CNN Puts Up Big Numbers on Final Primary Night
Via MediaWeek
CNN Puts Up Big Numbers on Final Primary Night
According to Nielsen Media Research data, CNN last night averaged 3.52 million total viewers in prime time
By Anthony Crupi
Exactly five months after the Democratic presidential primary race officially got underway with the Iowa caucuses, the historic battle between Sens. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama finally came to an end Tuesday night, as the junior senator from Illinois became the party’s presumptive nominee. And as has been the case throughout the primary season, CNN drew cable news’ largest audience during the Montana and South Carolina returns.
According to Nielsen Media Research data, CNN last night averaged 3.52 million total viewers in prime time (8 p.m.-11 p.m.), beating out MSNBC (2.63 million) and Fox News Channel (2.39 million).
As the returns came in, CNN delivered 1.42 million members of the core 25-54 demo, topping MSNBC’s 1.05 million, and FNC’s 739,000.
CNN peaked in the 10 p.m. time slot, as analysis of Clinton’s nonconcession speech and live coverage of Obama’s victory address served up 4.52 million viewers, 1.89 million of which fell into the 25-54 demo. In the same hour, MSNBC boasted 3.45 million viewers and 1.47 million adults 25-54.
FNC notched its best hour in the 9 p.m. slot, delivering 2.75 million viewers. Technically, FNC drew its biggest demo in the 10 p.m. slot, but just barely––at the time, the news net was seen by 847,000 viewers in the 25-54 category, a hair above the 843,000 drawn to its 9 p.m. election coverage.
