up +96% in total viewers (vs. +36% for CNN and +41% for FOX) and up +102% in the demo (vs. +19% for CNN and +35% for FOX).
JUNE 2016 HIGHLIGHTS
• MSNBC ranked #2 ahead of CNN in total viewers.
• Compared to June 2015, MSNBC prime is up +89% in total viewers (far ahead of CNN’s +64% and FOX’s +21%) and up +109% in the demo (nearly double CNN’s +58% and ahead of FOX’s +14%).
• “Morning Joe” ranked #2 in both total viewers and the demo, topping CNN among total viewers for the 16th straight month and in the demo for the third straight month.
• “Morning Joe” posted the time period’s best total viewer delivery since April 2003.
• MSNBC dayside delivered its best monthly total viewer average since January 2013.
• Compared to June 2015, MSNBC dayside is up +92% in total viewers (vs. 46% for CNN and 18% for FOX) and up +147% in the demo (vs. 33% for CNN and +20% for FOX).
• “MTP Daily” posted the 5pm time period’s biggest total viewer audience since October 2013 and best demo average since February 2014.
• “With All Due Respect” drew the 6pm time period’s biggest total viewer audience since January 2014 and best demo average since April 2014.
• “Hardball with Chris Matthews” ranked #2 in total viewers, marking the third straight monthly win over CNN and the show’s biggest total audience since October 2013.
• “All In with Chris Hayes” ranked #2 in total viewers, topping CNN and delivering the biggest total audience since November 2012.
• “The Rachel Maddow Show” ranked #2 in both total viewers and the demo, marking the 37th straight win over CNN among total viewers and second straight demo win over CNN.
• “The Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell” ranked #2 in total viewers for the 13th straight month, posting its best total viewer audience since November 2012 and best demo average since December 2012.