As they had promised in late July, the Jan. 6 committee returned in the fall to hold another hearing investigating the Capitol insurgency. On Thursday, Oct. 13, the committee — which voted unanimously to subpoena Donald Trump — pitched the idea that it privately knew the official 2020 election results were legitimate, but publicly refused to acknowledge this reality and tried to nullify these results anyway. And MSNBC saw the ratings win.
Additionally, never-before-seen documentary footage was shown showing congressional leaders like House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer taking refuge during the insurgency and rushing to respond to the unfolding crisis.
The previous eight ratings were a ratings success in June and July, including for MSNBC and CNN. For this ninth hearing, the aforementioned cable outlets again received ratings benefits. Based on total viewership, MSNBC ranked first among all television networks for the eighth consecutive viewership and topped cable news networks for the ninth consecutive viewership. From 1:02 p.m. to 3:34 p.m. EST on Oct. 13, MSNBC averaged 3.16 million total viewers, according to Nielsen Media Research. That figure nearly surpassed the combined total viewership of CNN (2.42 million) and Fox News Channel (866,000).
Compared to the previous six daytime ratings, MSNBC’s viewership grew both among total viewers (+2%) and adults 25-54 (+4%).
MSNBC averaged 2.15 million viewers during daytime hours (10 a.m. to 4 p.m.) on October 13 — their highest daytime viewership in 18 months — surpassing all previous January 6 viewing days. It was on this busy day that the jury sentencing of the Parkland High School shooter also took place.
MSNBC’s two-hour prime-time recap and analysis for the committee’s ninth hearing had 2.42 million total viewers, including 308,000 adults ages 25 to 54 — above-average numbers for the network in the time slot from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. on weekdays, although they are still not sufficient. The duet of “Tucker Carlson tonight” and “Hannity(2-hour average of 2.97 million viewers/403,000 adults 25-54) that night.
While MSNBC led in total viewership, CNN led cable news in the key 25-54 demographic with 440,000. MSNBC (381,000) was close behind while Fox News (166,000 ) was third.
Like their previous daytime ratings broadcasts, Fox News Channel’s ratings numbers trended downward hourly – atypical for its usual weekday fare. At 1 p.m., the FNC attracted 982,000 viewers; at 2 p.m., 793,000; and, for the last half hour of hearing at 3 p.m., 786,000. Once the hearing concluded, FNC bounced back: “The storyat 3:33-4 p.m. 1.07 million; “Your world with Neil Cavutoat 4-5 p.m. 1.25 million; then, “The Five” at 5-6 p.m. 3.26 million.
Fox News led coverage of the day’s other live news event, the aforementioned Parkland shooter’s jury verdict, delivering 1.75 million total viewers, including 237,000 in the 25- 54, from 10:50 a.m. to 11:27 a.m. EST. CNN and MSNBC each drew 990,000 viewers, with CNN (186,000) having the edge over MSNBC (113,000) at 25-54.
NewsNation continued its recent positive viewership momentum (following the arrival of “Cuomoprime time) with its Friday, Oct. 14 telecast of the Georgia Senate debate between incumbent Democrat Raphael Warnock and Republican challenger and former professional running back Herschel Walker. It was the most watched hour of the week by the fledgling medium with 185,000 viewers. “Cuomo” immediately exited that debate that night with 173,000 viewers.
Cable News Averages for October 10-16, 2022:
Total day (Oct. 10-16 @ 6am-5:59am)
- Fox News Channel: 1.419 million viewers; 195,000 adults aged 25 to 54
- MSNBC: 0.843 million viewers; 92,000 adults aged 25 to 54
- CNN: 0.560 million viewers; 107,000 adults aged 25 to 54
- HLN: 0.161 million viewers; 46,000 adults aged 25 to 54
- Fox Business Network: 0.125 million viewers; 11,000 adults aged 25 to 54
- CNBC: 0.119 million viewers; 29,000 adults aged 25 to 54
- newsmax: 0.107 million viewers; 13,000 adults aged 25 to 54
- The weather channel: 0.089 million viewers; 18,000 adults aged 25 to 54
Prime time (Oct. 10-15 @ 8-11pm; Oct. 16 @ 7-11pm)
- Fox News Channel: 2.186 million viewers; 275,000 adults aged 25 to 54
- MSNBC: 1.310 million viewers; 132,000 adults aged 25 to 54
- CNN: 0.649 million viewers; 139,000 adults aged 25 to 54
- HLN: 0.171 million viewers; 416,000 adults aged 25 to 54
