Mainstream media networks experienced a crash in viewership in the days following the U.S. Presidential Election.
While Fox News’ average daily viewership was 2.6 million and 375,000 in the 25-54 age demographic, Mediaite reported, MSNBC had only 96,000 viewers the Thursday following the election. CNN only had 419,000 total viewers on Thursday.
Both legacy media networks had fewer than 100,000 viewers between the ages of 25-54. MSNBC had 71,000 in the coveted demographic and CNN had 91,000.
MSNBC lost 40% of its viewership from the same day last year while CNN was down 23%. Fox News, however, was up 60% from 2023.
According to Mediaite, “MSNBC host Alex Wagner had her lowest-rated show ever in terms of total viewers, while Chris Hayes’s show brought in its worst numbers since May of 2016.”
On the Friday following the election, seven MSNBC programs saw their lowest Friday ratings for the year, the report added.
In the weeks leading up to Election Day, a poll showed that CNN and MSNBC struggled with favorability among voters. CNN had a net negative 9-point rating, with 39% viewing it favorably and 48% unfavorably, while MSNBC had a net negative 4-point rating.
Among independents, CNN had a net negative 10-point rating, and MSNBC had a net negative 9-point rating.
