Colbert wins Cable News Twitter on his Finale (12/18/14)

Stephen Colbert left the air on top of Cable News Twitter, winning both Best Day and Best Hour. Following Colbert for best hour was the 6pm showing of Colbert, Hannity, Kelly, and Schultz:

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Raw data: 2014-12-18-ShowStats.csv and 2014-12-18 Schedule.csv

Note that all times are US Eastern Time. See notes at end for further explanations. For earlier articles on cable news twitter ratings, please see this.

Cable News Twitter Ratings for 2014-12-18

Top Shows for the day:

Category Mentions Show
Most Mentions During Hour 12729 Comedy Central: The Colbert Report
Most Mentions During Day 43582 Comedy Central: The Colbert Report

Ratings for individual time slots

Ratings for 12 am

Network Show Twts Hour Twts Day UT Hour UT Day Reach Male Female
Al Jazeera America Tonight 1 392 1 362 1,477,886 42% 58%
CNN Sombody’s Gotta Do It 7 101 7 90 99,616 62% 38%
Fox News The Kelly File 278 4,845 231 2,913 48,775,002 60% 40%
MSNBC The Rachel Maddow Show 76 2,945 64 1,449 11,340,509 53% 47%

Ratings for 1 am

Network Show Twts Hour Twts Day UT Hour UT Day Reach Male Female
Al Jazeera Consider This 0 14 0 12 271,548 83% 17%
CNN CNN International 124 4,179 117 3,322 158,923,072 58% 42%
Fox News Hannity 360 11,525 211 5,744 125,562,455 66% 34%
MSNBC The Last Word w/Lawrence O’Donnell 31 1,122 26 710 5,488,616 60% 40%

Ratings for 2 am

Network Show Twts Hour Twts Day UT Hour UT Day Reach Male Female
CNN CNN International 211 4,179 201 3,322 158,923,072 58% 42%
Fox News On The Record w/Greta Van Susteren 46 3,851 36 2,388 22,482,193 60% 40%
HLN Nancy Grace 37 552 21 307 486,069 35% 65%
MSNBC Hardball w/Chris Matthews 12 953 10 559 3,937,240 69% 31%

Ratings for 3 am

Network Show Twts Hour Twts Day UT Hour UT Day Reach Male Female
Al Jazeera News 62 1,304 22 974 4,949,105 65% 35%
Al Jazeera Inside Story 0 10 0 9 19,605 67% 33%
CNN CNN International 119 4,179 113 3,322 158,923,072 58% 42%
Fox News RedEye 769 2,582 123 1,273 18,781,935 72% 28%
MSNBC All In w/Chris Hayes 10 1,939 9 940 6,916,910 52% 48%

Ratings for 4 am

Network Show Twts Hour Twts Day UT Hour UT Day Reach Male Female
Al Jazeera America Tonight 0 392 0 362 1,477,886 42% 58%
CNN Early Start 12 197 9 100 2,213,817 90% 10%
Fox News The Five 7 1,150 3 688 2,157,092 76% 24%
MSNBC The Rachel Maddow Show 17 2,945 15 1,449 11,340,509 53% 47%

Ratings for 5 am

Network Show Twts Hour Twts Day UT Hour UT Day Reach Male Female
Al Jazeera News 27 1,304 24 974 4,949,105 65% 35%
CNN Early Start 33 197 27 100 2,213,817 90% 10%
Fox News FoxFriendsFirst 51 190 42 137 560,245 82% 18%
MSNBC First Look (5-5:30) 0 6 0 6 2,670 100% 0%
MSNBC Way Too Early (5:30-6) 62 171 46 126 4,361,425 73% 27%

