CNN Wins Michael Jackson Memorial Service Cable News Ratings Race

CNN drew the most viewers for Michael Jackson's memorial service Tuesday, averaging more than Fox News and MSNBC combined in both total viewers and the news demographic, according to Nielsen Media Research.

CNN averaged 5.300 million total viewers from 1-4PM Tuesday, while Fox News averaged 2.230 million and MSNBC' averaged 1.393 million. Sister network HLN came in second with 377,000 total viewers.

In the A25-54 demo, CNN averaged 2.258 million total viewers to Fox News' 673,000 and MSNBC's 550,000. HLN averaged 190,000 A25-54 viewers for second place in the demo, as well.

In primetime Tuesday night, Fox News edged out CNN in total viewers — 2.437 million to 2.283 million — but CNN won in the news demo, averaging 927,000 A25-54 viewers to Fox News' 683,000.

MSNBC averaged 1.013 million total viewers and 353,000 A25-54 viewers, while HLN averaged 754,000 total viewers and 355,000 A25-54 viewers.

CNN.com also had an impressive day, recording its second largest live video streaming day in history (behind Obama's Inauguration Day). CNN.com streamed 10.5 million live streams Tuesday, and 4.4 million live video streams during the hours of the memorial (1-4PM ET).

Comments

[Diane Tucker - Huffpost Blogger]

It's not easy to stitch together footage as quickly -- and as lovely -- as CNN did. Hats off to the guys and gals in the edit suites.

[GeorgeP922]

Wow what a FAILURE CNN is and MSNBC to a less extent.

CNN used MJ as an excuse to cover NO NEWS yesterday.

MSNBC finally let Rachel come back (they made her take monday off for MJ) and then they put MJ on her 11pm repeat.

I watched Bill Oreilly last night, actually quite funny! sort of.

[WowJones]

Bill O'Reilly gets huge numbers which indicates there is a huge amount of stoopidity in this country. He's as funny as cancer.

[Solja]

Booyah!

[thenemo1]

Well even stupid people have to have a say in things after all they let Bill O'Reilly
entertain them.

[GeorgeP922]

Man you guys are dense, you ever looked at a clown and laughed.

I didnt say O'reilly was actually funny, it's funny to watch, listen to him talk and how he accentuates everything.

All I am saying is that CNN and MSNBC got lazy and greedy, i get running the documentaries on the weekend, but don't cut out your 5pm-midnite news as many depend on that.

There was almost a civil war over health care monday and tuesday and the networks missed it (Rahm says thanks)

[schicklett3]

Many thanks to CNN for their excellent coverage.

[decolonizeme]

Well, they certainly are the best at reporting whatever isn't news.

[Wiseup2Day]

Wow..looks like they have become a tabloid success..or could it be that the international component had something to do with it..that said they obviously aren't that great in the hard news area..

[SarcasticFringehead]

Yes, I agree. CNN has dropped lowered it's standards quite a bit in my opinion.

[SarcasticFringehead]

Wow.
This was a network and advertiser's wet dream.
After days of ignoring important news and only concentrating on the Michael Jackson story, the networks and advertisers had primed-the-pump for cashing in big time on the funeral ceremony.
Pretty smart -- although I hold them in contempt for pandering to the lowest common denominator in order to make a fast buck.

[Dunbar]

Why? I wanted to watch it and had no problem with the concentration all day on Jackson. It was a way to say goodbye. I'm so fed up with this media bashing because they covered a story like this. Just because you were interested in something else.

[Solja]

I am grateful they covered it and am happy I was able to share in saying goodbye to Michael Jackson. You need to get over the hate. It takes much less effort to spread some love.

[JerseyGirl4Obama]

You could have watched another channel.