Left-leaning networks CNN and MSNBC are facing record-low ratings as viewers leave their programs in large numbers following President-elect Donald Trump’s recent election victory.
According to Nielsen data, CNN’s ratings hit an all-time low in 2023, with just 92,000 average viewers in the coveted 25-to-54 demographic. This marks a 1% decline from last year’s low of 94,000.
The situation is even more dire in primetime, where CNN saw a staggering 52% drop in its key demographic viewership, pulling in only 77,000 on average. Total primetime viewership also fell by 45%, leaving the network with just 405,000 viewers during its once-premium programming hours.
Comparatively, MSNBC isn’t faring much better. The Comcast-owned network’s ratings have plummeted over 60% in primetime since Trump’s electoral success. Among the critical 25-to-54 demographic, MSNBC dropped to just 57,000 average viewers, trailing behind CNN.
Weekend programming on MSNBC has also seen massive viewer losses. On a recent Saturday, Jonathan Capehart’s talk show drew only 12,000 viewers in the demographic, significantly outpaced by NewsNation’s competing program, which garnered 34,000.
Conservative powerhouse Fox News continues to dominate the cable news market, commanding an impressive 72% of total primetime viewership. Fox News has grown its primetime audience by 7% since October and maintained its reign as the No. 1 cable news channel for nine consecutive years in both total viewers and the 25-to-54 demographic.
“I am extremely proud of our entire team for proving once again why we are the nation’s most-watched network as we outpaced the competition in covering the stories that mattered most to everyday Americans,” said Suzanne Scott, CEO of Fox News Media.
CNN has attempted to present its performance in a favorable light despite the grim statistics. In a press release, the network highlighted its ranking among the top five cable networks in total day viewership for five consecutive years, although this figure includes all audiences aged two and over.
The ratings collapse for CNN and MSNBC comes as both networks grapple with internal challenges and shifting viewer loyalties.
CNN is undergoing a significant overhaul, with reports of impending mass layoffs, while MSNBC struggles to retain its audience amid a broader exodus of viewers from left-leaning outlets.
The ongoing shift highlights a major realignment in cable news viewership, with conservative voices increasingly commanding the attention of a majority of the nation’s viewers.
Fox News’ enduring success suggests that audiences are gravitating toward programming that reflects their perspectives, leaving traditional liberal-leaning networks in a fight for relevance.