Velshi-Led CNN Wins With Breaking News Coverage Christmas Night
Cable news ratings, December 25, 2009: Check out the highlights, and see the full ratings below:
• CNN edged Fox News in prime time Christmas night, in both total viewers and the A25-54 demographic, as each covered the breaking news of the attempted terror attack. CNN averaged 318,000 in the demo, FNC had 301,000 and MSNBC, which stayed largely in taped programming, averaged 148,000. In total viewers, it was CNN – 1,159,000, FNC – 1,103,000 and MSNBC 337,000.
The breaking news victory comes on a year Fox News almost always topped CNN in similar situations. While CNN won election nights in 2008, FNC surpassed the network for the top spot this year during election coverage and other breaking events. The win, even a slight one, was noteworthy. It should be noted that until 8pmET hit and after 11pmET, Fox News won in every category, in many cases by a significant margin.
Check out all the ratings below, and leave your own thoughts in the comments:
| TV NEWS RATINGS: 25-54 DEMOGRAPHIC (L +SD) | ||||
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
| 5 pm | Beck
223 |
CNN Heroes
84 |
MSNBC Special
170 |
Behar
52 |
| 6 pm | Baier
219 |
King
61 |
MSNBC Special
160 |
All Due Respect
48 |
| 7 pm | Shep
310 |
King
128 |
MSNBC Special
220 |
Issues
36 |
| 8 pm | O’Reilly Special
272 |
BN/Flt 253 Terror Attempt
307 |
MSNBC Special
115 |
Grace
49 |
| 9 pm | O’Reilly Special
303 |
BN/Flt 253 Terror Attempt
338 |
MSNBC Special
126 |
Behar
56 |
| 10 pm | O’Reilly Special
327 |
BN/Flt 253 Terror Attempt
309 |
MSNBC Special
202 |
Grace
99 |
| 11 pm | O’Reilly Special
263 |
CNN Heroes
122 |
MSNBC Special
295 |
Showbiz
138 |
| TOTAL DAY | 244 | 157 | 151 | 80 |
| PRIME TIME | 301 | 318 | 148 | 65 |
| Data by Nielsen Media Research. Live and same day (DVR) data. | ||||
| TV NEWS RATINGS: TOTAL VIEWERS (L +SD) | ||||
|
|
|
|
|
| 5 pm | Beck
749 |
CNN Heroes
420 |
MSNBC Special
360 |
Behar
144 |
| 6 pm | Baier
794 |
King
296 |
MSNBC Special
391 |
All Due Respect
121 |
| 7 pm | Shep
1041 |
King
427 |
MSNBC Special
512 |
Issues
152 |
| 8 pm | O’Reilly Special
1107 |
BN/Flt 253 Terror Attempt
1068 |
MSNBC Special
277 |
Grace
286 |
| 9 pm | O’Reilly Special
1172 |
BN/Flt 253 Terror Attempt
1315 |
MSNBC Special
251 |
Behar
285 |
| 10 pm | O’Reilly Special
1027 |
BN/Flt 253 Terror Attempt
1093 |
MSNBC Special
482 |
Grace
241 |
| 11 pm | O’Reilly Special
890 |
CNN Heroes
369 |
MSNBC Special
409 |
Showbiz
292 |
| TOTAL DAY | 874 | 586 | 323 | 226 |
| PRIME TIME | 1103 | 1159 | 337 | 265 |
| Data by Nielsen Media Research. Live and same day (DVR) data. | ||||
