MSNBC’s Focus On Dayside Breaking News Helps Network Grow

The network is up 83 percent in daypart since Q1 last year

MSNBC President Phil Griffin, NBC News Chairman Andrew Lack, Brian Williams, Rachel Maddow (Getty Images)

It’s been roughly one year since Andy Lack returned to MSNBC with intentions of shaking up the network’s strategy, and his efforts appear to be working, as the cable news network finished the first quarter of 2016 with significant signs of growth.

MSNBC posted its best quarterly ratings in at least three years among total viewers and in the key demo of adults age 25-54 that daypart. The network’s dayside shakeup to focus on breaking news helped the network grow 83 percent, compared to the first quarter last year, while growing 133 percent in the demo.

MSNBC finished behind Fox News and CNN in total day viewers, but showed the most growth by gaining 59 percent since the first quarter last year. The same goes for the key demo. MSNBC finished third, but still managed to grow 54 percent.

During primetime, MSNBC grew 66 percent but failed to average 1 million viewers (888,000), while Fox News totaled 2.37 million and CNN brought in 1.42 million.

“Morning Joe” had its most-watched quarter ever, up 77 percent in viewers and up 83 percent in the demo. March wraps up with MSNBC showing demo growth in 10 consecutive months.

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