Nielsen data shows a significant drop in viewership for MSNBC and CNN following the 2024 presidential election. In the week ending Nov. 24, MSNBC’s primetime audience fell by 53%, dropping from 1.34 million viewers the week before the election to just 632,000. CNN also saw a major decline, falling 47% from 754,000 to 398,000 viewers.
For MSNBC, the ratings drop has been especially pronounced for its top anchor, Rachel Maddow. Since Nov. 5, Maddow’s show has experienced a 41% decrease in total viewers, with a 50% drop in the key 25-54 demographic.
On Monday, Maddow’s show recorded its lowest viewership of the year and its worst performance in the key demographic since 2015.
MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” has also taken a hit, losing 37% of its audience since the election.
Internally, the network faces uncertainty. Last week, parent company Comcast announced plans to spin off MSNBC and other cable channels next year.
The announcement has raised concerns about potential layoffs and restructuring, with some employees expressing worry about the future of the network.
Despite these challenges, some within MSNBC told the New York Post the viewership drop is temporary and may recover in the new year after the inauguration.
While it’s common for news networks to lose viewers after major events like elections, Fox News has seen a surge in popularity, with viewership increasing 32% since election night. The network remains the dominant cable news provider, especially after President-elect Donald Trump’s victory.
On election night, Fox led with 10 million primetime viewers, followed by MSNBC with 6 million and CNN with 5.1 million. Fox’s viewership has continued to rise, reaching 3.2 million, an 86% increase from last year.
