MSNBC Delivers Most-Watched Year Ever

MSNBC marked its most-watched year ever in 2016, hitting all-time highs in multiple dayparts including Total Day, Dayside, Morning News, Weekday Prime, as well as several key shows and demographics.

Year over year, MSNBC was the fastest-growing top 100 cable network in weekday prime with gains of +95% in total viewers and +134% in the A25-54 demo (vs. CNN: +77% in total viewers, +81% in A25-54; FOX: +31% in total viewers, +37% in A25-54). MSNBC Weekday Prime (M-F 8-11p) ranked #8 among all cable networks in total viewers and delivered its biggest demo audience since 2008.

In Total Day (M-Su 6a-6a), MSNBC delivered its biggest total viewer audience in the network's 20-year history and best A25-54 demo audience since 2012 (excl. Olympics). MSNBC posted significantly higher year-to-year Total Day growth than either CNN or Fox News in both total viewers and the key A25-54 demo (MSNBC: +72% in total viewers, +72% in A25-54; CNN: +54% in total viewers, +56% in A25-54; FOX: +29% in total viewers, +35% in A25-54).

MSNBC Dayside (M-F 9a-5p) also posted the biggest total viewer audience in the network's history and best demo delivery since 2008. Fueled by the strategic shift to live, breaking news, MSNBC Dayside more than doubled the competition in year-to-year growth among both total viewers and the demo (MSNBC: +88% in total viewers, +133% in A25-54; CNN: +42% in total viewers, +42% in A25-54; FOX: +20% in total viewers, +31% in A25-54).

"Morning Joe" (M-F 6-9a) delivered MSNBC's biggest total viewer and demo audiences in the time period ever (demo: tied with 2012) and beat third-place CNN in both categories. This marks Morning Joe's seventh straight year topping CNN in total viewers.

"The Rachel Maddow Show" (M-F 9-10p) delivered MSNBC's biggest total viewer and demo audiences in the time period ever. "Maddow" beat third-place CNN's regular programming among total viewers for the seventh consecutive year.

"Andrea Mitchell Reports," "Hardball with Chris Matthews," "The Last Word with Lawrence O'Donnell," "The 11th Hour with Brian Williams," and "AM Joy" all delivered the biggest-ever total audiences in their respective time periods.

NOTE: 2016 year-end ratings are based on Nielsen Live+Same data day for 12/28/15-12/25/16. Individual show data represents regular programming only, excluding conventions, debates, election night and breaking news.

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