What's happened
Following Donald Trump's election victory, television ratings for news coverage have shifted significantly. Fox News led with 10.3 million viewers, while MSNBC's audience dropped sharply. Overall, viewership fell to 42.3 million, down 25% from 2020, reflecting changing news consumption habits among younger audiences.
Why it matters
What the papers say
According to the New York Times, Rachel Maddow's show saw a significant drop in viewership, with 1.3 million viewers on Monday, about a million shy of her October average. In contrast, Fox News experienced a 21% increase in prime time viewership since the election. The Independent noted that overall election night viewership was down 25% from 2020, with 42.3 million tuning in across 18 networks. The NY Post highlighted that Fox News's coverage was more than double that of CNN, which finished behind MSNBC for the first time on a presidential election night. Axios pointed out that the early clarity of Trump's lead likely curtailed viewer suspense, further influencing ratings.
How we got here
The 2024 presidential election saw Donald Trump declared the winner early on election night, leading to a notable shift in television ratings. Fox News emerged as the dominant network, while MSNBC and CNN experienced significant declines in viewership compared to previous elections.
Common question
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Why Did Election Night Viewership Decline Sharply in 2024?
The 2024 U.S. presidential election saw a significant drop in television viewership compared to previous years. With only 42.3 million Americans tuning in, down from 56.9 million in 2020, many are left wondering what factors contributed to this decline. This page explores the reasons behind the changing landscape of political viewership and its implications for future elections.
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What are the key takeaways from the 2024 election results?
The 2024 U.S. presidential election has resulted in significant shifts in the political landscape, particularly with Donald Trump's victory and the Republican Party's control of the Senate. This page explores the implications of these results, including changes in governance, voter reactions, and the future of key policies.
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Why Did TV Ratings Drop Significantly After the Election?
The 2024 presidential election brought unexpected shifts in television ratings, particularly in news coverage. With Donald Trump declared the winner early on election night, many viewers tuned out, leading to a significant drop in overall ratings. This page explores the reasons behind this decline and what it means for the future of political coverage.
More on these topics
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Donald John Trump is an American politician, media personality, and businessman who served as the 45th president of the United States from 2017 to 2021.
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Kamala Devi Harris is an American attorney and politician who has served as the junior United States Senator from California since 2017.
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CNN is an American news-based pay television channel owned by CNN Worldwide, a unit of the WarnerMedia News & Sports division of AT&T's WarnerMedia.
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MSNBC is an American news-based pay television cable channel, owned by the NBCUniversal Worldwide News Group division of NBCUniversal. It provides NBC News coverage as well as its own reporting and political commentary on current events.
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Joseph Robinette Biden Jr. is an American politician who is the 46th and current president of the United States. A member of the Democratic Party, he served as the 47th vice president from 2009 to 2017 and represented Delaware in the United States Senate