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Virgin Galactic’s Space Odyssey Helps Cable Ratings Take Off

Doug Pucci

Published

3 years ago

on

Getty Images

One of the notable news stories of the past week was when Virgin Galactic launched founder Richard Branson, chief astronaut instructor Beth Moses, lead operations engineer Colin Bennett and government affairs vice president Sirisha Bandla into space in a suborbital spaceflight aboard the aerospace company’s VSS Unity spacecraft on the morning of Sunday, July 11. 

The one-hour space trip launched from Spaceport America in New Mexico at 10:51 a.m. ET and had traveled more than 50 miles above Earth, which the U.S. government considers to mark the boundary of outer space.

Branson proclaimed, “To the next generation of dreamers: If we can do this, just imagine what you can do.”

For coverage of the event, Fox News Channel edged just past CNN in total viewers during the 11 a.m.-noon hour, 1.479 million to 1.444 million (CNN’s most-watched hour of the week), according to Nielsen Media Research; it was vice versa between the two networks based on the key adults 25-54 demographic: CNN 275,000, Fox News 227,000. MSNBC trailed both cable news outlets with 1.116 million total viewers and 189,000 adults 25-54 — yet, this delivery was well above the network’s usual weekend figures.

Later on July 11, CNN debuted the first two episodes of its eight-part documentary series “History of the Sitcom”. Their initial telecasts topped all of cable news within the 9-11 p.m. time slot:

9-10 p.m.

  • History Of The Sitcom “Part 1: A Family Matter” (CNN) 1.399 million viewers
  • The Next Revolution (FOXNC) 1.279 million viewers
  • The Week with Joshua Johnson (MSNBC) 0.470 million viewers

At 10 p.m., part two of “History Of The Sitcom”, entitled “Sex & The Sitcom”, drew 1.257 million viewers. It aired opposite re-airings of Fox News’ “Sunday Night In America” (947,000) and MSNBC’s “American Voices” (405,000).

Also on July 11: HLN’s crime docuseries “Forensic Files II” premiered its second season with back-to-back original episodes. The 10-11 p.m. hour averaged 176,000 adults 25-54, besting the entire Sunday prime times of each Fox News Channel (150,000) and MSNBC (approximately 60,000).

Here are the cable news averages for July 5-11, 2021 — cable’s best mark for the week in total viewers based on total day was by Fox News Channel; the 21st consecutive week FNC has accomplished this feat.

Total Day (July 5-11 @ 6 a.m.-5:59 a.m.)

  • Fox News Channel: 1.175 million viewers; 193,000 adults 25-54 
  • MSNBC: 0.752 million viewers; 100,000 adults 25-54
  • CNN: 0.598 million viewers; 125,000 adults 25-54

Prime Time (July 5-10 @ 8-11 p.m.; July 11 @ 7-11 p.m.)

  • Fox News Channel: 2.046 million viewers; 309,000 adults 25-54
  • MSNBC: 1.266 million viewers; 156,000 adults 25-54
  • CNN: 0.833 million viewers; 184,000 adults 25-54

Top 10 most-watched cable news programs (and the top CNN program with their respective associated rank) in total viewers:

1. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Thu. 7/8/2021 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.229 million viewers

2. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Tue. 7/6/2021 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.153 million viewers

3. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Wed. 7/7/2021 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.083 million viewers

4. Hannity (FOXNC, Thu. 7/8/2021 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.770 million viewers

5. Hannity (FOXNC, Wed. 7/7/2021 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.767 million viewers

6. The Five (FOXNC, Thu. 7/8/2021 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.622 million viewers

7. Hannity (FOXNC, Tue. 7/6/2021 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.564 million viewers

8. The Five (FOXNC, Wed. 7/7/2021 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.528 million viewers

9. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Fri. 7/9/2021 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.508 million viewers

10. The Five (FOXNC, Tue. 7/6/2021 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.473 million viewers

11. Rachel Maddow Show (MSNBC, Wed. 7/7/2021 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.371 million viewers

47. Reliable Sources (CNN, Sun. 7/11/2021 11:00 AM, 60 min.) 1.444 million viewers

54. History Of The Sitcom “A Family Matter” (CNN, Sun. 7/11/2021 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 1.399 million viewers

Top 10 cable news programs (and the top CNN and HLN programs with their respective associated ranks) among adults 25-54:

1. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Wed. 7/7/2021 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.550 million adults 25-54

2. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Thu. 7/8/2021 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.518 million adults 25-54

3. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Tue. 7/6/2021 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.511 million adults 25-54

4. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Fri. 7/9/2021 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.492 million adults 25-54

