• by Wayne Friedman , January 28, 2020

Two major cable news networks -- CNN and MSNBC -- have aired virtually all of President Trump’s impeachment trial since proceedings began a week ago, with Fox News Channel airing about half.

In addition, all news channels have seen lower paid-advertiser and network promos airings versus previous periods.

According to Media Matters for America, since Jan. 21, CNN has aired 90% of the trial -- 32 hours and 59 minutes -- while MSNBC has also aired around 90% -- at 32 hours and 39 minutes. Fox News Channel has aired 54% -- at 18 hours and 29 minutes live.

Fox News Channel's coverage almost doubled on the fifth day when the Trump defense team began oral arguments.

MSNBC ran just 222 paid advertising/network promo prime-time airings for the Jan. 21 through Jan. 27 period -- the least of all three networks, according to iSpot.tv -- versus 628 airings from Jan. 14 through Jan. 20.

Fox News Channel had 402 paid advertising/network promo prime-time airings for the most recent week versus 629 in the previous week, while CNN aired 531 paid ads/promo prime-time airings versus 804 in the previous week.