Lawrence O’Donnell’s Well Timed Tweet Wins Him Cable News Twitter on Thursday, August 21, 2014

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Lawrence O’Donnell won the best hour on Cable News Twitter, something I don’t know that I’ve seen before!  It was all because of retweets of this post:

  Lawrence O’Donnell

Breaking: Officer who shot Michael Brown did not file an incident report. Details @TheLastWord at 10pm

Thu Aug 21 21:50:58 EDT 2014

The post came out 10 minutes before the show, and received a very heavy volume of retweets, mentions, and replies, a large percentage of which fell during his broadcast.  Clearly, there’s a lesson there — release your bombshell news right before your broadcast!

Don Lemon managed to bring in the best day, overall, with CNN Tonight.  He’s still in Ferguson, getting lots of airtime, which generates engagement.  I have to say I like in the field Don Lemon a lot better than at the anchor desk Don Lemon.  It’s not quite Cronkite-goes-to-Vietnam, but whenever the anchors hit the road it adds a certain importance to the news.

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 2014-08-21

Top Shows for the day:

Category Mentions Show
Most Mentions During Hour 4709 MSNBC: The Last Word w/Lawrence O’Donnell
Most Mentions During Day 16171 CNN: CNN Tonight w/ Hosts

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 3 151 3 107 293,275 41% 59%
CNN CNN International 911 6,148 792 5,027 8,396,416 52% 48%
Fox News The Kelly File 1,015 8,833 679 4,956 82,237,825 61% 39%
MSNBC The Rachel Maddow Show 181 4,438 124 2,218 13,279,707 47% 53%

Ratings for 1 am

Network Show Twts Hour Twts Day UT Hour UT Day Reach Male Female
Al Jazeera Consider This 1 33 1 17 88,618 65% 35%
CNN CNN International 520 6,148 481 5,027 8,396,416 52% 48%
Fox News Hannity 397 13,006 249 8,981 69,169,109 59% 41%
MSNBC The Last Word w/Lawrence O’Donnell 279 10,065 199 4,968 22,517,204 46% 54%

Ratings for 2 am

Network Show Twts Hour Twts Day UT Hour UT Day Reach Male Female
Al Jazeera Real Money with Ali Velshi 1 41 1 34 67,498 53% 47%
CNN CNN International 463 6,148 420 5,027 8,396,416 52% 48%
Fox News On The Record w/Greta Van Susteren 44 5,976 35 3,692 16,972,269 52% 48%
HLN Nancy Grace 20 963 11 537 2,350,251 32% 68%
MSNBC Hardball w/Chris Matthews 18 1,263 11 748 2,972,315 61% 39%

Ratings for 3 am

Network Show Twts Hour Twts Day UT Hour UT Day Reach Male Female
Al Jazeera News 15 2,403 13 1,794 5,641,661 51% 49%
Al Jazeera Inside Story 0 17 0 8 78,707 33% 67%
CNN CNN International 371 6,148 328 5,027 8,396,416 52% 48%
Fox News RedEye 380 4,747 85 2,923 19,806,161 58% 42%

Ratings for 4 am

Network Show Twts Hour Twts Day UT Hour UT Day Reach Male Female
Al Jazeera America Tonight 1 151 1 107 293,275 41% 59%
Al Jazeera News 25 2,403 19 1,794 5,641,661 51% 49%
CNN Early Start 0 2 0 2 9,285 0% 0%
Fox News The Five 0 56 0 32 67,556 65% 35%

Ratings for 5 am

Network Show Twts Hour Twts Day UT Hour UT Day Reach Male Female
Al Jazeera News 23 2,403 19 1,794 5,641,661 51% 49%
Al Jazeera Real Money with Ali Velshi (3:30) 2 41 2 34 67,498 53% 47%
CNN Early Start 1 2 1 2 9,285 0% 0%
Fox News FoxFriendsFirst 36 123 26 89 692,167 77% 23%
MSNBC First Look (5-5:30) 0 0 0 0 0 0% 0%
MSNBC Way Too Early (5:30-6) 18 86 16 63 333,061 47% 53%

Ratings for 6 am

Network Show Twts Hour Twts Day UT Hour UT Day Reach Male Female
Al Jazeera News 29 2,403 27 1,794 5,641,661 51% 49%
CNN New Day 245 3,849 146 1,726 83,829,662 45% 55%
Fox News Fox And Friends 248 1,836 155 1,195 17,843,141 59% 41%
HLN Morning Express w/Robin Meade 22 186 21 139 193,737 60% 40%
MSNBC Morning Joe 944 4,573 301 1,764 12,416,907 53% 47%

