MSNBC POSTS MONTH-OVER-MONTH GROWTH ACROSS ALL DAYPARTS
Double-Digit Growth Across Both Demos for Total Day
“Morning Joe” is the #1 Cable News Show in the Nation’s Capital; Tops CNN in A25-54 Demo Year to Date
MSNBC Sees 6.2 Billion Combined Views on TikTok and YouTube Year to Date
(New York – Sept. 30, 2025) – As the summer comes to a close, MSNBC had month-over-month total viewership growth across all key dayparts, according to Nielsen ratings data. In total day, MSNBC delivered double-digit month-over-month gains among both total viewers (+11%) and A25-54 (+18%). In weekday prime, MSNBC averaged 11% more total viewers and 8% more A25-54 than the prior month. September marked MSNBC’s 42nd consecutive monthly total viewership win over CNN in total day and 106th consecutive monthly win in weekday prime. MSNBC also had month-over-month viewership growth in dayside (Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., +19% total viewers, +23% A25-54), among the network’s Perspective and Analysis programming (Monday through Friday, 4 p.m. to 12 a.m., +12% total viewers, +13% A25-54), and weekends (Saturday through Sunday, 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., +5% total viewers, +17% A25-54).
In 2025 to date (January through September), the average MSNBC viewer has spent nearly eight hours per week watching the network, nearly doubling the CNN viewer average. MSNBC remains the most-watched cable network in the influential Washington D.C. market, the most-watched in cable news among African Americans, and a top-five cable network among Hispanic and Asian Americans.
MSNBC Primetime Sees Month-Over-Month Growth In Both Demos; Averages 1.2 Million Weekday Primetime Viewers Year to Date; “The Weeknight” Sees Most Watched Month Since Launch
Year to date, MSNBC’s weekday primetime programming (Monday through Friday, 8 to 11 p.m.) more than doubles CNN’s viewership, averaging 1.2 million weekday primetime viewers.
Additionally, every MSNBC Perspective and Analysis show (Monday through Friday, 4 p.m. to 12 a.m.) averaged more total viewers than CNN in its timeslot.
In addition to topping CNN in total viewers, “Deadline: White House with Nicolle Wallace,” (Monday through Friday, 4 to 6 p.m.), “The Rachel Maddow Show,” (Monday, 9 p.m.) and “The 11th Hour with Stephanie Ruhle” (Monday through Friday, 11 p.m.) also topped their CNN counterparts among the A25-54 demo.
“The Rachel Maddow Show” (Monday, 9 p.m.) averaged four times as many total viewers as its CNN timeslot competitor, and more than doubled CNN’s A25-54 viewership. The Sept. 8 broadcast of “The Rachel Maddow Show” was #1 on cable news in its timeslot, beating FOX News’ “Hannity” for the first time in 2025 (2.015 million vs. 1.95 million). Maddow’s exclusive interview with Vice President Kamala Harris on Sept. 22 drew 2.1 million total viewers and 227,000 viewers A25-54. On YouTube, the interview has garnered more than one million views.
Additionally, “The Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell” (Monday through Friday, 10 p.m.) more than doubled CNN in total viewers for September and secured its 124th consecutive monthly win over CNN.
The newly launched programs “The Weeknight” (Monday through Friday, 7 p.m.) and “The Briefing with Jen Psaki” (Tuesday through Friday, 9 p.m.) delivered month-over-month growth in both demos. “The Weeknight” had its most-watched month to date among both demos and delivered double-digit viewership growth compared to its launch month (vs. May 2025: +15% among total viewers, +38% A25-54). “The Briefing” also had double-digit viewership growth from its launch month among A25-54 (vs. May 2025: +23%).
“Morning Joe” Remains #1 Morning Cable News Show in the Nation’s Capital; Tops CNN’s Total Audience Every Month for Over 10 Years; Leads CNN in A25-54 Demo Year to Date
“Morning Joe” (Monday through Friday, 6 to 10 a.m.) has averaged more total viewers than its CNN counterpart every month for more than a decade (127 consecutive months). In September, the program delivered month-over-month total viewer growth (+7%) while continuing to lead CNN in the A25-54 demo year to date. “Morning Joe” also remains the #1 cable news morning show in the influential Washington D.C. market year to date.
More Viewers Turn to “MSNBC Reports” for Political Breaking News Than CNN
Bolstered by live coverage of Congressional hearings in the morning and midday hours, “MSNBC Reports” (Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.) had double-digit month-over-month viewership growth among both total viewers (+19%) and A25-54 (+23%). “MSNBC Reports” topped CNN for the sixth straight month and the second consecutive quarter. Additionally, MSNBC’s +69,000 viewer lead over CNN in September represents the network’s largest advantage in the time period since November 2024 (+85,000, +14%).