Ratings for 6 am

Network Show Twts Hour Twts Day UT Hour UT Day Reach Male Female
Al Jazeera News 27 1,304 27 974 4,949,105 65% 35%
Al Jazeera Real Money with Ali Velshi (3:30) 1 18 1 16 188,912 67% 33%
CNN New Day 190 1,786 142 1,159 64,944,293 61% 39%
Fox News Fox And Friends 376 3,399 250 2,170 24,880,962 63% 37%
HLN Morning Express w/Robin Meade 7 168 7 140 1,040,270 62% 38%
MSNBC Morning Joe 993 3,902 354 1,434 24,575,140 50% 50%

Ratings for 7 am

Network Show Twts Hour Twts Day UT Hour UT Day Reach Male Female
Al Jazeera News 33 1,304 29 974 4,949,105 65% 35%
CNN New Day 343 1,786 234 1,159 64,944,293 61% 39%
Fox News Fox And Friends 504 3,399 340 2,170 24,880,962 63% 37%
HLN Morning Express w/Robin Meade 6 168 4 140 1,040,270 62% 38%
MSNBC Morning Joe 1,269 3,902 501 1,434 24,575,140 50% 50%

Ratings for 8 am

Network Show Twts Hour Twts Day UT Hour UT Day Reach Male Female
Al Jazeera News 80 1,304 67 974 4,949,105 65% 35%
CNN New Day 257 1,786 203 1,159 64,944,293 61% 39%
Fox News Fox And Friends 572 3,399 396 2,170 24,880,962 63% 37%
HLN Morning Express w/Robin Meade 8 168 7 140 1,040,270 62% 38%
MSNBC Morning Joe 651 3,902 333 1,434 24,575,140 50% 50%

Ratings for 9 am

Network Show Twts Hour Twts Day UT Hour UT Day Reach Male Female
Al Jazeera News 79 1,304 73 974 4,949,105 65% 35%
Al Jazeera Inside Story 0 10 0 9 19,605 67% 33%
CNN News Room 2 77 2 27 80,406 62% 38%
Comedy Central The Daily Show 125 2,360 118 1,970 7,284,137 60% 40%
Comedy Central The Colbert Report 992 43,582 919 34,591 441,175,890 64% 36%
Fox News America’s Newsroom 140 350 92 226 11,329,479 67% 33%
HLN Morning Express w/Robin Meade 5 168 5 140 1,040,270 62% 38%
MSNBC The Rundown w/José Díaz-Balart 96 516 63 319 9,832,291 57% 43%

Ratings for 10 am

Network Show Twts Hour Twts Day UT Hour UT Day Reach Male Female
Al Jazeera News 50 1,304 37 974 4,949,105 65% 35%
CNN News Room 3 77 2 27 80,406 62% 38%
Fox News America’s Newsroom 70 350 47 226 11,329,479 67% 33%
HLN Morning Express w/Robin Meade 7 168 6 140 1,040,270 62% 38%
MSNBC The Rundown w/José Díaz-Balart 132 516 87 319 9,832,291 57% 43%

Ratings for 11 am

Network Show Twts Hour Twts Day UT Hour UT Day Reach Male Female
Al Jazeera Consider This 0 14 0 12 271,548 83% 17%
CNN @This Hour 54 189 43 139 3,561,249 72% 28%
Fox News Happening Now 44 146 34 120 4,884,261 61% 39%
HLN Morning Express w/Robin Meade 7 168 6 140 1,040,270 62% 38%
MSNBC News Nation w/ Tamron Hall 68 363 50 267 3,035,881 56% 44%

Ratings for 12 pm

Network Show Twts Hour Twts Day UT Hour UT Day Reach Male Female
Al Jazeera News 88 1,304 83 974 4,949,105 65% 35%
CNN Legal View w/Banfield 26 133 20 68 397,884 59% 41%
Fox News Outnumbered 839 1,883 481 1,156 16,654,971 74% 26%
HLN HLN Now 2 129 2 74 199,685 18% 82%
MSNBC Andrea Mitchell Reports 161 434 123 320 5,663,015 58% 42%

