MSNBC beat Fox News in primetime in both total viewers, and the key age demographic

MSNBC ends Fox News’ 120-week run as the top rated cable news network. Last week, MSNBC beat Fox News in primetime in both total viewers, and the key age demographic.

This was only the fourth time in MSNBC’s 27-year history ending a week at number one in prime time in total viewers, the last time being the week of Feb. 8, 2021. Moreover, this was only the second time MSNBC has ever won prime time in both total viewers and in the demo for a week. The only other time was the week of Dec. 17, 2018.

MSNBC beat Fox News last week in prime time in both total viewers and in the key 25-54 age demographic, ending a 120-week winning streak for Fox in prime time. MSNBC saw a surge in the ratings surrounding the federal indictment of Donald Trump and not only scored its best week since the 2022 midterm elections, but also ended the week as the most-watched network on cable television for the first time in over two years, since February of 2021.

The primetime broadcast was showing Joe Biden’s speech in Washington, DC, side by side with Trump’s rally in Bedminster, New Jersey. 

When Hannity started on screen at 9pm, the controversial chyron went away. 

But the chyron calling Biden a ‘wannabe dictator,’ which was live on Fox News for 30 seconds, caused fierce outrage on social media.  One person said: ‘Why would a large network news channel like Fox let some disgruntled conspiracy theorist in the back control the chyron.’ 

Another person, sharing an image of the broadcast, mocked the news outlet with the caption: ”Fair and Balanced News.”

A third stated: ‘I expect Fox to go lower than low but talk about fanning the flames.’ 

Others made light of the situation, writing: ‘Fox took off the gloves.’ 

Another contended: ‘Oh, dear. Seems Fox forgot how much they lost in the Dominion case.’ 

The chyron came in the middle of Trump’s blistering and defiant speech from his New Jersey golf club hours after pleading not guilty to federal charges – calling it ‘a political persecution like something out of a fascist or communist nation.’

‘I did everything right and they indicted me,’ he complained while surrounded by supporters back on his home turf after his day dealing with the criminal justice system.

Trump was arraigned Tuesday on more than 30 charges related to his handling of classified documents that federal prosecutors say put U.S. national security at risk.

Trump, who is running for the Republican nomination for president in 2024, pleaded not guilty to all of the charges against him and has repeatedly dismissed the allegations against him as political persecution carried out by Biden’s Department of Justice.

In recent months, the former president has relentlessly attacked Fox, the top dog in cable news, over its coverage of GOP primary rival and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and refusal to back his false claims of voter fraud. Yet, the former president is slated to sit for an interview with the network’s chief political anchor Bret Baier early next week.