CNN today released its ratings numbers for the first quarter of 2012. CNN's press release below.

CNN Press Release: CNN TOPS MSNBC IN PRIMETIME BY DOUBLE DIGITS DURING FIRST QUARTER 2012

AC 360 TOPS MSNBC’S LAST WORD AT 10PM FOR THE QUARTER

CNN Sees Solid Gains Compared to Last Quarter


First Quarter 2012 Highlights:

CNN tops MSNBC in M-F and M-Su primetime in the key demo for the first quarter 2012
AC 360 at 10pm tops MSNBC’s Last Word in the target demo 25-54
CNN tops MSNBC throughout dayside (9am-5pm)
CNN sees gains compared to last quarter (Q4 2011) -- all of the cable news networks are down compared to the first quarter a year ago due to extensive coverage of the Japan earthquake/tsunami and Arab Spring

For the first quarter 2012, CNN topped MSNBC in Monday-Friday primetime (8-11pm) by double digits (+11%) in the key demographic 25-54 (276k vs. 248k). This represents the first quarterly win over MSNBC in M-F prime in a year (since Q1 2011). CNN also bested MSNBC in M-Su primetime this quarter in the key demo (256k vs. 237k).

Anderson Cooper 360 continued to show a strong ratings performance, topping MSNBC’s Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell at 10pm in the key demo (254k vs. 219k).

During dayside programming (9am-5pm), CNN had a +28% advantage over MSNBC in the key demo 25-54 (120k vs. 94k) and outperformed MSNBC in total viewers (456k vs. 405k).

All the cable news networks were down compared to the first quarter a year ago (Q1 2011) due to extensive coverage of the Japan earthquake/tsunami and the Arab Spring. However, compared to the fourth quarter 2011 CNN showed solid gains:

M-F prime – CNN grew +33% in the demo (276k vs. 207k) and +22% in total viewers (827k vs. 677k)
Total Day – CNN grew +14% in the demo (140k vs. 123k) and +8% in total viewers (435k vs. 404k)
Piers Morgan Tonight grew +11% in key demo (182k vs. 164k)
AC 360 at 10pm grew +19% in demo (254k vs. 213k)`
Erin Burnett Outfront at 11pm grew +5% in demo (147k vs. 140k).

CNN reached an average monthly cumulative audience of 91 million viewers during the first quarter 2012, FNC followed with 77 million and MSNBC had 74 million.

CNN today released its take on the network's numbers for February. Details from CNN below.

CNN Press Release: CNN TOPS MSNBC IN PRIMETIME FOR TWO CONSECUTIVE MONTHS.

CNN GROWS 31% IN M-Su PRIMETIME – MSNBC AND FNC LOSE VIEWERS IN FEB.

AC 360 Tops MSNBC at 10p.

CNN Tops MSNBC in Total Day and Dayside.


February 2012 Highlights:

CNN tops MSNBC in M-F primetime in target demo
CNN tops MSNBC in M-Su primetime in key demo
CNN tops MSNBC in total day among total viewers and in key demo
CNN tops MSNBC in dayside in total viewers and target demo
AC 360 tops MSNBC at 10p in key demo
Despite the Arab Spring a year ago, CNN shows growth in primetime and total day, while MSNBC and FNC decline.

In February, CNN topped MSNBC in M-F prime and M-Su prime in the target demo 25-54 and in both total viewers and in the key demo in total day and dayside. Anderson Cooper 360 at 10pm also topped MSNBC’s Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell among 25-54.

Despite cable news being fueled by coverage of the Arab Spring during this time a year ago, CNN showed the most growth this month vs. a year ago in primetime and total day, while MSNBC and FNC both down.

In Monday-Friday primetime, CNN topped MSNBC (270k vs. 252k) and increased +11% (270k vs. 243k) in the demo 25-54 and grew 5% in total viewers vs. last year. MSNBC is down -5% (252k vs. 266k) and FNC is off -13% (502k vs. 579k) in the demo, and down -1% and -3% respectively in total viewers compared to a year ago. February represents the second consecutive month that CNN has outperformed MSNBC in M-F prime in the key demo.

