The Vice Presidential Debate Lifts All Cable News Nets

This is TVNewser’s basic cable network ranker and cable news report for the week of September 30, 2024.

While the evening news broadcasts may not have seen a bounce from last week’s CBS News vice presidential debate between Gov. Tim Walz and Sen. J.D. Vance, the cable news nets did enjoy a boost for their simulcasts. All three outlets saw primetime gains of more than +30% in total viewers and the advertiser-rich Adults 25-54 demo. CNN, Fox News and MSNBC also enjoyed double-digit gains in both of those measured categories during total day.

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Nielsen live plus same-day data for the week of September 30 saw FNC average 3.128 million total viewers and 439,000 A25-54 viewers during primetime. The network was up +34% in the latter category and +59% in the latter relative to the week prior. In total day, Fox News saw an average of 1.696 million total viewers and 234,000 demo viewers for gains of +18% and +24%, respectively.

Among all basic cable networks, Fox News remained at No. 1 in total primetime viewers and second in the demo. In total day, it continued to lead in total viewers and stayed in second place in the demo.

MSNBC’s primetime lineup averaged 1.745 million total viewers and 223,000 A25-54 viewers for week-to-week gains of +48% and +70%, respectively. In total day, the network averaged 997,000 total viewers and 109,000 A25-54 viewers for respective bumps of +18% and +21% compared to the week prior.

MSNBC once again finished third on the basic cable charts in total primetime viewers and dropped one place to eighth in the demo. During total day, it finished in second place in total viewers and rose to No. 5 in the demo. 

CNN averaged 975,000 total viewers and 224,000 A25-54 viewers during primetime for respective gains of +40% and +62% compared to the previous week. In total day, the network saw audiences of 568,000 total viewers and 104,000 viewers in the demo, which translates to gains of +11% in the former category and +17% in the latter. 

CNN remained in fourth place in primetime with total viewers and dropped one spot to No. 7 in the demo. In total day, it held onto fourth place in total viewers and moved up one spot in the demo to land at No. 6. 

When looking at these networks’ performance during the same period a year ago (the week of Oct. 2):

• During primetime, Fox News was up by +53% in total viewers and +90% in the A25-54 demo. In total day, the network saw gains of +31% and +51% in those respective categories.
• In primetime, MSNBC was up +17% in total viewers and +47% in the demo. During total day, the network rose +2% in the former category and +4% in the latter.
• CNN saw a lift of +25% in total viewers and +45% in the demo during primetime. Turning to total day, though, the network dipped -7% in total viewers and -12% in the demo—the only network to see declines in that category.