Maddow Dominates Cable News Ratings Friday, CNN Leads Day In Demo

Friday was an absolutely insane news day as it featured the arrest of longtime Trump adviser Roger Stone and the end of the 35-day government shutdown. With so much news going on, plenty of eyeballs were turned to cable news, and each of the networks had something to brag about at the end of the day.

According to Nielsen, MSNBC led the way in the key 25-54 demographic during the 8 PM to 11 primetime hours, drawing 457,000 while pulling in 2.632 million total viewers. Fox News took first in total viewership (2.745 million) and drew 444,000 in the demo. CNN averaged 1.587 million viewers overall and 440,000 in the demographic.

CNN topped the field in the key demo for the so-called ‘sales’ day (6 AM-2 AM), drawing 365,000 and averaging 1.251 million total viewers. Fox News came in first in total viewership (1.921 million) and nabbed 328,000 in the demographic. MSNBC captured 1.808 million viewers overall and 293,000 in the demo. CNN also led in the daytime (9AM-5 PM) demographic with 406,000.

MSNBC’s The Rachel Maddow Show was easily the most-watched program in cable news, leading in both the demo (597,000) and total viewers (3.339 million). Fox News’ Tucker Carlson Tonight placed second overall in the key demo (499,000) and total viewership (2.992 million).

Fox’s Hannity, which airs opposite Maddow at 9 PM, took fourth place in total viewers (2.875 million) and sixth in the demographic (473,000). Fox’s The Daily Briefing with Dana Perino was broadcasting when President Donald Trump announced the end of the shutdown and placed third in both the demo (498,000) and total viewership (2.931 million).

The top-rated program on CNN was Cuomo Prime Time, which drew 481,000 in the demo and 1.748 million viewers overall.