HLN Number Two in Cable News Last Week

April 15th, 2013 11:22 PM

With all the buzz surrounding Jeff Zucker taking over the reins at CNN, it appears to be sister station HLN making a ratings move.

In the week ended April 12, HLN - formerly known as CNN Headline News - bested both CNN and MSNBC in total viewers and in the all important demographic aged 25 to 54.

Here are the stats for Monday (via TVByTheNumbers.com):

    P2+ (000s) 25-54 (000s) 35-64 (000s)
Total Day        
FNC          1,080        226         444
CNN             345        107         172
MSNBC             371        117         171
CNBC             132         38           61
FBN               49           7           23
HLN             485        172         262
         
Primetime P2+ (000s) 25-54 (000s) 35-64 (000s)
FNC          2,002        293         676
CNN             367         96         164
MSNBC             644        198         310
CNBC             162         56           68
FBN               23           6           10
HLN             706        244         396

So as you can see, HLN bested CNN and MSNBC in Total Day viewers including the demo, and in Primetime both in total and demo.

Here's Tuesday:


    P2+ (000s) 25-54 (000s) 35-64 (000s)
Total Day        
FNC          1,082        230         438
CNN             344        109         154
MSNBC             393        118         180
CNBC             116         28           55
FBN               52           6           21
HLN             486        163         262
         
Primetime P2+ (000s) 25-54 (000s) 35-64 (000s)
FNC          1,741        310         615
CNN             454        150         210
MSNBC             695        210         339
CNBC             104         33           53
FBN               55         14           20
HLN             694        225         395

HLN again bested CNN and MSNBC in Total Day viewers Tuesday including the demo, and although it basically tied MSNBC while beating CNN in Primetime total, it beat both in the demo.

Here's Wednesday:


  P2+ (000s) 25-54 (000s) 35-64 (000s)
Total Day        
FNC         1,006            202            381
CNN           383            114            156
MSNBC           348            114            164
CNBC           143             36             75
FBN             47               5             20
HLN           433            154            239
         
Primetime P2+ (000s) 25-54 (000s) 35-64 (000s)
FNC         1,539            251            503
CNN           533            144            192
MSNBC           527            173            270
CNBC           153             63             85
FBN             49               3             13
HLN           560            215            308

HLN again beat CNN and MSNBC in Total Day viewers and the demo Wednesday, but lost to MSNBC in Primetime.

Here's Thursday:


    P2+ (000s) 25-54 (000s) 35-64 (000s)
Total Day        
FNC          1,133        226         437
CNN             366        108         158
MSNBC             375        123         174
CNBC             171         49           92
FBN               54           8           25
HLN             478        170         261
         
Primetime P2+ (000s) 25-54 (000s) 35-64 (000s)
FNC          2,044        285         705
CNN             528        160         253
MSNBC             721        228         327
CNBC             251         96         144
FBN               39         12           19
HLN             751        250         413

HLN beat CNN and MSNBC in all of these categories Thursday, and again Friday:


  P2+ (000s) 25-54 (000s) 35-64 (000s)
Total Day        
FNC         1,006            202            381
CNN           383            114            156
MSNBC           348            114            164
CNBC           143             36             75
FBN             47               5             20
HLN           433            154            239
         
Primetime P2+ (000s) 25-54 (000s) 35-64 (000s)
FNC         1,539            251            503
CNN           533            144            192
MSNBC           527            173            270
CNBC           153             63             85
FBN             49               3             13
HLN           560            215            308

Add it all up, and this was a very strong week for HLN over all of its competitors besides Fox making one wonder if Zucker's strategy at CNN is working and also if the momentum MSNBC had during last year's presidential campaign has seriously reversed.

Stay tuned.