• by Wayne Friedman , March 10, 2022

The three major 24/7 TV news networks posted more soaring gains driven by intense interest in Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Viewing rose 17% to a collective 7.09 million viewers for the most recent week.

CNN posted the biggest gains -- up 24% to 1.84 million total viewers in prime time last week -- second-highest among all cable TV networks. MSNBC was boosted 19% to 1.69 million prime-time viewers.

Total day viewing hikes were more modest: Fox inched up 1% to 2.19 million total viewers in total day viewing, while CNN was 6% higher to 1.19 million total day viewers and MSNBC added 3% to 960,000 total day viewers.

On February 24, the day the Ukraine invasion began, CNN posted a 31% spike in average time duration per viewing household versus the last six-month period, according to Samba TV. Fox was up 20%, while MSNBC was up 19%.

Over the most recent week-long period -- from a seven-day moving average (February 27 through March 7) -- Fox has seen viewing duration per home rise to 160 minutes per day, while CNN is at 120 minutes per day in household duration and MSNBC is around 110 minutes per day.