CNN NYE, Anderson Cooper, Andy Cohen © 2017 Cable News Network. A Time Warner Company. All Rights Reserved.
The ratings have been released for New Years Eve on cable news and CNN was the dominant force in total viewers and both the 25-54 and 18-49 year old demos. This was the first year with Andy Cohen (who was brought on after Kathy Griffin was fired), but the antics continued on CNN as Randi Kaye experienced a "cannibus" in Colorado and Don Lemon and Brooke Baldwin took part in a second line in New Orleans. Despite mixed reviews on Twitter, cable viewers flocked to the AC duo. The 2017 edition broke CNN's New Years Eve record, a record that was set in 2016.
Fox News also covered New Years Eve and had a new duo as well. From 8 PM until 10 PM, Ed Henry, Lisa Marie Boothe, and Dean Cain hosted a Countdown to 2018 special. Lisa "Kennedy" Montgomery and Jesse Watters then picked up coverage at 10 PM.
Breaking down the night into hours, Fox News won the 8 PM hour in total viewers. The other hours in total viewers and the 25-54 demo were won by CNN. CNN's New Years Eve coverage with Cooper and Cohen and the Central Time Zone coverage with Brooke Baldwin and Don Lemon were the highest rated programs on cable.
Like its broadcast sister, MSNBC did not have New Years Eve coverage and instead aired AM Joy (in the PM).
While CNN and Fox News saw quality ratings, they still lost handily to broadcast networks, ABC and Fox.