Cable News Nets Set Election Night Ratings Records

Cable news networks Tuesday set Election night ratings records as viewers tuned in throughout the night to watch Donald Trump’s march toward his historic Presidential election win, according to Nielsen Fast Nationals data.

During the 8 p.m. to 3 a.m. period during which Trump was declared the winner, Fox News averaged  a record 12.7 million viewers -- topping all cable news networks for the period -- while also setting single day digital and mobile video views and unqiue device usage, according to Nielsen.

CNN drew a record 13.3 million primetime viewers last night, besting the 12.2 million viewers it drew for the 2008 Presidential election and the 9.2 million the network garnered in 2012, according to Nielsen. CNN bested Fox News’ 12.1 million viewers and MSNBC’s 5.9 million viewers in primetime for the night, according to Nielsen.

Fox Business Network also set a record with 1 million total viewers during the 8 pm to 3 am time period, according to early Nielsen data. 

In addition, CNN averaged 6.6 million adult 25-54 year old viewers, ahead of Fox News’ 4.6 million and MSNBC’s 2.3 million watchers. CNN saw 27.7 million live streams of its Election Night in America coverage, peaking at 11:30 ET with 2.34 million concurrent viewers.  The network also registered 59 million total video starts for the day, said network officials.

Most Watched Cable Shows For Nov. 8 (by hour)

Show NetworkTime PeriodTotal Viewers

America's Election HQ                    Fox News                         12 am -1 am         15.4 million

America's Election HQ                   Fox News                          11 pm-12 am        14.5 million

Election Night In America              CNN                                   10 pm-11 pm       14.0 million

Eleciton Night In America              CNN                                   11 pm-12am        13.9 million

Election Night In America              CNN                                    9 pm-10 pm        13.7 million

America's Election HQ                  Fox News                           10 pm-11 pm       13.0 million

America's Election HQ                  Fox News                            9 pm-10 pm        12.2 million

Election Night In America             CNN                                     8 pm-9 pm          11.9 million

Election Night In America             CNN                                    12 am-1 am         11.7 million

Source: Nielsen

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.