CNN posted big numbers overnight with breaking news coverage on the death of Osama bin Laden. CNN's coverage peaked at 9.5 million viewers at 11:30pm (eastern). Details from CNN follows.

CNN Press Release: CNN DOMINATES CABLE NEWS COVERAGE WITH NEWS OF THE DEATH OF OSAMA BIN LADEN; Outperforms both FNC and MSNBC; CNN PEAKS AT 11:30 PM WITH 9.5 MILLION VIEWERS

According Nielsen Fast National data, CNN dominated cable news coverage with the breaking news of the death of Osama bin Laden on Sunday night, May 1st.

10:00 pm – 3:00 am, ET: CNN’s Coverage of the Death of Osama bin Laden vs. Cable News Competition

Coverage of the death of Osama bin Laden (10:00p-3:00a) delivered 4.142 million total viewers and 2.101 million P25-54, up 981% and 1434% over the prior 4-Sunday performance, respectively. FNC followed with 2.845 total viewers and 1.267 in the demo and MSNBC trailed with 1.584 total viewers and 800k in the demo.

CNN was top-rated in both total viewers and P25-54, topping second-place FXNC by 46% among total viewers and 66% among P25-54. CNN also out-performed third-place MSNBC by 161% among total viewers and by 163% among P25-54.

This is CNN’s best 10:00p-3:00a performance since Election Night 2008, when the network delivered 8.989 million total viewers and 4.598 million P25-54.

11 pm: The hour President Obama announced bin Laden’s death:

CNN: 7.763 million total viewers/3.904 million demo 25-54

FNC: 4.778 million total viewers/2.070 million demo

MSNBC: 2.275 million total viewers/1.126 million demo

CNN’s coverage peaked during the 11p hour averaging 7.763 million total viewers and 3.904 million P25-54.

By quarter-hour, CNN’s coverage peaked at 11:30pm (Pres. Obama Address) with 9.527 million total viewers and 4.768 million among adults 25-54.

The hour outperformed CNN’s 11 pm prior four Sunday’s average by +1080% among total viewers and +1627% among P25-54.

10 pm: Leading up to President Obama’s announcement:

CNN: 2.329 million total viewers/961k demo 25-54

FNC: 2.317 million total viewers/895k demo

MSNBC: 1.085 million total viewers/485k demo


Social Media: While news of Osama bin Laden’s death was unfolding, the terms “Wolf Blitzer” and “watching CNN” became trending topics globally on Twitter between 10p and 2a ET.