MSNBC and CNN face massive audience drop post-election

In the United States, following the recent presidential election, major cable news networks have experienced a significant decline in viewership. Nielsen ratings data revealed that MSNBC's primetime viewership plummeted by 53%, averaging 632,000 viewers for the week ending November 24, down from 1.34 million during the week ending November 3, just prior to the election. CNN also reported a substantial decrease of 47% in its audience size, raising questions about the networks' ability to maintain viewer interest after major electoral events. The decline in ratings is not surprising in the context of post-election trends, where news organizations often face decreased viewership after significant political events, as audiences typically shift focus away from constant coverage. Conversely, Fox News has managed to retain its audience relatively well, experiencing a minor drop from 2.67 million to 2.63 million viewers during the same period, highlighting the differing viewer engagement levels across these networks. On election night, Fox News led significantly with a primetime audience of 10 million, while MSNBC and CNN garnered 6 million and 5.1 million viewers, respectively. Notably, this marked the first instance where MSNBC outperformed CNN in terms of election night viewership since the network's inception in the 1990s. This could be an indication of shifting viewer loyalties and a desire for alternative perspectives in political news coverage. Amid these developments, high-profile figures like Elon Musk have expressed interest in the future of major news networks. Musk, a notable Trump supporter, hinted at the possibility of acquiring MSNBC while publicly criticizing it. These events reveal broader trends in media consumption in the U.S. and how political affiliations can influence viewership across different news outlets.