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    CNN tops Nielsen cable ratings for election week, Biden’s speech

    By SHOOTUpdated:No Comments6332 Views
    President-elect Joe Biden gestures to supporters Saturday, Nov. 7, 2020, in Wilmington, Del. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

    By Lynn Elber, Television Writer

    LOS ANGELES (AP) --

    CNN and Fox News Channel battled for viewers on the election day that turned into an election week and then some, each earning bragging rights.

    CNN edged Fox among total viewers for the week, averaging 5.9 million viewers to Fox's 5.7 million. The latter was dominant on Tuesday as President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden faced off at the polls.

    Fox averaged 14.1 million viewers Tuesday to CNN's 9.4 million, with MSNBC drawing 7.6 million, according to Nielsen figures. But CNN was tops among those watching Biden's Saturday evening speech after the race was called in his favor, with 13.5 million tuning in.

    MSNBC's coverage of the event drew 9 million viewers, while Fox was watched by 3.1 million.

    For the week, MSNBC averaged 4.6 million viewers.

    Cable channels were the preferred option for those following the election, as the broadcast networks lagged behind individually and cumulatively. Their Tuesday viewership was ABC, 6.3 million; NBC, 5.8 million; CBS, 4.5 million.

    Fox host Laura Ingraham's show, "The Ingraham Angle," had its highest-rated week ever, with an average of 4.9 million viewers.

    Viewers also kept an eye on football and the pandemic-delayed season premieres of returning shows, including CBS' "Young Sheldon" and "NCIS: Los Angeles," each drawing 6 million-plus viewers.

    Powered by a NFL game, NBC was the week's most-watched network in primetime, reaching an average of 6.33 million viewers. CBS had 4.95 million, the Fox broadcasting network had 4.3 million, ABC had 4.1 million, Univision had 1.34 million, Telemundo had 1.1 million, Ion Television had 1.09 million and CW had 580,000.

    Besides the news channels, other cable leaders included ESPN with 2.2 million viewers, Hallmark with 1.5 million and HGTV with 1 million.

    ABC's "World News Tonight" led the evening newscasts, averaging 9.4 million viewers for the week. NBC's "Nightly News" had 8.2 million and the "CBS Evening News" had 5.7 million.

    For the week of Nov. 2-8, the 20 most-watched programs, their networks and viewership:

    1. NFL Football: New Orleans at Tampa Bay, NBC, 16.88 million.
    2. Election coverage (Tuesday), Fox News Channel, 14. 6 million.
    3. Election coverage (Tuesday), Fox News Channel, 14.5 million.
    4. "60 Minutes," CBS, 14 million.
    5. Election coverage (Tuesday), Fox News Channel, 13.7 million.
    6. NFL Football: Green Bay at San Francisco, Fox, 13.54 million.
    7. Election coverage (Saturday), CNN, 13.5 million.
    8. Election coverage (Tuesday), Fox News Channel, 13.4 million.
    9. "NFL Pre-Game," NBC, 12.5 million.
    10. NFL Football: Tampa Bay at New York Giants, ESPN, 12.2 million.
    11. "NFL Post-Game," Fox, 11.7 million.
    12. Election coverage (Tuesday), Fox News Channel, 11.6 million.
    13. Election coverage (Tuesday), Fox News Channel, 10.3 million.
    14. Election coverage (Tuesday), CNN, 9.8 million.
    15. "Football Night in America," NBC, 9.7 million.
    16. Election coverage (Tuesday), CNN, 9.4 million.
    17. Election coverage (Tuesday), CNN, 9.2 million.
    18. Election coverage (Saturday), MSNBC, 9 million.
    19. "NFL Pre-Game," Fox, 8.9 million.
    20. Election coverage (Saturday), CNN, 8.7 million.

    Tags:CNNFox NewsJoe BidenNielsen



    DirecTV calls off acquisition of rival Dish, possibly ending a yearslong pursuit

    Friday, November 22, 2024
    Dish Network satellite dishes are shown at an apartment complex in Palo Alto, Calif., Feb. 23, 2011. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma, File)

    DirecTV is calling off its planned acquisition of rival Dish after the offer was rejected by bond holders at that company.

    The deal was reliant on Dish bond holders agreeing to trade in the debt they held for debt in the new company, a swap that would have cost them about $1.6 billion, collectively.

    The retreat by DirecTV this week may end a years-long effort by the company to acquire both Dish and Sling after it announced the bid in September.

    DirecTV was looking to acquire Dish TV and Sling TV from its owner EchoStar in a debt exchange transaction that included a payment of $1, plus the assumption of approximately $9.8 billion in debt. The deal was contingent on several factors, including regulatory approvals and bondholders writing off debt related to Dish.

    "While we believed a combination of DirecTV and Dish would have benefited all stakeholders, we have terminated the transaction because the proposed exchange terms were necessary to protect DirecTV's balance sheet and our operational flexibility," DirecTV CEO Bill Morrow said in a statement.

    The prospect of a DirecTV-Dish combo has long been rumored, and reported talks resurfaced over the years. And the two almost merged more than two decades ago — but the Federal Communications Commission blocked the deal valued at the time at $18.5 billion deal, citing antitrust concerns.

    The pay-for-TV market has shifted significantly since. As more and more consumers tune into online streaming platforms, demand for more traditional satellite entertainment continues to shrink.

    DirecTV says that it will continue to invest in next-generation streaming platforms and offer new packaging options while integrating content from live TV alongside direct-to-consumer... Read More

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