CNN Press Release: Nearly 8.5 Million Viewers Turn to CNN for Inaugural Address; CNN.com Shatters Previous Records

CNN’s multi-platform coverage of the Inauguration of President Barack Obama reached a ratings milestone on Tuesday, Jan. 20, with CNN's television coverage dominating the competition throughout the day, and CNN.com shattering records across the board during Inauguration Day.

More Americans turned to CNN on television from 12:00 – 12:30 pm, ET (according to Nielsen Media Fast National data), which included the new president’s swearing in and inaugural address than any other cable news network. CNN dominated the competition with 8.497 million total viewers, FNC placed a distant second with 5.488 million, and MSNBC trailed with 3.076 million. In the key demographic adults 25-54, CNN attracted more viewers than FNC and MSNBC combined, with 3.459 million viewers, a 101% advantage over FNC’s 1.722 million, and a staggering 211% lead over MSNBC’s 1.113 million.

From 11:00 am – 2:00 pm yesterday, CNN was also top-rated among total viewers with 6.941 million tuning in, FNC followed with 4.438 million, and MSNBC was a distant third with 2.571 million. This represents the network’s highest 11:00 am – 2:00 pm average in history. In the key demographic adults 25-54, CNN posted 2.811 million viewers, a 104% more than FNC’s 1.379 million and a 204% advantage over MSNBC’s 924,000.

According to preliminary, internal data -- CNN.com generated more than 182 million page views and served more than 36.7 million total video streams on Inauguration Day. Of the 36.7 million video streams, CNN.com Live served 26.9 million live video streams globally, breaking its all time total daily streaming record set on Election Day with 5.3 million live streams. (Source: Omniture SiteCatalyst, global). Additionally, CNN.com Live estimates it served more than 1.3 million concurrent live streams during its peak, which occurred immediately prior to President Obama's inaugural address. (Source: Internal CDN monitoring data). Also, iReport.com, CNN’s user-generated community, more than doubled its previous submission record of 5,100 set the day before the 2008 Election with more than 11,300 photos and videos uploaded to the site on Inauguration Day. (Source: iReport.com internal data).*

Other key CNN television ratings highlights:

6:00 am – 3:00 am/Total Day coverage:

CNN was No. 1 with 3.979 million total viewers/1.626 million among adults 25-54

FOX placed second with 2.543 million total viewers/750,000 among adults 25-54

MSNBC was last with 1.689 million total viewers/610,000 among adults 25-54

6:00 am – 9:00 am/Morning Show coverage:

CNN’s American Morning was No. 1 with 1.315 million total viewers/638,000 adults 25-54

FNC Fox and Friends was second with 1.165 million total viewers/377,000 adults 25-54

MSNBC Morning Joe was third with 686,000 total viewers/253,000 adults 25-54

4:00 pm – 7:00 pm/Afternoon coverage:

CNN’s Situation Room was No. 1 with 5.487 million total viewers/2.133 million among adults 25-54

FOX Obama Parade/Glenn Beck/Special Report was second with 3.079 million/792,000 adults 25-54

MSNBC Obama Parade/Hardballwas last with 2.158 million/741,000 adults 25-54

7:00 pm – 1:00 am/Extended Prime Time coverage:

CNN was No. 1 with 3.740 million total viewers/1.585 million among adults 25-54

(includes Campbell Brown: No Bias. No Bull (7-9 pm), Anderson Cooper 360 (9 pm – midnight) and Larry King Live (midnight – 1:00 am).

FNC followed with 2.604 million total viewers/755,000 among adults 25-54

(includes Fox Report (7-8 pm) O’Reilly Factor (8-9 pm) and Special Coverage/The 44 President (9:00 pm -1:00 am).

MSNBC placed third with 1.915 million total viewers/712,000 among adults 25-54

(includes Hardball (7-8 pm), Countdown (8-9 pm), The Rachel Maddow Show (9-10 pm), Special Coverage/President Barack Obama (10 pm – 1:00 am).

This represents a 44% and 110% advantage over FNC in total viewers and adults 25-54 respectively, and a 95% and 123% lead over MSNBC in total viewers and adults 25-54.