29-04-2025
CNN AUDIENCE GROWS ACROSS PLATFORMS IN APRIL
April 29th, 2025
RANKS AGAIN AS TOP 5 IN ALL OF CABLE AMONG P2+
WEEKDAY PRIME DRAWS YEAR-OVER-YEAR GROWTH IN KEY DEMO
LIVE TOWN HALLS SEE VIEWERSHIP GAINS IN TIME PERIOD ACROSS BOTH DEMOS
ENGAGEMENT AND SUBSCRIPTION CONTINUES TO CLIMB
NEW YORK, NY – (April 29, 2025) – CNN finished April delivering a strong performance across linear, digital and streaming platforms. For the fourth consecutive month, CNN ranked in the Top 5 of the most watched networks in all of cable in Total Day among P2+ (#4) and in the top 10 among P25-54 (#8).
In primetime, CNN posted +8% year-over-year growth in M-F Prime among P25-54 (113k to 122k). Among P2+, CNN ranked in the Top 10 in M-F Prime (#7) for the fourth consecutive month. At the program level, Erin Burnett Outfront (7p), NewsNight with Abby Phillip (10p), and Laura Coates Live (11p) all posted year-over-year growth among P25-54. NewsNight with Abby Phillip continues to be a standout performer for CNN, ranking as the network's most watched program among P25-54 for the third consecutive month. Further, NewsNight grew by impressive, double-digit margins year-over-year among both demos (P25-54: +31%, 103k to 135k; P2+: +12% 510k to 573k).
CNN also ranked Top 5 in Daytime among both P2+ (#3) and P25-54 (#4).
CNN's robust political coverage was complemented by two town halls in April that boosted their respective time periods among both P25-54 and P2+ (Live + Same Day). CNN's Town Hall with Bernie Sanders (Wed, 4/9; 9p-10:01p) ranked #4 in all of cable in the time period among P2+ and was up +37% vs. the prior 4 (880k vs. 644k). Among P25-54, it ranked #6 in all of cable and was up +18% (168k vs. 142k). CNN Town Hall: America Asks Congress (Thu, 4/10; 9p-10:30p) ranked #6 in all of cable in the time period among P2+ (624k) and #9 among P25-54 (134k ).
As part of CNN's topical entertainment programming block, Have I Got News For You (2/15 – 4/19, Sat 9p) ended its second season as the network's second most watched show among P2+ in April and during the season's entire run. The season averaged 103k among P25-54 with +9% growth from season 1 (95k), and it was up +25% vs. its lead-in (83k). Among P2+, it was up +66% vs. the prior 4 Saturdays (722k vs. 435k). The success of this programming block, led by Real Time with Bill Maher at 8p and HIGNFY at 9p, has made CNN a top cable destination on Saturday nights (8p-10p). Over the course of HIGNFY 's second season, CNN ranked #6 in all of cable in the time period among P2+, improving its rank by +8-pts vs. the same period a year-ago (#14). Overall, CNN has grown its P2+ viewership by +42% on Saturday nights year-over-year (770k vs. 542k).
CNN's digital audience continued to show powerful growth amidst a larger pivot to a new subscription business. March was the highest month for minutes spent per visitor since the launch of subscription business in October 2024. With a strategic focus on deepening engagement to grow digital subscribers, March saw an increase of 6% month over month versus the prior month. March domestic data is the most recent Comscore data available.
TV Source: Nielsen Panel Only. AA(000s). Based on Live+7 blended with most current, incl. OOH.
TV Town Hall Source: Nielsen Panel Only. AA(000s). Based on Live+SD, incl. OOH.
Digital Source: Comscore Media Metrix® Multi-Platform, Total Digital Population, March 2025, United States, Custom-Defined List including BBC, MSN News, Yahoo News, The New York Times Brand, Fox News Digital, HuffPost Global, CNBC, The Sun, CBC, Sky News, Aljazeera Media Network, Epoch Times.
