MSNBC widened its audience lead over CNN in July, maintaining dominance across multiple dayparts as new prime-time programs delivered strong growth among the key A25-54 demographic.
The network finished July with twice as many weekday prime-time viewers as CNN, averaging 1.1 million viewers to CNN’s 549,000 between 8 and 11 p.m. Monday through Friday. It also topped CNN in total-day viewership (530,000 vs. 370,000) for the 40th consecutive month, according to Nielsen data.
Viewers remained highly engaged with MSNBC content despite the typical summer viewership lull, with the average viewer spending nearly eight hours per week watching the network — nearly double the time spent by CNN viewers. MSNBC total-day viewership is up 47 percent compared to pre-inauguration levels, the largest increase of any major cable news network.
MSNBC was the second most-watched cable network overall in July, ahead of ESPN and CNN, and was the most-watched network among Black viewers. It also ranked among the top four networks for Hispanic and Asian-American viewers and remained the most-watched cable channel in Washington, D.C. for the second consecutive month.
MSNBC has doubled its total audience over the last decade despite a 33 percent decline in U.S. pay television households. Year-to-date, the network is averaging 101 percent more prime-time viewers and 81 percent more total-day viewers compared to the same period in 2015. By contrast, CNN’s total-day audience has dropped 8 percent over the same period.
New weekday programs “The Briefing with Jen Psaki” (Tuesday through Friday, 9 p.m.) and “The Weeknight” (Monday through Friday, 7 p.m.) posted double-digit A25-54 gains in July, rising 19 percent and 23 percent, respectively, since their May launches. Every MSNBC weekday perspective and analysis program airing between 4 p.m. and midnight outperformed its CNN counterpart in total viewers.
“The Rachel Maddow Show” (Mondays, 9 p.m.) quadrupled CNN’s total viewership (2.02 million vs. 524,000) and more than doubled its A25-54 audience (219,000 vs. 93,000). “Deadline: White House with Nicolle Wallace” (4 to 6 p.m.) topped CNN among A25-54 with its largest demo audience since April. “The 11th Hour with Stephanie Ruhle” tied CNN in the demo with 73,000 viewers.
Morning programming also remained strong. “Morning Joe” (Monday through Friday, 6 to 10 a.m.) nearly doubled CNN’s total viewership (594,000 vs. 303,000) and topped its A25-54 audience for the fourth consecutive month. It was the most-watched cable program in Washington, D.C. for the fifth straight month. “Way Too Early with Ali Vitali” (5 a.m.) beat CNN for the 40th consecutive month in total viewers and A25-54.
MSNBC’s dayside block “MSNBC Reports” (10 a.m. to 4 p.m.) averaged 499,000 total viewers in July, outperforming CNN for the fourth straight month and notching its largest advantage since November 2024.
Weekend programming also posted double-digit gains since inauguration, with “The Weekend: Primetime” (Saturday and Sunday, 6 to 9 p.m.) growing its total audience 9 percent from its launch month. “Velshi” (weekends) topped CNN in total viewers for the second time since expanding its time slot.
MSNBC and other NBC-owned cable networks are in the process of being spun out by Comcast into a separate business called Versant. The new company will also include financial news channel CNBC.
