January Numbers…
The January numbers are out. FNC won the month, besting CNN nearly 2:1 in Total Day and Primetime in P2+ and less than 2:1 in Total Day and Primetime P25-54. MSNBC was neck and neck with HLN but managed to eke out third place in P2+ Total Day and Primetime but split with HLN in the P25-54; beating it in Primetime but losing to it in Total Day. Both HLN and MSNBC posted year to year gains vs. Jan 2005. MSNBC was up 10% in daytime and 16% in Primetime (keep in mind there was a hole in the 9pm hour a year ago which dragged down MSNBC’s Primetime average as Deborah Norville’s show was being phased out so that needs to be factored in). HLN was up a whopping 43% in Primetime P2+ from a year ago as their new lineup wasn’t in place then. Both FNC and CNN registered losses vs a year ago. FNC was down 2% in Daytime and 7% in Primetime. CNN was down 9% in Daytime and 17% in Primetime.
American Morning and Squawk Box were the only shows in the morning to post year to year gains. American Morning was up 8% in P2+ and 12% in P25-54. CNBC’s Squawk Box posted a 25% gain over Jan 2005 in P2+ but dropped 12% in P25-54. Fox and Friends was down slightly 1% in P2+ and 5% in P25-54. MSNBC took it on the chin. The combination of Imus/MSNBC Live was down 23% in P2+ and 25% in P25-54. Robin and Company on HLN was down slightly; 1% in P2+ and 2% in P25-54.
CNN is noting how Anderson Cooper 360 continues to trend younger while its FNC competition continues to lose younger viewers…
Anderson Cooper 360 grew +63% in P18-34, +28% in P18-49 and +17% in P25-54 over last year while FXNC programs On The Record and O’Reilly Factor lost -35% in P18-34, -23% in P18-49 and -26% in P25-54 in the month of Jan. (FXNC’s only gains were in the oldest P55+ demo.)
AC360’s P2+ numbers were a mixed bag however. It was down 3% in the old Newsnight hour slot but up a whopping 29% in its new second hour.
And for those of you who care about CUME (and you know who you are)
CNN: 62,870,000
FNC: 56,093,000
HLN: 48,904,000
MSNBC: 44,721,000
Here’s a year to year chart courtesy of CNN…
CUME counts….you’ve gotta admit IF FNC was in the lead of that category it too would promote. So CNN is right, more people watch CNN than any other cable news channel. The truth is the truth!!
Comment by Anon — January 31, 2006 @ 6:54 pm
Remember, CNN is going for *quality*, not ratings. With Glenn Beck coming on board to HLN, MSNBC can kiss third place goodbye.
Comment by anonymous — January 31, 2006 @ 7:03 pm
The amount of money CNN spent to promote their primetime programs, amounting into the millions, shows they are most definitely looking for viewership. They must be disappointed today.
Comment by Anonymous — January 31, 2006 @ 8:20 pm
Thanks for the CUME spud! You know how much I love that! :)
Comment by anonymoushere — February 1, 2006 @ 1:27 am
The decline in Anderson Cooper’s ratings as you go up the age groups, even within the magic demographic total, makes me suspect that when you get to 49-54 (or even sooner) they are down, not up. I think that’s why they’re averaging the way they are. Can a statistician comment?
Comment by Leslie Enroth — February 1, 2006 @ 12:08 pm
Hey anonymous!!!, Beck will be on Headline news not CNN/US. Educate yourself before you speak about something you know nothing about!!
Comment by Anon — February 1, 2006 @ 7:53 pm
Hey #6, I said “With Glenn Beck coming on board to HLN”. Maybe YOU should educate yourself and go back to second grade before making absinine commments. HLN means Headline News… OK?
Comment by anonymous — February 2, 2006 @ 8:04 am