MSNBC had their best second quarter ever in part thanks to Rachel Maddow and Lawrence O’Donnell hitting record highs in viewership.
According to a statement provided to PoliticusUSA by MSNBC:
For the 1st quarter of 2018, MSNBC dominated CNN with record-breaking total-viewer ratings in every key daypart and for every hour between 9am and 11pm on weekdays. According to Nielsen, MSNBC dayside (M-F 9am-5pm), prime (M-F 8-11pm), full day (M-F 6am-2am) and total day (M-Su 6am-6am) achieved record highs in total audience and beat CNN.
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“The Rachel Maddow Show” was the #1 cable news program in A25-54, averaging 664,000 viewers A25-54 – MSNBC’s best quarterly delivery at 9pm ever. “Maddow” averaged 3 million viewers, beating CNN for the 8th straight quarter. “Maddow” was the only cable news program to achieve growth in the timeslot over 1Q17 for both A25-54 (+26% vs. FOX News’ -11% and CNN’s -17%) and total viewers (+34% vs. FOX News’ -7% and CNN’s -18%).
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“The Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell” at 10pm had a record-breaking quarter. The show posted its best A25-54 delivery ever (averaging 492,000) and beat CNN for the 4th quarter in a row. “The Last Word” increased +26% over 1Q17 (vs. FOX News’ -22% and CNN’s -12%). This quarter also marked the hour’s best total viewer delivery in the history of MSNBC, as “The Last Word” beat CNN for the 11th straight quarter and averaged 2,262,000, up +24% (vs. FOX News’ -12% and CNN’s -15%) over 1Q17.
Here is the entire list of MSNBC shows that scored record ratings:
In addition, many MSNBC programs were instrumental in propelling MSNBC to the network’s highest-ever total viewer ratings. The following shows achieved record ratings for their respective hours and beat CNN as well: “MSNBC Live with Stephanie Ruhle” at 9am (topping CNN for the 5th straight quarter); “MSNBC Live with Hallie Jackson” at 10am (for the 3rd straight quarter); “MSNBC Live with Velshi & Ruhle” at 11am (for the 3rd straight quarter); “Andrea Mitchell Reports” at 12pm (for the 3rd straight quarter); “MSNBC Live with Craig Melvin” at 1pm (for the 3rd straight quarter); “MSNBC Live with Katy Tur” at 2pm (for the 2nd straight quarter); “MSNBC Live with Ali Velshi” at 3pm (for the 2nd straight quarter); “Deadline: White House” at 4pm (for the 3rd straight quarter); “MTP Daily” at 5pm (for the 4th straight quarter); “The Beat with Ari Melber” at 6pm (for the 3rd straight quarter); “Hardball with Chris Matthews” at 7pm (for the 19th straight quarter); “All In with Chris Hayes” at 8pm (for the 5th straight quarter); “The Rachel Maddow Show” at 9pm (for the 8th straight quarter); and “The Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell” at 10pm (for the 11th straight quarter). On the weekends, “AM Joy” also scored record ratings, beating CNN at 10am on Saturdays (for the 2nd straight quarter) and Sundays (for the 1st time ever for a quarter).
It is great to see AM Joy on the list along with The Beat With Ari Melber. Joy Reid’s program consistently offers thought-provoking guests and segments, while Ari Melber’s show has one of the most unique perspectives on cable news.
However, the hub of the MSNBC wheel is Rachel Maddow. She and Lawrence O’Donnell have combined to form a powerful one-two punch that challenges and beats Fox News on a regular basis. No one would have believed even two years ago that MSNBC could be in a position to dethrone Fox News, but the age of Trump facts and quality journalism are more popular than ever, and MSNBC is overflowing with both.
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group.
Awards and Professional Memberships
Member of the Society of Professional Journalists and The American Political Science Association
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