MSNBC’s Jen Psaki sees 47% dip in ratings last – Business News
The Psaki bomb has changed into a main Psaki dud for left-leaning MSNBC.
The embattled cable information community — which is anticipated to be spun off by guardian company Comcast later this 12 months — has seen ratings plunge practically 50% in the pivotal 9 p.m. slot since Jen Psaki took over full-time internet hosting duties from Rachel Maddow last month.
The 45-year-old anchor, who made a identify for herself together with her quick-witted “Psaki bombs” whereas serving as former President Joe Biden’s press secretary — however has since insisted she by no means noticed indicators of his mental decline — has drawn an average of 971,000 viewers since “The Briefing with Jen Psaki” debuted on May 6 by way of May 28, in line with the newest Nielsen ratings.
That’s a staggering 47% falloff from the eyeballs attracted by Maddow and Alex Wagner in the timeslot.
The drop-off is even more pronounced in the essential 25–54 age demographic prized by advertisers, the place she drew simply 78,000 viewers — a 52% decline in comparison with the 161,000 that Maddow and Wagner drew during their reveals this 12 months.
Jen Psaki’s prime time MSNBC debut has gotten off to a tough begin, in line with the newest Nielsen figures. MSNBC
“She’s kinda boring. She’s not a great broadcaster,” one media insider advised The Post on Tuesday
Maddow, the community’s highest paid star, returned to the anchor chair 5 days a week for the primary 100 days of the Trump administration earlier than going back to internet hosting her show simply on Mondays in the beginning of last month. Wagner was pushed out for Psaki.
Psaki’s promotion from her weekend gig was half of a sweeping lineup shakeup at MSNBC aimed toward injecting new power into prime time and broadening its appeal.
But early indicators recommend the overhaul by new MSNBC president Rebecca Kutler, who took over from Rashida Jones in January, has backfired.
Kutler rapidly canceled Joy Reid’s program “The ReidOut” and changed it with “The Weeknight,” a rip-off of Fox’s ratings champ “The Five.”
The roundtable show, co-hosted by Symone Sanders-Townsend, Alicia Menendez and Michael Steele, averaged 772,000 viewers in May — a 19% drop from the 955,000 “The ReidOut” pulled in during its remaining month in February, in line with Nielsen.
Psaki’s show drew simply 78,000 viewers from the advertiser-coveted 25-54 age demographic — a 52% decline in comparison with the 161,000 that Rachel Maddow (above) and Alex Wagner pulled during earlier 2025 broadcasts. MSNBC
Among the 25–54 demographic, the new crew averaged simply 72,000 viewers, down 20% from what the Trump-bashing Reid garnered.
Overall in primetime for May, MSNBC averaged 877,000 viewers, down 24% from the remaining of the 12 months. In the 25–54 demo, MSNBC averaged 73,000 viewers in primetime, a 34% drop.
Across the total broadcast day last month, the community drew 545,000 viewers, down 33%, and simply 49,000 in the important thing demo, a 41% decline.
MSNBC declined to remark.
“In May, four months into the presidency, survey data shows rising news fatigue across all networks,” mentioned a source close to the scenario.
The source added that Psaki has proven some indicators of progress regardless of the general downturn.
Wagner was faraway from her 9 p.m. prime time internet hosting slot from Tuesday by way of Friday as half of a lineup revamp. MSNBC
“’The Briefing’ builds on the audience of its 8 p.m. lead-in, which is a major improvement,” the insider mentioned.
News fatigue has apparently not affected Fox News’ stranglehold in the ratings race. The conservative community, which shares common possession with The Post, averaged 2.46 million viewers in prime time — up 23% — and 1.56 million throughout complete day programming.
In the demo, Fox pulled 262,000 viewers in prime time (up 32%) and 180,000 during the day (up 22%), in line with Nielsen.
MSNBC stays ensconced in second place in the cable information ratings race behind Fox News and forward of CNN.
Last-place CNN, in the meantime, continued to limp alongside, averaging simply 426,000 complete primetime viewers and 353,000 throughout the day, down 18% and 24%, respectively.
The most-watched cable information show in May was Fox News’ “The Five” with 3.77 million viewers, adopted by “Jesse Watters Primetime” at 3.23 million. Fox additionally dominated with different high packages together with “Gutfield!” (2.92 million), “Special Report with Brett Baier” (2.81 million), and “Hannity” (2.73 million), who competes towards Psaki.
Fox mentioned the community had “one of the highest rated quarters in cable news history.” The channel shares common possession with The Post. Ralf – stock.adobe.com
“Since the election, Fox News has delivered the top 1,013 cable news telecasts,” the company mentioned during an earnings call last month.
“This combination of an engaged audience and a dynamic news cycle led to record audience share in the quarter.”