5. Hannity (FOXNC, Wed. 7/7/2021 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.418 million adults 25-54

6. Hannity (FOXNC, Thu. 7/8/2021 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.416 million adults 25-54

7. The Five (FOXNC, Thu. 7/8/2021 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.389 million adults 25-54

8. Hannity (FOXNC, Fri. 7/9/2021 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.353 million adults 25-54

9. Rachel Maddow Show (MSNBC, Wed. 7/7/2021 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.349 million adults 25-54

10. The Five (FOXNC, Wed. 7/7/2021 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.347 million adults 25-54

29. Anderson Cooper 360 (CNN, Tue. 7/6/2021 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.284 million adults 25-54

124. Forensic Files II “The Obsession” (HLN, Sun. 7/11/2021 10:00 PM, 30 min.) 0.182 million adults 25-54

Source: Live+Same Day data, Nielsen Media Research

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News Television

Dr. Jennifer Ashton Leaving ABC News to Launch New Company

Dr. Jennifer Ashton said that she received the support of ABC News President Kim Godwin and Networks Division leader Debra OConnell.

Barrett News Media

Published

8 hours ago

on

April 18, 2024

By

A photo of Dr. Jennifer Ashton
(Photo: Heidi Gutman | ABC)

ABC News is losing its Chief Medical Correspondent and co-host of GMA3, Dr. Jennifer Ashton.

When her contract expires in June, Ashton will leave the network to launch a new women’s wellness company, Ajenda, where she will serve as the CEO.

“Sometimes an important message needs the right messenger, and I feel like there is no more critical time in this country for women’s health, and for weight management,” Ashton told The Hollywood Reporter. “We’re facing an obesity epidemic, and menopause and perimenopause and women’s health is literally in a spotlight like never before. And I want to be the messenger for those messages.

“And so I’m excited about finally having the opportunity to just devote 100 percent of my time and effort into that, and using the skills that I’ve learned from being at the number one network for 13 years, I think are going to be really vital in that.”

Dr. Jennifer Ashton added that she received the support of ABC News President Kim Godwin and Networks Division leader Debra OConnell.

“They both said to me, ‘Is there anything we can do to change your mind?’ And when I said there really isn’t, because I really feel strongly about doing this, they basically said you know, ‘we’re going to be behind you.’ And I think that’s really unusual in this business in this day,” she said.

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News Television

CNN CEO Mark Thompson: We Have ‘Plenty of Things to Fix’

“The rate at which people have been and probably will continue to cut the cord and not look at cable TV at all is a far, far greater strategic threat than the finer points of competition between individual cable channels.”

Barrett News Media

Published

14 hours ago

on

April 18, 2024

By

A photo of Mark Thompson and the CNN logo
(Photo: Ståle Grut)

To say Mark Thompson’s time at CNN has been anything but eventful would be an understatement. He has presided over several interesting moments and endeavors and admits there are still things to work on.

In a conversation with the Financial Times, Thompson said “There are plenty of things we have to fix at CNN,” as the network sits in third place behind competitors Fox News and MSNBC.

Mark Thompson was tabbed by Warner Bros. Discovery to lead the network forward after resurrecting The New York Times with a digital focus, something he hopes to implement at CNN.

“The idea that there might be digital subscription is a serious possibility,” Thompson said of CNN’s potential future, adding “I think it’s quite likely that we’ll end up there.”

While many view the success of Fox News, MSNBC, and even the up-start Newsmax as challengers for CNN, Mark Thompson pointed to a different challenge as the biggest threat to the survival and success of the network.

“Do we want to get more competitive in cable TV and by strengthening our schedules? Yes, we do,” he said. “But the rate at which people have been and probably will continue to cut the cord and not look at cable TV at all is a far, far greater strategic threat than the finer points of competition between individual cable channels.”

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News Television

CNBC Celebrates 35th Anniversary

What started as a U.S. operation has grown to several different divisions as CNBC holds branches in both Europe and Asia, and also has other international affiliates.

Barrett News Media

Published

1 day ago

on

April 17, 2024

By

A photo of the CNBC logo

On April 17th, 1989, the Consumer News and Business Channel signed on the air. Today, CNBC is marking its 35th anniversary.

The business news channel is celebrating its long cable news history today. A montage of highlights from the “biggest moments” was published in a video to X.

The outlet’s roots trace back to the Satellite Program Network which debuted in 1989, before later changing its name to Tempo Television. NBC decided to launch the business venture in 1989 in a 50/50 partnership alongside Cablevision with a headquarters located in Fort Lee, New Jersey.

After struggling to get carriage throughout the country, the network purchased the Financial News Network, which had more than double the reach of CNBC in 1991 after FNN filed for Bankruptcy.

At the time of the purchase, CNBC hired roughly 60 of the 300 FNN employees, including Joe Kernen, who still helms the channel’s popular Squawk Box morning show.

What started as a U.S. operation has grown to several different divisions as CNBC holds branches in both Europe and Asia, and also has other international affiliates.

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