MSNBC, CNN see drop in ratings post-election

MSNBC had a strong start on election night, surpassing CNN for the first time in its history. However, both channels witnessed a viewership decline after Donald Trump’s victory, as many left-leaning viewers turned off the networks.

For MSNBC, the ratings drop has been especially pronounced. The network averaged over 1 million viewers in the November 4 election week but only had 539,000 last week, the Washington Post reported.

According to Nielsen data, MSNBC’s primetime audience dropped from 1.34 million viewers the week before the election to just 632,000, a 53% decline. CNN also saw a 47% decrease in viewers, from 754,000 to 398,000.

Its popular Morning Joe show received backlash after hosts Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski visited Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort to “restart communications” with him. Several viewers boycotted the show.

The announcement of a spin-off from parent Comcast on November 20 has also raised concerns about the network’s future. Staff fear reduced ambition, a smaller team and less journalism. 

Despite a recent drop in ratings, some believe viewers will return once Trump’s presidency begins. The network’s direction remains uncertain, with ideological shifts at play.

MSNBC’s evolving brand, which has already attempted to integrate more conservative voices, faces challenges in maintaining its identity and alignment with its mission.