MSNBC’S HIGHEST-RATED QUARTER IN MORE THAN THREE YEARS
MSNBC Dominates as Presidential Election Ramps Up
More Viewers Start Their Day with MSNBC Than Any Other Cable Network
MSNBC Digital Pacing to Have Best Quarter on Record; Reaches More Than Two Billion Video Views Across Social
(New York – Oct. 1, 2024) – During a politically pivotal quarter, MSNBC attracted its largest audience in more than three years. In the third quarter of 2024, MSNBC averaged 889,000 total viewers and 100,000 A25-54 viewers across total day, up from the third quarter of 2023 (+9%) and from the second quarter of 2024 (+10%). MSNBC is the only top 10 cable network with six consecutive quarters of year-over-year viewership growth.
In the third quarter of 2024, MSNBC topped CNN for the 15th straight quarter and September marked MSNBC’s 30th straight monthly win over CNN. In the third quarter of 2024, MSNBC averaged 60% more viewers than CNN in the average minute (889,000 vs. 557,000).
MSNBC has the most loyal and engaged weekday audience in all of television. According to Nielsen, in a typical week, the average MSNBC viewer watches the network for more than eight hours from Monday to Friday, doubling the CNN viewer average.
MSNBC Dominates as Presidential Election Ramps Up; Top Destination for DNC 2024 Coverage and Post-Debate Analysis
Following a major shift in the dynamic of the 2024 presidential race this quarter, when President Joe Biden announced his withdrawal and Vice President Kamala Harris became the Democratic nominee, MSNBC saw a continued surge of viewers turning to the network for key breaking news moments, special coverage of an unprecedented Democratic National Convention, and trusted real-time reaction and analysis from MSNBC’s hosts.
Across the full week of the 2024 Democratic National Convention in Chicago (Aug. 19-22), MSNBC was the most-watched primetime network in all of television. In addition, MSNBC ranked #1 in the A25-54 demo during DNC week for the first time in the network’s history. Across the last two Democratic National Conventions, CNN has ceded more than half a million A25-54 viewers to MSNBC. The 2024 DNC was MSNBC’s most-watched convention ever. MSNBC is the only cable news network to post viewership growth compared to Democratic conventions in 2020 and 2016. MSNBC ranked #1 in each of the top 10 local television markets, as well as in the primary television market of all seven key battleground states.
During the first presidential debate between Vice President Harris and former President Trump hosted by ABC News, MSNBC drew 6.4 million viewers, topping CNN during a presidential debate for the first time in network history (CNN’s 4.4 million). Plus, more viewers turned to MSNBC for key post-debate analysis than to any other network.
MSNBC Hosts Sold-Out Inaugural “MSNBC Live” Event in Brooklyn in September; TV Special Draws 1.1M Viewers, Topping Launch of New CNN Program
On Saturday, Sept. 7, MSNBC hosted the inaugural “MSNBC Live: Democracy 2024” live event at the Brooklyn Academy of Music for a sold-out audience of more than 4,000 attendees. The day-long, audience-interactive event featured panels and conversations with MSNBC hosts including Rachel Maddow, Lawrence O’Donnell, Jen Psaki, Chris Hayes, Joy Reid, Alex Wagner and others.
The event premiered as a two-hour primetime special on Saturday, Sept. 14 and averaged 1.1 million viewers and 78,000 viewers A25-54, making MSNBC the #1 cable news network in its time slot. The television premiere topped the launch of CNN’s comedy panel show, “Have I Got News For You” (9 p.m.; 737,000).
#1 Cable Network in Top Markets Across the U.S. Including Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., and San Francisco
In the third quarter of 2024, MSNBC was the most-watched cable network in four of the top 10 television markets. In September, MSNBC was the #1 cable network in Washington, D.C. for the 19th straight month, in Los Angeles and San Francisco for the 16th straight month, and in Philadelphia for the 11th straight month. MSNBC beat CNN in each of the top 25 television markets for the 12th straight month.
#1 Cable Network Among Black Viewers, Added More Black Viewers Than Any Other Cable Network
In 2024 to date, MSNBC is the most-watched cable network among Black Americans. In the past year, MSNBC added more Black viewers than any other cable news network. Additionally, MSNBC is the #1 cable news network among Asian and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Americans.
More Viewers Start Their Day with “Morning Joe” Than with Any Other Cable Program
For the sixth consecutive quarter, MSNBC was the most-watched cable network in the 6am hour. In the third quarter of 2024, “Morning Joe” (M-F 6-10 a.m.) had its most-watched quarter in more than three years and continued to dominate CNN on weekday mornings. “Morning Joe” topped CNN for the 37th consecutive quarter among total viewers and for the 10th straight quarter among A25-54. From 6 to 9 a.m., “Morning Joe” beat “FOX & Friends” head to head in both August and September. In September, “Morning Joe” was the #1 cable morning show in New York for the 28th straight month and in Washington, D.C. for the 29th consecutive month.
MSNBC Prime Tops CNN in Total Viewers for 34th Consecutive Quarter, “The Rachel Maddow Show” Ranks #1 in Its Time Slot
In weekday prime (M-F 8 to 11p.m.), MSNBC delivered its most-watched quarter in more than three years among both A25-54 and total viewers. MSNBC topped CNN in prime for the 34th straight quarter (1.8 million vs. 1.0 million). From 4 p.m. to midnight, all weekday MSNBC programs beat their respective CNN time slot competitors. MSNBC’s primetime lineup draws twice as many Independents and Republicans as CNN’s, according to Nielsen/MRI fusion data.
