Fox News Channel was the most-watched cable news channel for Super Tuesday coverage last night, while CNN was most-watched in the ad-friendly A25-54 demo.
FNC’s coverage, anchored by Bret Baier and Megyn Kelly, was up +40 percent in viewers and up +25 in the demo vs. Super Tuesday 2008, the last time there was an open primary in both political parties. CNN, with anchors Wolf Blitzer, Dana Bash, Jake Tapper and Anderson Cooper, was up +12 percent in viewers and up +5 percent in the demo vs. 2008; while MSNBC, with anchors Brian Williams, Rachel Maddow and Chris Matthews, was down -6 percent / -39 percent, respectively, vs. 2008.
All three channels also exceeded their coverage of the first-in-the-nation Iowa caucus on Feb. 1, which had also set ratings records. FNC was up +9 percent in viewers and up +17 percent in the demo; CNN was up +10 percent / +14 percent, respectively, while MSNBC was up +1 percent / +6 percent.
- Super Tuesday 8-11 p.m. ET | Total Viewers / A25-54 demo (ranked by total viewers)
FNC: 4,882,579 / 1,364,255
CNN: 4,100,033 / 1,598,181
MSNBC: 1,982,386 / 625,077
In the 10 p.m. hour, both FNC and CNN topped ABC’s 10 p.m. special in both viewers and the A25-54 demo. FNC and CNN also topped CBS in the demo.
- Super Tuesday 10 p.m. ET | Total Viewers / A25-54 demo (ranked by demo)
NBC: 5,738,000 / 2,261,000
CNN: 3,849,000 / 1,565,000
FNC: 4,636,000 / 1,411,000
CBS: 5,038,000 / 1,365,000
ABC: 2,344,000 / 895,000
MSNBC: 1,956,000 / 632,000