Ratings for 7 am

Network Show Twts Hour Twts Day UT Hour UT Day Reach Male Female
Al Jazeera News 83 2,403 75 1,794 5,641,661 51% 49%
CNN New Day 395 3,849 225 1,726 83,829,662 45% 55%
Fox News Fox And Friends 430 1,836 281 1,195 17,843,141 59% 41%
HLN Morning Express w/Robin Meade 33 186 29 139 193,737 60% 40%
MSNBC Morning Joe 953 4,573 413 1,764 12,416,907 53% 47%

Ratings for 8 am

Network Show Twts Hour Twts Day UT Hour UT Day Reach Male Female
Al Jazeera News 63 2,403 47 1,794 5,641,661 51% 49%
CNN New Day 590 3,849 369 1,726 83,829,662 45% 55%
Fox News Fox And Friends 410 1,836 305 1,195 17,843,141 59% 41%
HLN Morning Express w/Robin Meade 27 186 20 139 193,737 60% 40%
MSNBC Morning Joe 1,069 4,573 487 1,764 12,416,907 53% 47%

Ratings for 9 am

Network Show Twts Hour Twts Day UT Hour UT Day Reach Male Female
Al Jazeera News 94 2,403 78 1,794 5,641,661 51% 49%
CNN News Room 7 104 5 60 279,688 46% 54%
Fox News America’s Newsroom 51 344 45 253 3,568,748 64% 36%
HLN Morning Express w/Robin Meade 26 186 17 139 193,737 60% 40%
MSNBC The Daily Run Down 35 410 26 317 2,386,206 64% 36%

Ratings for 10 am

Network Show Twts Hour Twts Day UT Hour UT Day Reach Male Female
Al Jazeera Consider This 0 33 0 17 88,618 65% 35%
CNN News Room 35 104 21 60 279,688 46% 54%
Fox News America’s Newsroom 96 344 72 253 3,568,748 64% 36%
HLN Morning Express w/Robin Meade 13 186 12 139 193,737 60% 40%
MSNBC José Díaz-Balart 146 570 72 332 18,528,225 42% 58%

Ratings for 11 am

Network Show Twts Hour Twts Day UT Hour UT Day Reach Male Female
Al Jazeera News 120 2,403 101 1,794 5,641,661 51% 49%
Al Jazeera Inside Story (11:30) 0 17 0 8 78,707 33% 67%
CNN @This Hour 398 876 382 807 28,292,959 49% 51%
Fox News Happening Now 16 67 10 48 289,520 74% 26%
HLN Morning Express w/Robin Meade 13 186 11 139 193,737 60% 40%
MSNBC News Nation w/ Tamron Hall 58 315 28 217 383,937 48% 52%

Ratings for 12 pm

Network Show Twts Hour Twts Day UT Hour UT Day Reach Male Female
Al Jazeera News 105 2,403 87 1,794 5,641,661 51% 49%
CNN Legal View w/Banfield 69 206 41 171 351,087 65% 35%
Fox News Outnumbered 976 3,043 544 1,751 6,214,834 66% 34%
HLN HLN Now 7 142 6 96 436,226 37% 63%
MSNBC Andrea Mitchell Reports 210 404 87 221 525,105 43% 57%

Ratings for 1 pm

Network Show Twts Hour Twts Day UT Hour UT Day Reach Male Female
Al Jazeera News 104 2,403 96 1,794 5,641,661 51% 49%
CNN Wolf 34 303 34 251 587,860 61% 39%
Fox News Happening Now 21 67 17 48 289,520 74% 26%
HLN HLN Now 13 142 12 96 436,226 37% 63%
MSNBC Ronan Farrow Daily 159 392 76 211 4,911,832 69% 31%

Ratings for 2 pm

Network Show Twts Hour Twts Day UT Hour UT Day Reach Male Female
Al Jazeera News 131 2,403 115 1,794 5,641,661 51% 49%
CNN News Room 16 104 7 60 279,688 46% 54%
Fox News The Real Story w/Gretchen Carlson 231 426 165 311 4,039,580 62% 38%
HLN HLN Now 19 142 15 96 436,226 37% 63%
MSNBC The Reid Report 536 2,658 284 1,469 9,964,624 42% 58%

Ratings for 3 pm

Network Show Twts Hour Twts Day UT Hour UT Day Reach Male Female
CNN News Room 5 104 5 60 279,688 46% 54%
Fox News Shepard Smith Reporting 46 599 33 475 906,526 59% 41%
HLN HLN Now 7 142 5 96 436,226 37% 63%
MSNBC The Cycle 180 401 80 214 2,325,335 60% 40%
MSNBC The Cycle (w/ Host Accounts) 225 686 105 426 3,048,184 67% 33%

