CNN’s recent exclusive interview with U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, who are both Democratic candidates for the 2024 election, drew in a significant audience of 6.3 million viewers on Thursday night. This marked one of the Warner Bros. Discovery cable outlet’s strongest showings in the 9 p.m. time slot in recent memory, according to Nielsen ratings.
Moderated by anchor Dana Bash, the interview also attracted an average of 1.2 million viewers in the key demographic of ages 25 to 54, which is highly coveted by advertisers in news programming.
This high-profile interview was a major win for CNN, which has been facing stiff competition from Fox News Channel and MSNBC in terms of ratings. Earlier in the summer, CNN also aired a crucial debate between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump, which led to doubts about Biden’s leadership abilities.
During the interview, Bash delved into questions about Harris and Walz’s potential agendas on their first day in office. She also probed Harris on her recent shifts in stance on issues like border control. Harris notably sidestepped a question regarding Trump’s use of race and gender topics, simply stating, “Next question, please.”
CNN’s decision to display a graphic indicating the conversation was happening in real-time raised some eyebrows, as the interview was actually pre-recorded. Only Bash’s introductions and conclusions of each segment were broadcast live.
Despite the success of the 9 p.m. hour, CNN was unable to maintain its ratings momentum throughout the evening. The network’s 10 p.m. broadcast did not surpass Fox News’ airing of “Gutfeld!”
Overall, CNN’s exclusive interview with Harris and Walz was a significant moment for the network, showcasing its ability to attract a large audience and engage viewers in important political discussions.
