MSNBC Leads Election Night Primetime, Fox News Tops Total Day, CNN Wins Key Demo
Preliminary Nielsen tallies highlight different leaders by daypart and demographic.
Overview
- MSNBC averaged 3.04 million primetime viewers on Tuesday, edging Fox News’ 2.85 million and CNN’s 1.78 million, according to preliminary Nielsen figures that include out-of-home viewing.
- CNN led the primetime adults 25–54 demographic with 574,000 viewers, ahead of MSNBC’s 490,000 and Fox News’ 448,000.
- Fox News won total-day viewing with 1.97 million based on fast national ratings that exclude out-of-home, followed by MSNBC with 1.28 million and CNN with 748,000.
- From 4 p.m. to 12 a.m., Fox News averaged 2.67 million viewers and led the demo with 354,000, while MSNBC averaged 2.14 million and CNN 1.21 million, per fast nationals.
- Comprehensive Nielsen ratings are still pending and could revise these preliminary estimates, as the viewing night coincided with several Democratic wins reported in New Jersey, Virginia and New York City.