Ratings for 4 pm

Network Show Twts Hour Twts Day UT Hour UT Day Reach Male Female
Al Jazeera News 189 2,403 139 1,794 5,641,661 51% 49%
CNN The Lead w/Jake Tapper 573 5,318 421 4,000 24,393,254 58% 42%
Fox News Your World 47 1,253 38 993 2,071,238 57% 43%
HLN HLN Now 13 142 8 96 436,226 37% 63%
MSNBC Now w/Alex Wagner 160 492 85 311 914,220 65% 35%

Ratings for 5 pm

Network Show Twts Hour Twts Day UT Hour UT Day Reach Male Female
Al Jazeera Inside Story (5-5:30) 11 17 3 8 78,707 33% 67%
CNN The Situation Room 46 303 32 251 587,860 61% 39%
Fox News The Five 27 56 17 32 67,556 65% 35%
Fox News The Five w/Hosts 1,753 8,586 1,031 5,192 37,262,320 64% 36%
MSNBC The Ed Show 2,005 3,465 825 1,416 10,286,578 56% 44%

Ratings for 6 pm

Network Show Twts Hour Twts Day UT Hour UT Day Reach Male Female
Al Jazeera News 169 2,403 150 1,794 5,641,661 51% 49%
CNN The Situation Room (6 – 6:30) 29 303 22 251 587,860 61% 39%
CNN Crossfire 0 0 0 0 0 0% 0%
CNN Crossfire With Hosts (6:30 – 7) 85 1,748 64 1,292 23,722,652 65% 35%
Fox News Special Report w/Bret Baier 114 362 85 284 1,704,943 64% 36%
MSNBC PoliticsNation w/ Al Sharpton 38 74 32 60 618,938 51% 49%

Ratings for 7 pm

Network Show Twts Hour Twts Day UT Hour UT Day Reach Male Female
Al Jazeera Real Money with Ali Velshi 3 41 3 34 67,498 53% 47%
CNN Out Front w/Erin Burnett 514 1,292 341 964 43,879,808 71% 29%
Fox News On The Record w/Greta Van Susteren 1,290 5,976 893 3,692 16,972,269 52% 48%
HLN Jane Velez-Mitchell 1 2 1 2 17 0% 100%
MSNBC Hardball w/ Chris Matthews 393 1,263 227 748 2,972,315 61% 39%

Ratings for 8 pm

Network Show Twts Hour Twts Day UT Hour UT Day Reach Male Female
Al Jazeera News 76 2,403 59 1,794 5,641,661 51% 49%
CNN Anderson Cooper 360 1,680 9,358 1,025 6,016 126,360,621 51% 49%
Fox News The O’Reilly Factor 251 1,434 197 1,024 6,896,061 64% 36%
HLN Nancy Grace 371 963 192 537 2,350,251 32% 68%
MSNBC All In w/ Chris Hayes 1,839 10,757 865 6,155 45,177,693 53% 47%

Ratings for 9 pm

Network Show Twts Hour Twts Day UT Hour UT Day Reach Male Female
CNN The Sixties 3 23 3 17 155,445 50% 50%
Fox News The Kelly File 4,041 8,833 2,197 4,956 82,237,825 61% 39%
HLN Dr Drew On Call 518 940 244 456 1,631,132 28% 72%
MSNBC The Rachel Maddow Show 1,784 4,438 748 2,218 13,279,707 47% 53%

Ratings for 10 pm

Network Show Twts Hour Twts Day UT Hour UT Day Reach Male Female
Al Jazeera Consider This 5 33 3 17 88,618 65% 35%
CNN The Sixties 0 23 0 17 155,445 50% 50%
CNN CNN Tonight w/ Hosts 1,536 16,171 1,215 10,807 113,524,264 61% 39%
Fox News Hannity 2,526 13,006 1,623 8,981 69,169,109 59% 41%
MSNBC The Last Word w/Lawrence O’Donnell 4,709 10,065 2,555 4,968 22,517,204 46% 54%

Ratings for 11 pm

Network Show Twts Hour Twts Day UT Hour UT Day Reach Male Female
Al Jazeera News 75 2,403 63 1,794 5,641,661 51% 49%
CNN CNN Tonight w/ Hosts 1,478 16,171 1,069 10,807 113,524,264 61% 39%
Comedy Central The Daily Show (11-11:30) 26 871 20 766 1,645,484 54% 46%
Comedy Central The Colbert Report (11:30-12am) 16 369 16 310 2,612,976 69% 31%
Fox News The O’Reilly Factor 76 1,434 63 1,024 6,896,061 64% 36%
MSNBC All In w/Chris Hayes 562 10,757 412 6,155 45,177,693 53% 47%

 

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.

CCable 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.