Smaller network triumphs in prime-time slot, outperforming well-known giants such as CNN and MSNBC
In a surprising turn of events, NewsNation, the up-and-coming cable news network, outperformed established players CNN and MSNBC during prime time on Saturday, 10th September 2025. This success came amidst heightened viewership driven by the breaking coverage of the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
The Saturday evening 'special report' surpassed CNN's Real Time with Bill Maher and MSNBC's The Weekend Primetime. NewsNation's 11 p.m. Special Report even beat MSNBC's 11th Hour with Stephanie Ruhle, which had re-aired a taped episode. At 7 p.m., NewsNation Prime with Natasha Zouves delivered 34,000 demo viewers, ahead of CNN Newsroom.
At 8 p.m., NewsNation Special Report, anchored by senior national correspondent Brian Entin, attracted 44,000 viewers in the advertiser-coveted 25-54 demographic. This was the first time NewsNation beat both CNN and MSNBC head-to-head in the demo during a single hour. The prime time show saw a 300 percent increase over NewsNation's year-to-date average in that time slot.
Sean Compton, President of Nexstar Networks, NewsNation's parent company, stated that the continued ratings momentum reaffirms their commitment to delivering unbiased news coverage. NewsNation has positioned itself as an alternative in a cable news landscape historically dominated by legacy players like CNN and MSNBC.
The success of NewsNation comes amidst a challenging landscape for traditional cable news networks. Fox News remained the most-watched network overall on Saturday night, but both CNN and MSNBC suffered steep declines, with CNN down 46 percent and MSNBC down 51 percent.
NewsNation has seen consistent growth, posting eight consecutive months of double-digit growth. The network is the fastest-growing cable news network, according to Forbes. The 'Killing of Charlie Kirk' special also included a report suggesting that facial recognition software had flagged the suspect in the killing to the FBI prior to the incident.
As MSNBC is set to be spun off by Comcast and rebranded as My Source News Opinion World (MS NOW) later this year, the future of cable news is likely to see more competition and innovation. NewsNation, with its focus on unbiased news coverage and consistent growth, is certainly one to watch.
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