The CNN New Year’s Eve special hosted by Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen proved to be a big hit, breaking records and garnering increased viewership. The live celebration captivated audiences and drew in a staggering 2.33 million viewers during primetime across multiple platforms over a two-day period. Notably, 802,000 of those viewers were among the coveted adults aged 25-54 demographic. This marks a 12% surge from the previous year, making it the second-largest audience recorded since the show’s inception in 2007. The 2020 special still holds the record with 2.6 million total viewers.
Record-Breaking Peak Viewership
The New Year’s Eve special reached its peak viewership during the 11 pm-12:30 am block, attracting a massive audience of 3.4 million viewers. Amongst this group, 1.24 million viewers belonged to the key adults aged 25-54 cable demographic. It was evident that people eagerly awaited the stroke of midnight to welcome the new year.
Digital Viewing Boost
When factoring in digital viewing, the combined average audience across platforms surged to 3.44 million total viewers. The digital audience provided an additional 0.8% lift to CNN’s TV average audience for New Year’s Eve. On the Max platform, CNN experienced its most successful day since the launch of the new 24/7 live stream beta for Max subscribers.
Comparison with Fox News Channel
In comparison, Fox News Channel’s “A New Year with Tyrus” garnered nearly 1 million viewers during its 11 pm-12 am airing window. Meanwhile, “Who Can Forget 2023?” recorded 757,000 total viewers during the 10-11 pm hour-block. CNN’s New Year’s Eve special clearly outperformed these competing programs in terms of viewership.
Late Night Success
Following the 12:30 pm block, CNN continued its successful run with the late-night live airing of “New Year’s Eve with Sara Sidner and Cari Champion” from Austin. This program claimed the number one spot in cable, attracting 1.082 million total viewers, including 422,000 in the key adults aged 25-54 demographic.
This impressive performance by CNN’s New Year’s Eve special showcases the enduring appeal of live celebrations and the undeniable chemistry between hosts Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen. With a 12% increase in viewership, this year’s special stands as a testament to CNN’s ability to engage and entertain audiences across multiple platforms. To read more about this record-breaking event, please visit F5mag.com.