CNN and MSNBC ratings plunge after small gains during Trump impeachment

The CNN logo outside the CNN headquarters building in New York City, Nov. 12, 2002.

Ratings for CNN and Microsoft-NBC continued to plummet after former U.S. President Donald Trump left the White House. After experiencing modest gains during the impeachment, the primetime ratings of these two media outlets have once again met their Waterloo.

According to the Daily Caller, a conservative website, an analysis of cable VIP data showed that CNN’s viewership dropped the most between March 1 and 5.

The size of the audience for CNN’s Tonight show (CNN Tonight with Don Lemon) fell 32.5 percent from the average audience from Nov. 30 to Dec. 4, 2020. News programs Anderson Cooper 360° saw a 32.2 percent decrease in average viewership, while Cuomo Prime Time saw a 28.5 percent decrease.

Microsoft-NBC’s political news program All In With Chris Hayes lost 16.7 percent of its audience, and the news program Last Word With Lawrence O’ Donnell) audience decreased by 17.6%.

Although not as pronounced as CNN and MSNBC, Fox News (Fox News) was not spared. According to the analysis, the News Channel talk show “Ingraham Angle” (The Ingraham Angle) viewers fell by 9.2%, news commentary program “Hannity” (Hannity) viewers fell by 11.9%, News Channel “Tucker Carlson Tonight Show” (Tucker Carlson Tonight) fell by 4.8%.

The analysis also showed that ratings rose briefly during the Trump impeachment, with CNN’s “Cuomo Prime Time” posting a 7.7 percent gain, but after the impeachment trial ended in mid-February, ratings for the 9 p.m. primetime show plummeted, with “Cuomo Prime Time” dropping 31.3 percent.

MSNBC’s “The Rachel Maddow Show” experienced a similar encounter, with a 10.1 percent boost during the impeachment, but a 22.3 percent slump in viewers after the trial ended.

The congressional riots in January also had a significant impact on ratings, especially among the 25-54 demographic. In the first week of December, CNN anchors Anderson Cooper and Fox’s Tucker Carlson were in a tight race. In the days following the Jan. 6 riots, Cooper’s show saw a surge in viewership in that age group, but Cooper quickly fell behind Carlson after Trump left office.

Fox News is CNN’s biggest competitor, and CNN host Brian Stelter also attacked Carlson on Sunday, saying Carlson had become a right-wing leader and the new Trump.