“The Rachel Maddow Show” (Mondays at 9 p.m.) is the #1 news program in its time slot in 2024 to date. Through Sept., “Maddow” (2.618 million viewers) is outpacing FOX News’ “Hannity” on Monday nights (2.582 million) and drawing four times as many total viewers as CNN’s “The Source with Kaitlan Collins” (621,000). “Maddow” is the most DVR’d program in all of cable news, with more time-shifted viewers (840,000 within seven days of air date) than any other cable news program.
In the third quarter, “The Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell” (Monday-Friday 10 p.m.) averaged twice as many total viewers (1.6 million) as CNN’s “NewsNight with Abby Phillip” (729,000). “The Last Word” is on pace for its most-watched year since 2021.
Rachel Maddow Produced MSNBC Films Doc “From Russia With Lev” Becomes Most-Watched Documentary in Four Years; Debuts at #1 in All of Cable
Executive produced by Rachel Maddow, the MSNBC Films documentary “From Russia with Lev” premiered on MSNBC on Friday, Sept. 20 to an audience of 2.2 million viewers. The film ranked #1 in all of cable during the 9 p.m. hour. “From Russia with Lev” is MSNBC’s most-watched documentary in four years and second most-watched documentary in network history. The film made its world premiere at “MSNBC Live: Democracy 2024” on Sept. 7, followed by a series of sold-out screenings in New York, Miami, San Francisco, Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles.
“MSNBC Reports” Draws Largest Audience in Three Years, Beats CNN in Dayside for 10th Straight Quarter
In dayside (M-F 10 a.m.- 4 p.m.), MSNBC is having its most-watched year since 2021. MSNBC beat CNN among total viewers for the 10th consecutive quarter.
MSNBC Weekend Programming Delivers Best Ratings in More Than Three Years
In the third quarter of 2024, MSNBC had its highest weekend ratings in more than three years (since 1Q21). MSNBC’s weekend lineup beat CNN’s lineup for the 3rd straight quarter. MSNBC weekend coverage delivered double-digit viewership growth versus a year among both total viewers and Adults 25-54. On weekend mornings, “The Weekend” drew its largest audience since its launch in January, and “Inside with Jen Psaki” ended the quarter with an exclusive sit-down interview with Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff (Sunday, Sept. 29) that drew more than one million viewers across platforms.
MSNBC Digital Pacing to Have Best Quarter on Record
MSNBC Digital is pacing to have its strongest quarter on record, growing its audience 60% quarter-to-date versus the third quarter of 2023. MSNBC Digital continued to rank as the #1 political news destination based on total minutes, a position the network held for each month of the last three years, as well as ranking #2 based on audience size in the most recent month.
On its website and the MSNBC mobile app, MSNBC had its strongest quarter ever with more than 350 million page views, +95% greater than the levels seen in the third quarter of 2023. The MSNBC mobile app saw more than 100 million page views for the first quarter ever, more than doubling the prior quarter’s performance. MSNBC also delivered its largest audience since 2020, as well as its third straight quarter with year-over-year growth.
MSNBC Reaches Record Levels on Social with More Than Two Billion Video Views
MSNBC had its best quarter ever across social platforms with more than two billion video views across YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and X, growing more than 150% year-over-year. The brand reached record levels on both YouTube and TikTok with nearly a billion video views on each platform. On YouTube, MSNBC is pacing to be the most-watched news network for the third straight quarter, ahead of CNN, FOX News, ABC News and CBS News, among others. On TikTok, MSNBC is expected to be the most-watched cable network, with four times more video views than its previous record in the first quarter of 2024.
MSNBC original podcasts have grown more than 30% versus its 2023 average. “How To Win 2024” had its best quarter on record with downloads up more than 25% from its previous record in the first quarter of 2024.
TV Source: Nielsen, Panel Only, Live+SD, Persons 2+ and Adults 25-54. Total Day = M-Su 6 a.m. to 6 a.m. 3Q 2024: 7/1/24-9/29/24. Weekday time spent viewing based on 6-minute reach qualifier. Race and Ethnicity claims based on time period data; Black (M-Su 6 a.m. to 6 a.m.); AAPI (M-F 8 p.m. to 11 p.m.). “TRMS” claims based on 2024 to date, Most Current data stream; time-shifted viewers (i.e., non-Live): watching DVR up to 7 days after original air date. Time period wins based on regularly-scheduled cable news programming. Local market data based on Nielsen NSI, P2+, Monday-Friday total day, national cable networks, 2024 to date.
Digital Source: Comscore Media Metrix®, July 2024 – August 2024 versus July 2023 – September 2023, Desktop & Mobile excluding Social Incremental, Monthly Unique Visitors & Total Minutes, Political News Category, U.S. ListenFirst, YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook & X Video Views, July 1 – September 25, 2024. Adobe Analytics, Unique Visitors and Page Views, July 1 – September 26, 2024. Simplecast, Global Podcast Downloads, July 1 – September 25, 2024.
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