The Iowa caucus results are in: FOX News Channel outpaced CNN and MSNBC in both total viewers and the key demographic on Tuesday night and Wednesday morning. In fact, FOX’s total viewership from the 2012 Iowa Caucuses skyrocketed compared to the 2008 Iowa Caucuses while CNN’s total viewership fell 36 percent.
While former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney was the real winner of the Iowa Caucuses, FOX’s coverage of the first early voting state bested CNN and MSNBC by more than 1 million total viewers in both primetime and extended coverage.
According to Nielsen Media Research’s early ratings, FOX pulled in 2.6 million viewers in primetime and 683,988 in the key demographic of 25-54. For comparison, CNN garnered 1.3 million viewers in primetime and 486,184 in 25-54. MSNBC finished in third place with 1.2 million viewers in primetime and 302,631 in 25-54.
FOX also led CNN and MSNBC in extended coverage of the Iowa Caucuses (7pm-3am). FOX pulled in 2.1 million viewers in extended coverage and 636,868 in 25-54. CNN managed to bring in 1 million viewers in extended coverage and 390,118 in 25-54. MSNBC brought in 932,412 viewers and 258,602 in 25-54.
FOX was also the only cable news network to increase its viewership in both P2+ and key demographic from the 2008 Iowa Caucuses. FOX’s total viewership jumped 30 percent from the 2008 Iowa Caucuses and 7 percent in 25-54.