Ratings for 1 pm

Network Show Twts Hour Twts Day UT Hour UT Day Reach Male Female
Al Jazeera News 65 1,304 50 974 4,949,105 65% 35%
CNN Wolf 64 760 55 586 2,278,673 68% 32%
Fox News Happening Now 18 146 15 120 4,884,261 61% 39%
HLN HLN Now 7 129 5 74 199,685 18% 82%
MSNBC Ronan Farrow Daily 170 634 76 431 7,015,674 60% 40%

Ratings for 2 pm

Network Show Twts Hour Twts Day UT Hour UT Day Reach Male Female
Al Jazeera News 62 1,304 54 974 4,949,105 65% 35%
CNN News Room 1 77 1 27 80,406 62% 38%
Fox News The Real Story w/Gretchen Carlson 111 370 80 243 1,638,780 72% 28%
HLN HLN Now 0 129 0 74 199,685 18% 82%
MSNBC The Reid Report 290 989 100 555 4,099,517 39% 61%

Ratings for 3 pm

Network Show Twts Hour Twts Day UT Hour UT Day Reach Male Female
CNN News Room 1 77 1 27 80,406 62% 38%
Fox News Shepard Smith Reporting 86 236 72 191 720,974 71% 29%
HLN HLN Now 15 129 12 74 199,685 18% 82%
MSNBC The Cycle 41 168 29 109 1,491,586 70% 30%
MSNBC The Cycle (w/ Host Accounts) 59 784 44 589 4,018,197 67% 33%

Ratings for 4 pm

Network Show Twts Hour Twts Day UT Hour UT Day Reach Male Female
Al Jazeera News 47 1,304 36 974 4,949,105 65% 35%
CNN The Lead w/Jake Tapper 105 1,438 89 1,046 9,821,137 70% 30%
Fox News Your World 171 1,141 124 887 2,829,119 63% 37%
HLN HLN Now 23 129 13 74 199,685 18% 82%
MSNBC Now w/Alex Wagner 97 224 75 178 695,580 71% 29%

Ratings for 5 pm

Network Show Twts Hour Twts Day UT Hour UT Day Reach Male Female
Al Jazeera Inside Story (5-5:30) 6 10 5 9 19,605 67% 33%
CNN The Situation Room 61 760 51 586 2,278,673 68% 32%
Fox News The Five 697 1,150 388 688 2,157,092 76% 24%
Fox News The Five w/Hosts 1,040 3,827 588 2,438 15,291,184 73% 27%
HLN What Would You Do? 0 0 0 0 0 0% 0%
MSNBC The Ed Show 1,313 2,403 458 924 11,669,871 58% 42%

Ratings for 6 pm

Network Show Twts Hour Twts Day UT Hour UT Day Reach Male Female
Al Jazeera News 68 1,304 64 974 4,949,105 65% 35%
CNN The Situation Room (6 – 6:30) 107 760 94 586 2,278,673 68% 32%
Comedy Central The Daily Show 121 2,360 106 1,970 7,284,137 60% 40%
Comedy Central The Colbert Report 2,966 43,582 2,763 34,591 441,175,890 64% 36%
Fox News Special Report w/Bret Baier 186 966 132 700 3,431,600 64% 36%
MSNBC PoliticsNation w/ Al Sharpton 61 146 48 99 1,266,191 62% 38%

Ratings for 7 pm

Network Show Twts Hour Twts Day UT Hour UT Day Reach Male Female
Al Jazeera Real Money with Ali Velshi 1 18 1 16 188,912 67% 33%
CNN Out Front w/Erin Burnett 161 415 114 285 2,310,075 84% 16%
Fox News On The Record w/Greta Van Susteren 936 3,851 605 2,388 22,482,193 60% 40%
MSNBC Hardball w/ Chris Matthews 292 953 157 559 3,937,240 69% 31%

