CNN’s Harris-Walz Interview Draws Impressive 6 Million Viewers

Photo: Will Lanzoni/CNN

In a significant ratings triumph, Dana Bash’s interview with Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz captivated audiences on CNN this past Thursday evening. Early Nielsen Fast National data indicates that the interview attracted nearly 6 million viewers, outperforming competing cable news networks.

This interview was broadcast across CNN, CNN Max, and various digital platforms, accumulating substantial viewership on each medium. Bash engaged both Harris and Walz on a range of pressing topics, including Harris’ previous positions on significant issues, her potential willingness to include a Republican in her cabinet, discussions surrounding the economy, and former President Donald Trump’s remarks about her racial identity. Walz’s previous comments regarding his military service were also addressed during this insightful exchange.

According to Nielsen ratings, viewership for the interview tracked from 9 PM to 9:45 PM ET, bringing in a remarkable 5.987 million viewers for CNN. This figure eclipses the combined audience of Fox News and MSNBC, which garnered 2.582 million and 1.307 million viewers, respectively. It is noteworthy that the popular 9 PM Fox News program, Hannity, featured a guest host on this particular evening.

In terms of viewership demographics prized by advertisers, CNN reigned supreme once again, achieving 1.064 million viewers in the 25-54 age range. This number more than doubled the cumulative figures of Fox News and MSNBC, which registered 302,000 and 150,000 in this demographic, respectively.

CNN also garnered a strong online presence with impressive digital audience statistics. The total audience across the network’s owned and operated digital platforms reached 853,000 live starts, peaking at 9:09 PM ET. This marked an astonishing 691% increase compared to the previous four weeks.

Highlighting the importance of this interview, Brian Stelter noted that it represented CNN’s “best performance” in the 9 PM ET hour since the high-stakes debate between Trump and President Joe Biden in June, which attracted a whopping 9.681 million viewers and 3.398 million in the 25-54 demographic. Prior to that, CNN enjoyed its best ratings during Biden’s inauguration in January 2021, which saw 7.128 million viewers tuning in.

The strong viewership for Bash’s interview reflects a growing interest in political discourse as the presidential race intensifies. With the upcoming elections on the horizon, this interview could have had a significant impact on voter sentiment and public discourse as Harris and Walz offered insights into their outlook for the Democratic platform and governance.

As both administration representatives stood before the audience, their discussions on sensitive topics illuminated the current political landscape, eliciting responses from viewers eager to navigate the turbulent waters of contemporary American politics.

This momentous interview not only showcased the prominence of CNN as a media platform but also underscored the critical role of televised interviews in shaping public perception ahead of the elections. As networks vie for viewer attention in this competitive landscape, events like these are likely to remain pivotal in influencing both current and future political narratives.

Source: CNN