Viewers Tune Into Fox News For Obama Speech

By R. Thomas Umstead
published

Cable news network viewers flocked to Fox News Sunday to view President Obama’s primetime address to the nation.

Fox drew 3.3 million viewers from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Sunday, besting CNN’s 1.7 million viewers and MSNBC’s 861,000 viewers. Fox was also tops among the target 25-54 demo, averaging 695,000 viewers to CNN’s 536,000 watchers.

CNN was tops among the 25-54 demo during the 8 to 8:15 pm speech, reaching 745,000 viewers in the demo compared to Fox News’ 708,000. Overall Fox drew 3.1 million for the 15-minute speech block, ahead of CNN’s 2.2 million viewers, according to Nielsen.  

R. Thomas Umstead
R. Thomas Umstead

R. Thomas Umstead serves as senior content producer, programming for Multichannel News, Broadcasting + Cable and Next TV. During his more than 30-year career as a print and online journalist, Umstead has written articles on a variety of subjects ranging from TV technology, marketing and sports production to content distribution and development. He has provided expert commentary on television issues and trends for such TV, print, radio and streaming outlets as Fox News, CNBC, the Today show, USA Today, The New York Times and National Public Radio. Umstead has also filmed, produced and edited more than 100 original video interviews, profiles and news reports featuring key cable television executives as well as entertainers and celebrity personalities.