Fox News beat competitors CNN and MSNBC for most total eyeballs on the screen as impeached President Donald Trump was acquitted by the Senate Wednesday, according to early Nielsen data.
Fox News brought in a total of 5.515 million average viewers between 5 p.m. ET and 6 p.m. ET, when the vote took place. The network saw 923,000 viewers in the advertiser-coveted age demographic of 25-54. MSNBC had the next-highest total of overall viewers with 2.059 million, but the least amount of viewers in the demo, with 268,000.
CNN brought in 1.596 million total average viewers, of whom 309,000 were between 25-54.
MSNBC edged into second place in the demo during primetime, though Fox News still won overall. Fox News brought in 4.999 million total average viewers between 8 p.m. ET and 11 p.m. ET, as analysis of the day’s events unfolded. 872,000 of those viewers were in the demo. MSNBC had 2.403 million total average viewers at that time, of whom 381,000 were in the demo. CNN saw 1.072 million total average viewers. Of those, 326,000 were between 25-54.
The Senate voted to acquit Trump on both articles of impeachment against him Wednesday, ending the months-long saga that began when House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced the impeachment inquiry last fall.
34 “not guilty” votes were needed for each article to acquit Trump. Senators voted 52-48 in favor of acquitting the president of the first article of impeachment — abuse of power. They voted 53-47 in favor of acquitting him on the second article — obstruction of Congress. In December, the House impeached Trump on both charges. The House voted on the two articles of impeachment, drafted by the House Judiciary Committee.