Anderson Cooper 360 at 10p continued to show a strong ratings performance, topping MSNBC’s Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell at 10p in the key demo (262k vs.238k).

In Monday-Sunday primetime, CNN topped MSNBC in the target demo (283k vs. 237k) and grew an impressive +31% (283k vs. 216k) vs. a year ago, while MSNBC is down -9% (237k vs. 260k) and FNC declined -10% (418k vs. 466k). In total viewers, CNN grew +20% (807k vs. 675k), while MSNBC declined -3% and FNC is flat.

In total day (6a-6a), CNN outperformed MSNBC in both total viewers (475k vs. 455k) and the target demo (163k vs. 145k). In the key demo 25-54, CNN is up +3% (163k vs. 159k) last year, with FNC dropping -6% (270k vs. 286k) and MSNBC declining -1% (145k vs. 146k).

During the dayside (9a-5p), CNN also topped MSNBC in total viewers by +11% (439k vs. 396k) and by +27% in the key demo (117k vs. 92k).

CNN reached a cumulative audience of 95.9 million viewers in February 2012, FNC followed with 79.3 million and MSNBC had 75.5 million.

CNN today released the fast national numbers for last night's GOP Presidential debate from Arizona.

CNN Press Release: According to Nielsen Fast National data, CNN's Arizona debate (8-10p, ET), moderated by John King delivered 4.7 million total viewers and 1.4 million in the key target demographic 25-54 last night Wednesday, February 22.

CNN was, by far, top rated during the 8-10p ET time period last night among the cable news networks in both total viewers and the key demo. CNN topped FNC among total viewers by 173% (4.7m vs. 1.7m) and MSNBC by 464% (4.7m vs. 839k). In the target demo CNN averaged 1.4m, topping FNC (381k) and MSNBC (174k) combined.

With post-debate analysis, Anderson Cooper 360 easily outperformed its cable news competition at 10p. AC360 topped FNC’s On the Record among total viewers by 35% (2.1m vs. 1.6m) and MSNBC’s Last Word by 106% (2.1m vs. 1.0m). In the target demo AC360 posted 740k, topping both FNC (344k) and MSNBC (213k) combined.

During the west coast primetime airing (8-10p, PT/11p-1a, ET replay) CNN had an additional 941k total viewers and 434k in the key demographic 25-54. KTVK (IND-Phoenix) averaged 119k P2+ and 55k P25-54 from 8p-10p ET during its simulcast of the CNN Arizona GOP Presidential Republican Debate.

CNN today sent out a press note with fast national numbers from Tuesday night's Iowa caucuses coverage. Details from CNN below.

CNN Press Note: Fast Nationals for Tuesday, January 3 (Iowa Caucuses)

As the only news organization that doesn’t take sides, CNN had a strong performance during Tuesday’s Republican Iowa caucuses topping MSNBC in both total viewers and the key demo 25-54 during all key day parts.

CNN also showed the most growth among total viewers compared to the prior four Tuesdays, increasing +142% (1.310m vs. 541k), while FNC increased just 22% (2.631m vs. 2.158m) and MSNBC was up 32% (1.195m vs. 903k) during primetime. In the target demo 25-54, CNN also grew the most, increasing +220% (486k vs. 152k), while FNC was up 43% (684k vs. 478k) and MSNBC grew 49% (303k vs. 203k) vs. the prior four Tuesdays.


Primetime: (8-11p)

CNN: 1.31m total viewers/486k target demo 25-54
FNC: 2.63m/684k
MSNBC: 1.20m/303k


Late Night: (11p-3a)

CNN: 839k total viewers/347k target demo 25-54
FNC: 1.82m/645k
MSNBC: 693k/228k


Full Block: (7p-3a)

CNN: 1.0m total viewers/390k target demo 25-54
FNC: 2.15m/637k
MSNBC: 932k/259k

CNN's November ratings have been released by the network. CNN's press release follows below.