MSNBC Tops CNN in Weekend Programming in Both Third Quarter and in September
More viewers tuned into MSNBC over CNN on the weekends (Saturday and Sunday, 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.), both in 3Q 2025 and in September. In fact, MSNBC weekend programming beat CNN in September by 45,000 viewers – the network’s largest margin of victory since November 2024 (+52,000).
In September, the network’s ensemble program “The Weekend” (Saturday and Sunday, 7 a.m. to 10 a.m.) delivered month-over-month growth in both measurements (total viewers: +8%; A25-54: +52%). “The Weekend” beat CNN among the A25-54 demo for the first time since its launch in May 2025, marking the first demo win over CNN in the Saturday and Sunday 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. time period since May 2014. Additionally, “The Weekend: Primetime” (Saturday and Sunday, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.) gained 9% in total viewers and 13% among A25-54 from its launch month in May.
MSNBC Continues to See Rapid Growth on Digital Platforms; Records 6.2 Billion Combined Views on TikTok and YouTube Year to Date; Jen Psaki’s “The Blueprint” Podcast Returns for Second Season Oct. 15
Consumers spend more time on MSNBC.com than any other political news site, ranking #1 for time spent on site for 53 consecutive months. Top performing articles across MSNBC.com for the third quarter of 2025 included exclusive reporting from Ken Dilanian and Carol Leonnig on Tom Homan being investigated for accepting $50,000 from undercover FBI agents and the DOJ shutting it down; news of Jimmy Kimmel being pulled off the air over Charlie Kirk comments; and an opinion piece about a social media post from a Trump appointee that suggests Project 2025 was always the plan.
On YouTube, MSNBC has seen more than 2.8 billion views year to date (through Sept. 28). Top performing videos on YouTube for the third quarter of 2025 included Texas State Rep. Ann Johnso’s response to GOP members amid a redistricting vote (6.8 million); Jen Psaki’s reader on President Trump’s competency (6.1 million views); and George Conway reacting to ICE raids around the country (5.5 million views).
On TikTok, MSNBC has garnered 3.4 billion views year to date. Top performing videos on the platform include a resurfaced video of Jeffrey Epstein’s 2010 deposition (“The Briefing,” 16.1 million views); social media reaction to ABC’s cancellation of Jimmy Kimmel Live! (“The Beat,” 12.8 million views); and a heated exchange between FBI Director Kash Patel and Rep. Eric Swalwell over the Epstein Files (MSNBC, 12.4 million views).
MSNBC also recently announced that Jen Psaki’s successful podcast, “The Blueprint with Jen Psaki,” will return for a second season on Oct. 15, following a special live-taping with Psaki and featured guests during the upcoming MSNBCLIVE ‘25: This Is Who We Are event on Oct. 11. The live taping will later air as an episode of “The Blueprint.”
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TV Source: Nielsen, Panel Only, Live+SD, Persons 2+ and Adults 25-54. Total Day = M-Su 6 a.m. to 6 a.m., Primetime= M-F 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. September: 9/1/25-9/28/25. 3Q25: 6/30/25-9/28/25. Time period wins based on regularly-scheduled cable news programming. New Show comparisons: May = 5/3/25-5/25/25. Engagement: Nielsen, NPower, Reach & Frequency, M-Su 6 a.m.-6 a.m., 6-min viewing qualifier, 12/30/24-9/28/25, Avg. Weekly. Race/Ethnicity: Nielsen, NPower, Ratings Analysis Time Period Report 12/30/24-9/28/25, rankings exclude RSNs. Local Points: Nielsen, NPower, Ratings Analysis Program Report, LPM = Washington, D.C., 12/30/24-9/28/25, P2+, M-F 6 a.m, to 10 a.m., M-Su 6 a.m. to 6 a.m.
Digital Source: YouTube data based on YouTube Studio Analytics, January 1 – September 28, 2025. YouTube video views. Competitor data from ListenFirst. TikTok data based on ListenFirst, January 1 – September 28, 2025. TikTok video views.
Comscore Media Metrix Multi-Platform (U.S.) Desktop Persons 2+ and Mobile Persons 13+, Total Digital Population, April 2021 – August 2025. Rankings based on Comscore News/Information – Politics category. Unique visitors and total minutes.
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