Rachel Maddow Beats Hannity For Second Month In A Row As MSNBC Sets Record

MSNBC had a record month for viewership in November, as Rachel Maddow topped Sean Hannity with younger viewers for the second month in a row.

The Neilson ratings as provided to PoliticusUSA by MSNBC:

MSNBC’s “The Rachel Maddow Show” won the 9 pm hour for the 2nd month in a row among regularly scheduled programming, topping FOX News and CNN in A25-54. This was the 34th month in a row that “Maddow” beat CNN. “Maddow” averaged 572,000 viewers A25-54 (vs. FOX News’ 554,000 for “Hannity” with specials and CNN’s 298,000) and 3.3M total viewers (vs. CNN’s 1.3M). “Maddow” delivered its highest total viewership since January 2019 and was up +9% in total viewers since November 2018, more than CNN (-3%).

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In November, MSNBC dayside achieved record viewership in both total viewers and A25-54. In total viewers, MSNBC had its best month in network history averaging 1.5M total viewers and beating CNN by a record 471,000. In A25-54, dayside averaged 208,000 viewers, the highest for the network since November 2008. Dayside viewership increased +19% in A25-54 compared to November 2018 growing more than FOX News (-5%) and CNN (+3%). In total viewers, dayside ranked #2 among all cable networks for the 16th straight month. Dayside total viewership increased +40% more than FOX News (+15%) and CNN (+18%).

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MSNBC prime (M-F 8pm-11 pm) posted a record-breaking month. In A25-54, prime averaged 474,000 viewers, the highest since September 2018, and achieved the largest lead over CNN +189,000. In total viewers, prime averaged 2.7M, the highest ever in network history, delivering the widest lead over CNN ever with more than 1.5M total viewers. Prime grew more than any cable news channel in November, increasing A25-54 viewership by +8% while FOX News (-12%) and CNN (-38%) were both down compared to November 2018. In total viewers, prime also had its highest delivery since September 2018 and ranked #2 among cable news channels in the time period for the 36th straight month.

Trump’s impeachment is the reason why MSNBC had such a great month. The impeachment hearings that Republicans falsely claimed that no one was watching were bringing in a record number of viewers for MSNBC.

Fox News’s Sean is joined at the hip to Trump. His audience demographics match Trump’s Republican Party. Hannity draws older white Republican men to his show.

With more impeachment hearings, and a Trump impeachment vote either before or after Christmas, MSNBC should be ready for another record-breaking month in December.

Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group.

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Jason Easley

Jason is the managing editor. He is also a White House Press Pool and a Congressional correspondent for PoliticusUSA. Jason has a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. His graduate work focused on public policy, with a specialization in social reform movements.

Awards and  Professional Memberships

Member of the Society of Professional Journalists and The American Political Science Association