CNN wins high ratings with event on guns
CNN scored big on the ratings front Wednesday night with its town hall event on gun violence, which delivered nearly three million viewers, making it the most-watched program on cable news, according to Nielsen Media Research.
The two-hour event hosted by “State of the Union” and “The Lead” host Jake Tapper registered 2.9 million viewers, topping Fox News and MSNBC, which captured 2.45 million and 2.3 million viewers, respectively.
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In the key 25-54 demographic, CNN also finished first with 1.1 million viewers. Fox News was second with 534,000 viewers in the category, while MSNBC was third with 490,000.
CNN usually finishes third in primetime behind MSNBC and Fox News, but the Wednesday Town Hall nearly tripled its usual overall viewership.
Fox News still won the overall battle for primetime in total viewers with 2.5 million, edging CNN’s 2.402 million and MSNBC’s 2.24 million.
The discussion included Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Sen. Bill Nelson (D-Fla.), Rep. Ted Deutch (D-Fla.) and National Rifle Association spokeswoman Dana Loesch.
A day after the town hall and a White House listening session with survivors of last week’s Florida high school shooting, President Trump signaled support for new gun measures.
“I will be strongly pushing Comprehensive Background Checks with an emphasis on Mental Health. Raise age to 21 and end sale of Bump Stocks! Congress is in a mood to finally do something on this issue – I hope!,” Trump wrote to his 48.1 million followers on Twitter.
I will be strongly pushing Comprehensive Background Checks with an emphasis on Mental Health. Raise age to 21 and end sale of Bump Stocks! Congress is in a mood to finally do something on this issue – I hope!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 22, 2018
– This story was updated at 6:40 p.m.
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