The media landscape has experienced a seismic shift following Donald Trump’s recent election victory.
At a Glance
- MSNBC’s viewership plummeted by 23% across the board.
- CNN experienced a 43% decline in the same timeframe.
- Fox News saw a remarkable 60% increase in its viewer ratings.
- Prime time audience for MSNBC and CNN dropped significantly.
Ratings Shift: Facts and Figures
In the aftermath of Donald Trump’s election victory, the ratings for news networks such as MSNBC and CNN have seen dramatic declines, according to data from Mediaite. Compared to the previous year, MSNBC has suffered a 23% drop in its overall viewership. CNN’s viewership faced a more severe decrease, with a staggering 43% decline.
On reflection of this trend, MSNBC lost significant viewership in its prime time segment, registering a descent of 54%. CNN’s prime time fall was slightly less, at 30%, signaling a potential shift in viewer preferences. These figures underscore the contrasting position of Fox News, which reported a commendable 60% increase in ratings, suggesting that it remains a favored choice for many.
Fox News’ Election Night Triumph
In the climactic election night of November 5, Fox News dominated the viewership numbers, drawing 10.3 million viewers, tripling its competitor networks. MSNBC, despite securing 6 million viewers and thus outperforming CNN’s 5.1 million, recorded a paltry daily viewership of 596,000 post-election, down from 6 million.
“On Friday, seven MSNBC programs recorded their lowest Friday ratings for the year as the network also saw its lowest-rated Friday prime time programming of the year — outside of holiday weekends,” Mediaite reported.
Amid these changes, Fox News remained rock-solid with 2.6 million viewers, evidencing a successful stride in maintaining its audience, contrasting with the evident struggles of its competitors.
The media landscape is shifting…
Causes Behind the Decline
The ratings dive could possibly be reflective of a changing mood among viewers. With MSNBC and CNN often considered bastions for liberal and left-leaning audiences, Trump’s victory might have triggered discontent or disillusionment, contributing to the significant drop. Additionally, MSNBC’s struggles to retain its audience throughout the week further confirm the speculation, despite surpassing CNN in total viewership.
“MSNBC’s inability to keep its audience tuned in throughout the week signals a potential mood shift on the left as hope for a Kamala Harris victory has quickly soured into defeat and anxiety while awaiting Donald Trump’s return to power in January,” Mediaite suggested.
With these shifts in ratings, the broader question of the media’s trajectory and its alignment with viewer expectations remains, compelling networks to reassess strategies in response to the political and cultural transitions unfolding.
