TV news counts on big US election but Biden and Trump may not deliver the numbers

A number of factors have converged to make this election year more challenging for news outlets

Donald Trump speaks at a primary election night party in New Hampshire this week. About 6 million people watched the New Hampshire primary on the big three cable news networks on January 23, down from 8.7 million in 2020 and 8.65 million in 2016.

This was supposed to be the year that TV news came roaring back after a long run of viewer losses, but this election cycle is instead beginning to look like a disappointment.

About 3.7 million people on average watched Fox's Fox News, Comcast's MSNBC and Warner Bros. Discovery's CNN in prime time in the US TV season that began in September, down 7% from a year earlier. Four years ago, 6.5 million tuned in nightly to get the latest on the pandemic and watch the unfolding presidential race between Donald Trump and Joe Biden.