Ratings for 8 pm

Network Show Twts Hour Twts Day UT Hour UT Day Reach Male Female
Al Jazeera News 65 1,304 56 974 4,949,105 65% 35%
CNN Anderson Cooper 360 307 2,275 238 1,694 34,870,546 49% 51%
Fox News The O’Reilly Factor 267 1,574 204 1,152 6,399,061 66% 34%
HLN Nancy Grace 49 552 35 307 486,069 35% 65%
MSNBC All In w/ Chris Hayes 886 1,939 307 940 6,916,910 52% 48%

Ratings for 9 pm

Network Show Twts Hour Twts Day UT Hour UT Day Reach Male Female
CNN Parts Unknown 136 880 99 545 11,954,582 53% 47%
Fox News The Kelly File 2,305 4,845 1,244 2,913 48,775,002 60% 40%
HLN Dr Drew On Call 288 601 156 366 7,602,366 36% 64%
MSNBC The Rachel Maddow Show 1,260 2,945 493 1,449 11,340,509 53% 47%

Ratings for 10 pm

Network Show Twts Hour Twts Day UT Hour UT Day Reach Male Female
Al Jazeera Consider This 2 14 2 12 271,548 83% 17%
CNN CNN Tonight w/ Hosts 195 2,074 122 1,425 13,117,749 66% 34%
Fox News Hannity 2,577 11,525 1,343 5,744 125,562,455 66% 34%
MSNBC The Last Word w/Lawrence O’Donnell 467 1,122 268 710 5,488,616 60% 40%

Ratings for 11 pm

Network Show Twts Hour Twts Day UT Hour UT Day Reach Male Female
Al Jazeera News 32 1,304 27 974 4,949,105 65% 35%
CNN Anderson Cooper 360 146 2,275 136 1,694 34,870,546 49% 51%
Comedy Central The Daily Show 434 2,360 353 1,970 7,284,137 60% 40%
Comedy Central The Colbert Report 12,729 43,582 10,474 34,591 441,175,890 64% 36%
Fox News The O’Reilly Factor 100 1,574 84 1,152 6,399,061 66% 34%
MSNBC All In w/Chris Hayes 125 1,939 97 940 6,916,910 52% 48%

 


Definition of terms used in this report:

  • Network: For the purposes of total network mentions, the count is the total unique tweets that mention any of the shows tracked on the network or the network’s general Twitter account (e.g., @CNN).
  • Mentions During Hour or Tweets Hour: The number of tweets that mention the show during the hour specified. For shows that are repeat later in the day, the first (and often live) showing usually garners the most mentions by a significant margin.
  • Mentions During day or Tweets Day: The total number of mentions a show received from midnight to midnight, eastern time.
  • Tweet Count: The number of tweets (including retweets) that mention a show.
  • Unique Tweeters (Also labeled ‘UT‘): The number of Twitter users who have sent one or more tweets mentioning a show. If a user sends more than one tweet, they still only count once. For individual shows, both the unique tweeters during an hour as well as throughout the day are shown.
  • Reach: A measure of the number of impressions a collection of tweets could make. For each tweet that is sent, I add up how many people follow the person tweeting it — how many timelines that tweet will show up in. Thus, if network A has 10,000 mentions from people with an average of 10 followers, the reach will be 100,000. On the other hand, if network B has 10,000 mentions from people with an average of 100 followers, the reach will be 1,000,000. So network B has much greater reach: tweets mentioning network B will potentially be seen 10 times as often as tweets about network A. There’s no guarantee that that many people actually see or read the tweet; in fact, it’s probably safe to say a very small fraction do. For individual shows, reach is only calculate on the entire day’s tweets: there’s no point in assuming that people read the tweets in real time.
  • Male / Female: An estimate of the demographics of a show’s audience. Note that this number is an imprecise estimate.

Cable News Twitter Ratings are still experimental. If you have any suggestions, find any errors, or have any questions, please feel free to contact me at admin@socialseer.com

For further discussion of how these stats are calculated, please see this blog post. Especially the part about how I determine the gender of Twitter users.