CNN’s New Year’s Specials Rank #1 In Cable News

The New Year’s Day premiere of CNN Films: Linda Ronstadt, The Sound of My Voice, a powerful and touching documentary about her life and musical journey, debuted at #1 in cable news in both total viewers and among adults 25-54 (January 1, 9-10:55pm).  In total viewers, Linda Ronstadt, The Sound of My Voice averaged 2.347 million total viewers, +45% more than Fox’s 1.615 million and a +271 % lead over MSNBC’s 632k.  This was CNN Films’ third-highest rated film in total viewers (following Three Identical Strangers and Glen Campbell I’ll Be Me).  In the key demographic adults 25-54, the film attracted 378k, +141% more than MSNBC’s 157k and +63% more than Fox’s 232k.

CNN’s New Year’s Eve Live with Anderson Cooper & Andy Cohen (11:00pm-12:30am) easily topped MSNBC and Fox combined in total viewers, adults 25-54 and younger viewers 18-34 on December 31st. In total viewers, CNN averaged 2.592 million, Fox followed with 811k and MSNBC had 298k. In adults 25-54, CNN averaged 966k to Fox’s 130k to MSNBC’s 30k.  Among younger viewers (18-34) CNN registered 297k, Fox had 19k and MSNBC followed with 2k.  For the entire New Year’s Eve Live with Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen special (8pm-12:30am), CNN ranked #1 in total viewers with 1.727 million, Fox had 1.065 million and MSNBC had 744k.  In the demo adults 25-54, CNN was also the most watched with 647k, topping Fox (148k) and MSNBC combined (89k).

CNN’s late-night New Year’s Eve special with Don Lemon and Brooke Baldwin was also #1 in its time period (12:30-1:30am), delivering 1.574 million total viewers, +138% more than Fox’s 662k and +632% more than MSNBC’s 215k.  In the demo adults 25-54, CNN topped MSNBC and Fox combined with 659k, to Fox’s 126k and MSNBC’s 25k.

December 2019 Highlights: 
CNN beat MSNBC in total day among adults 25-54 (165k vs. 154k). CNN has now topped MSNBC for 64 of the past 66 months.

CNN topped MSNBC in dayside (9am-4pm) among 25-54 (178k vs. 131k) for the 70th straight month.

CNN outperformed MSNBC on Sunday mornings in key demo adults 25-54.

CNN ranks #6 in all of cable in total day among total viewers. This marks the 23rd straight month that CNN is a Top 10 cable network.

CNN ranks #2 in weekend (Sat/Sun) total day and prime time about adults 25-54.

CNN outperformed MSNBC for 24 of 24 hours on Saturday and Sunday.

The Lead with Jake Tapper topped MSNBC in December in the key demo adults 25-54 (207k vs. 197k). This was The Lead’s third highest December on record among both adults 25-54 and total viewers.

The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer topped MSNBC at both 5pm (223k vs. 180k) and 6pm (233k vs. 214k) among adults 25-54. This was Sit Room’s third highest December on record at 5p among total viewers.

Erin Burnett Outfront beat MSNBC’s Chris Matthews (244k vs. 224k) for the fifth consecutive month. This was Outfront’s second highest December on record among total viewers.

Cuomo Prime Time (9pm) delivered CNN’s highest viewership in December among total viewers (1.140 million) and adults 25-54 (274k). The program also delivered CNN’s third highest December since 2008 among adults 25-54 and since 2003 among total viewers.

CNN Tonight with Don Lemon delivered 267k among adults 25-54 and 1.013m among total viewers. This is the program’s second highest December on record among total viewers.