- CNBC: 0.168 million viewers; 586,000 adults aged 25 to 54
- newsmax: 0.128 million viewers; 13,000 adults aged 25 to 54
- The weather channel: 0.095 million viewers; 20,000 adults aged 25 to 54
- NewsNation: 0.085 million viewers; 11,000 adults aged 25 to 54
- Fox Business Network: 0.044 million viewers; 4,000 adults aged 25 to 54
Top 10 most watched TV news (and top programs from other outlets with their respective associated ranks) in the total number of viewers:
1. The Five (FOXNC, Wed, 12/10/2022 5:00 PM, 60 mins.) 3.539 million viewers
2. The Five (FOXNC, Mon 10/10/2022 5:00 PM, 60 mins.) 3.519 million viewers
3. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Tue. 11/10/2022 8:00 p.m., 60 min.) 3.417 million viewers
4. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Wed. 12/10/2022 8:00 p.m., 60 min.) 3.369 million viewers
5. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Mon. 10/10/2022 8:00 p.m., 60 min.) 3.272 million viewers
6. The Five (FOXNC, Thu, 10/13/2022 5:00 PM, 60 mins.) 3.260 million viewers
7. The Five (FOXNC, Tue. 11/10/2022 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.221 million viewers
8. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Thu, 10/13/2022 8:00 p.m., 60 min.) 3.197 million viewers
9. Hearings for January 6, “Hearing Day Nine” (MSNBC, Thu, 10/13/2022 1:02 p.m., 152 min.) 3.163 million viewers
10. Jesse Watters Primetime (FOXNC, Mon 10/10/2022 7:00 PM, 60 mins.) 2.915 million viewers
25. Attack on Democracy “Jan 6th Hearings 13/10/22” (CNN, Thu 10/13/2022 1:02 p.m., 151 min.) 2.419 million viewers
194. Live with Bill Maher “Episode 616” (HBO, Fri 10/14/2022 10:00 p.m., 53 min.) 0.797 million viewers
337. Last Week Tonight (HBO, Sun. 10/16/2022 11:02 p.m., 34 mins.) 0.501 million viewers
353. The Daily Show (CMDY, Tue. 11/10/2022 11:00 PM, 30 min.) 0.453 million viewers
360. Kudlow (NBF, Thu 10/13/2022 4:00 PM, 60 mins.) 0.438 million viewers
389. Forensic Files “Paintball” (HLN, Fri, 10/14/2022 12:00 a.m., 30 min.) 0.378 million viewers
453. The News with Shepard Smith (CNBC, Mon. 10/10/2022 7:00 p.m., 60 mins.) 0.297 million viewers
617. Highway Thru Hell “Downhill Slide” (TWC, Tue. 11/10/2022 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.190 million viewers
633. Debate Night: Warnock/Walker (NWSN, Fri 10/14/2022 7:00 p.m., 60 mins) 0.185 million viewers
Top 10 cable news programs (and top programs from other outlets with their respective associated ranks) in adults aged 25 to 54:
1. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Wed. 12/10/2022 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.515 million adults 25-54
2. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Tue. 11/10/2022 8:00 p.m., 60 min.) 0.492 million adults 25-54
3. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Thu, 10/13/2022 8:00 p.m., 60 min.) 0.481 million adults 25-54
4. The Five (FOXNC, Wed, 12/10/2022 5:00 PM, 60 mins.) 0.448 million adults 25-54
5. The Five (FOXNC, Thu, 10/13/2022 5:00 PM, 60 mins.) 0.444 million adults 25-54
6. Attack on Democracy “Jan 6th Hearings 13/10/22” (CNN, Thu 13/10/2022 1:02 p.m., 151 min.) 0.440 million adults 25-54
7. The Five (FOXNC, Mon 10/10/2022 5:00 PM, 60 mins) 0.436 million adults 25-54
8. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Mon 10/10/2022 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.407 million adults 25-54
9. Attack on Democracy “Jan 6th H. Post Analysis 13/10/22” (CNN, Thu 13/10/2022 3:33 p.m., 27 min.) 0.392 million adults 25-54
10. “Hearing Day Nine” Jan. 6 hearings (MSNBC, Thu, 10/13/2022 1:02 p.m., 152 min.) 0.381 million adults 25-54
80. Last Week Tonight (HBO, Sun. 10/16/2022 11:02 p.m., 34 mins.) 0.209 million adults 25-54
138. “The Music Case” Forensic Records (HLN, Fri, 10/14/2022 5:30:30 AM) 0.157 million adults 25-54
149. The Daily Show (CMDY, Tue. 11/10/2022 11:00 PM, 30 min.) 0.151 million adults 25-54
240. Real Time with Bill Maher “Episode 616” (HBO, Fri 10/14/2022 10:00 PM, 53 min.) 0.111 million adults 25-54
298. Shark Tank “Shark Tank 1307” (CNBC, Wed 12/10/2022 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.094 million adults 25-54
474. America’s Morning Headquarters (TWC, Mon, 2022-10-10 09:00, 60 mins) 0.061 million adults 25-54
583. Cuomo (NWSN, Wed, 12/10/2022 8:00 PM, 60 Min.) 0.046 million adults 25-54
635. Kudlow (NBF, Thu 10/13/2022 4:00 PM, 60 mins) 0.040 million adults 25-54
Source: Live+Same Day data, Nielsen Media Research
