CNN is noting its strong numbers for coverage of the Japan earthquake and resulting tsunami.

CNN Press Release: Nielsen national numbers for Friday, March 11.

– Total day (3a-3a), CNN delivered an average of 2.276 million P2+ viewers and 1.008 million P25-54 viewers. FNC had 2.096 million/659k and MSNBC delivered 558k/199k.

– Prime (8p-11p), CNN delivered 2.651 million P2+ viewers and 1.166 million P25-54 viewers. FNC delivered 2.727 million/757k and MSNBC 931k/331k.

– CNN’s Friday coverage peaked during the 11a hour of CNN Newsroom with 3.626 million P2+ viewers and 1.517 million P25-54 viewers.

– On Friday: CNN’s total day delivery was up 405% over 2011 YTD in P2+ (2.276 million vs. 451k) and up 600% in P25-54 (1.008 million vs. 144k).

– On Friday: CNN’s prime delivery was up 268% over 2011 YTD in P2+ (2.651 million vs. 721k) and up 421% in P25-54 (1.166 million vs. 224k).
P25-54

DAYPARTS CNN FXNC MSNBC

3a-3a 1008 659 199
8p-11p 1166 757 331
6a-9a 760 768 145
9a-5p 1210 771 184

5p-8p 1269 839 196

P2+
DAYPARTS CNN FXNC MSNBC

3a-3a 2276 2096 588
8p-11p 2651 2727 931
6a-9a 1510 2005 510
9a-5p 2973 2610 627
5p-8p 2948 3031 707


Online, CNN.com has been setting new records.

CNN Press Release: CNN.com video and mobile traffic during the tragedy of the aftermath of the Japan earthquake on Friday. CNN.com Unique Users were highest on record outside of election.

Friday’s 60mm global video starts were 5 times higher than the previous record of 12mm the day after Obama’s election 11/5/08. (Based on history from mid-2007 forward.)

CNN.com Global: 60,058,989 Video Starts (Highest on record for CNN.com Global)

Below are top five video days in video starts for CNN.com. (Historical record goes back to 2007.)

Rank
CNN.com [date]
Event
Domestic Video Starts
International Video Starts
Global Video Starts

1
11-Mar-11
Japan Tsunami
44,994,156
15,064,817
60,058,973

2
5-Nov-08
Day after Obama Election
8,815,275
3,229,968
12,045,243

3
13-Oct-10
Chilean Miners Rescue
8,752,074
2,763,001
11,515,075

4
27-Feb-10
Hawaii Tsunami Warning
9,548,918
661,160
10,210,078

5
20-Jan-09
Obama Inauguration
7,892,394
1,955,067
9,847,461

Source: Omniture SiteCatalyst

Friday’s 20mm domestic daily uniques ranks 3rd for all days on record (since mid-2007), behind Obama election day 11/4/08 (26.6mm) and the day after the election 11/5/08 (20.8mm).