Rachel Maddow Gets Brutal Ratings Update As Americans Flock To Fox News

MSNBC’s leading anchor, Rachel Maddow, has found herself grappling with declining ratings amid a significant post-election shakeup in cable news viewership. The liberal network has seen a dramatic drop in its audience since President-elect Donald Trump’s victory, with Maddow’s show hit particularly hard—falling behind even a rerun of Ancient Aliens in a recent ratings comparison.

Nielsen Media Research reported that MSNBC lost 47% of its total-day audience compared to pre-election averages, now drawing 497,000 viewers. In the coveted 25-54 age demographic for advertisers, the network has seen numbers shrink to just 49,000. These struggles are not limited to MSNBC; CNN has also experienced a significant drop, losing 33% of its total-day viewers and averaging 357,000, with 65,000 in the key demo, The Independent reported.

Primetime has proven particularly challenging for both networks. MSNBC’s audience has plunged 52%, bringing its primetime total to 644,000 viewers, with only 63,000 in the 25-54 demographic. CNN’s primetime ratings are down 39%, drawing 453,000 viewers. The losses come as Fox News enjoys a surge in post-election viewership, climbing 24% year-to-date with an average of 3 million viewers in primetime, solidifying its dominance in the cable news space.

Maddow, MSNBC’s marquee personality, has seen her flagship show struggle to retain viewers in a polarized post-election media landscape. Critics argue that her hard-hitting analysis of Trump and his administration, while a draw for her core audience, may not resonate as strongly in a political climate favoring conservative narratives.

Maddow, who once commanded a staggering $30 million annual salary, has reportedly re-upped her contract for a fraction of that amount. She has renegotiated her contract for a $25 million salary over the next five years. According to The Ankler, Maddow’s deal was quietly renewed earlier this fall under vastly different terms.

“This is a difficult time and they needed to keep her,” an executive explained to The Ankler. “No one else can do what she does. You can’t build a brand like it overnight.” Another executive referred to Maddow as “ratings Viagra.”

Tensions have reportedly been brewing among MSNBC staff, as some staff members and on-air personalities are upset with the amount of attention being devoted to the longtime host according to a recent report from In Touch Weekly.

“Rachel is the Beyoncé of the group, but she’s getting all the attention and perks and the others are not happy,” one network insider told the outlet. The chaos comes just weeks ahead of MSNBC’s live convention in September. In Touch reported that Maddow is receiving “all the goodies,” which is leading to a lesser role for fellow hosts Ari Melber, Joy Reid and Lawrence O’Donnell.

“It’s a powder keg waiting to explode,” the insider told In Touch. Network insiders told the outlet that Maddow’s perks include a star dressing room, VIP tickets for friends, and blanket approval for promotional materials.

Meanwhile, Fox News has capitalized on the momentum from Trump’s victory, attracting a robust audience eager for coverage that aligns with the president-elect’s base. The steep declines at MSNBC and CNN raise questions about how liberal and centrist networks will adapt to the shifting media consumption habits of an electorate energized by right-leaning viewpoints.

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