CNN Press Release: CNN GAINS VIEWERS IN NOVEMBER; MSNBC DOWN -23% AND FNC DECLINES -32% IN PRIMETIME

ANDERSON COOPER 360 UP +49%; ONLY SHOW TO GROW AT 8p; FNC DOWN -23%, MSNBC -36%

CNN ONLY CABLE NEWS NETWORK TO POST DOUBLE-DIGIT GROWTH, UP +30% IN 2011


Highlights:

CNN grows in primetime in Nov. while MSNBC and FNC experience double-digit declines, -23% and -32%, respectively.

AC 360 (8p) up +49%; FNC declines -23%, MSNBC down -36%.

CNN tops MSNBC in daytime (9a-5p).

In 2011, CNN up +30% in primetime while FNC looses -16% of its audience and MSNBC holds only 3%; beating MSNBC in total day.

Erin Burnett OutFront at 7p up vs. CNN programming a year ago.

In M-F prime (8-11p), CNN increased +4% (211k vs. 203k) among P25-54 vs. Nov 10; MSNBC and FNC posted significant double-digit declines, down -23% (229k vs. 298k) and -32% (461k vs. 680k), respectively. In addition, Nov marks CNN’s 5th straight month of year-over-year growth in prime among the key demo.

YTD (through Nov 27), CNN is up +30% in M-F prime among P25-54 vs. same time period a year ago; MSNBC virtually flat (+3%) and FNC down -16%. In addition, CNN is outperforming MSNBC in total day (6a-6a) among P2+ (488k vs. 437k) and P25-54 (165k vs. 150k) 2011 to-date.

CNN tops MSNBC in daytime (9a-5p) in Nov, averaging 134k in P25-54 vs. MSNBC’s 95k.


Show Highlights (Nov 11 vs. Nov 10):

7p, ET: Erin Burnett OutFront continues to post increases vs. CNN programming a year ago, up +3% in the key demo (140k vs. 136k) and +16% in total viewers (510k vs. 440k).

8p, ET: Anderson Cooper 360 is the only program at 8p to post growth vs. a year ago–increasing a substantial +49% (192k vs. 129k) in the key demo; MSNBC down a staggering -36% and FNC declined -23%.

10p, ET: Anderson Cooper 360 grew +20% (221k vs. 184k) in the key demo, MSNBC down -11% and FNC declined -18%.

4p, ET: The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer topped MSNBC’s Dylan Ratigan handily in both total viewers (691k vs. 480k) and P25-54 (173k vs. 103k). Sit Room also grew vs. a year ago, increasing +30% in the key demo.


Reach:

CNN reached a cumulative audience of 85.7 million viewers in Nov, MSNBC followed with 74.6 million, while FNC was third with 71.7 million.

CNN News Release - CNN's Royal Wedding/Nielsen Fast National Data for Friday, April 29, 2011:

* CNN's coverage of the Royal Wedding (4:00a-10:00a) delivered 1.662 million total viewers and 714k P25-54, up 473% and 500% over the prior 4-Friday performance, respectively.

* CNN was top rated in both total viewers and P25-54, topping second-place FXNC by 7% among total viewers and 52% among P25-54. CNN also out-performed third-place MSNBC by 164% among total viewers and by 146% among P25-54 (4:00a-10:00a).

* This is CNN's best 4:00a-10:00a P2+ delivery since the day after the 2008 Presidential Election (November 5, 2008) and its best P25-54 delivery since news of the Japan earthquake hit last month (March 11, 2011).

* Piers Morgan's special coverage of the Royal Wedding (8:00p-10:00p) delivered 1.286 million total viewers and 397k P25-54, up 121% and 139% over prior 4-Friday performance, respectively. This represents CNN's best 8:00p-10:00p among both P2+ and P25-54 since March 20, 2011 (start of crisis in Libya).

* Anderson Cooper's Royal Wedding Special (10:00p-12:00m) delivered 940k total viewers and 331k P25-54, up 43% and 40%, respectively, over prior 4-Friday performance.
This is CNN's best 10:00p-12:00m P2+ and P25-54 delivery since April 8, 2011 (Congressional Budget Deal reached).

CNN's Cume Delivery (4:00a-10:00a):

*CNN registered a total audience cume delivery of 9.634 million, up 152% over its prior 4 Friday average, and 4.056 million P25-54, up 180% over cume delivery achieved the prior 4 Fridays.

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