Spectrum News is Most-Watched News Network Among Spectrum Audiences in 2024

Spectrum News Expanded Reach with Debut of Spectrum News+ on Xumo Play and Three New Local Networks

NEW YORK – As a trusted source for news and information, Spectrum News was the most-watched news network for reliable and objective news in 2024 among Spectrum customers. Throughout the year, Spectrum News averaged 1.76 million daily viewing households across its linear and digital platforms, more than ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, CNN, Fox News, and MSNBC.* Among its Nielsen-rated markets, Spectrum News in Los Angeles' year-over-year ratings growth recorded an increase of +25%.**

In July, for the first time, Spectrum News+ became available to non-Spectrum customers on the free ad-supported streaming television (FAST) service, Xumo Play. The Spectrum News App also reached new milestones with 5 million unique visitors on mobile devices since launching in 2020 (1.2 million unique visitors in 2024, 21% year-over-year increase) and 1.8 million unique visitors on Xumo, Roku and Apple TV devices since launching on connected TVs in 2022 (1.2 million unique visitors in 2024, 146% year-over-year increase).

Spectrum audiences turned to Spectrum News for important news events, severe weather, and unbiased political reporting throughout the year. Here are the top highlights for the year for Spectrum News.*

Major Events:

• Spectrum News hosted live network-wide special coverage of the solar eclipse, using its local news networks in the path of the total eclipse across the country, on April 8 from 2 p.m. - 4 p.m. ET, recording a 138% viewership increase as compared to the previous 30-day average among Spectrum customers. Spectrum News beat ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, CNN, Fox News and MSNBC in Austin, New York City, Orlando, and Tampa during that same time period.
• Spectrum News NY1 was the most-watched broadcast and cable news network during wall-to-wall coverage of the New York City earthquake on April 5 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. ET. NY1 recorded a significant viewership increase of 175% during that timeframe.
• In Los Angeles, Spectrum News’ continuous coverage of the Israel/Hamas protests at the University of California Los Angeles outpaced ABC, CBS, FOX, CNN, Fox News, and MSNBC during the height of the situation between 9:30 p.m. – 11 p.m. PT on May 1, and drove a 50% increase in viewership during the same time period.

Politics:

• On June 27, Spectrum News’ simulcast of the CNN presidential debate between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump drove a viewership increase of 148% as compared to the previous month from 8:55 p.m. to 10:38 p.m. ET, beating NBC, MSNBC, CBS, and FOX, all networks who carried CNN’s simulcast.
• Spectrum News’ simulcast of the ABC presidential debate between former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris saw a viewership increase of +196% as compared to the previous month’s average on September 10 from 9 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. ET. Immediately following the debate, the network’s post-debate special and analysis from 10:30 p.m. to 11:15 p.m. recorded a viewership increase of 149% as compared to average.

Weather:

• Spectrum Bay News 9’s comprehensive week-long coverage of Hurricane Helene from September 23-27 was the most-watched network in Tampa Bay. Spectrum Bay News 9 posted a +148% increase in viewership throughout the week as compared to the previous month’s weekday average. The increase resulted in Spectrum Bay News 9 recording twice as much viewership as ABC and Fox, three times more viewership than NBC and The Weather Channel, and four times more viewership than CBS.
  • During Hurricane Helene on September 26, The Spectrum News App visits increased by more than five times on the mobile app (+418%) and CTV app (+438%), and more than six times on Spectrum News Florida websites (+504%) as compared to the previous month’s average.
• As Hurricane Milton threatened Florida, Spectrum Bay News 9 (Tampa) and Spectrum News 13 (Orlando) were the most-watched news networks from October 7-11. Across both networks, viewership was 199% higher than average over the five days of storm coverage. In Tampa, where Hurricane Milton made landfall, Bay News 9 recorded more viewership than ABC, FOX and CBS combined, with three times the audience of ABC and FOX, four times that of NBC, and six times CBS. In Orlando, Spectrum News 13’s viewership surpassed all local affiliates among Spectrum customers, higher than NBC and CBS combined. News 13 beat ABC by 24%, doubled the audience of NBC, and recorded four times the viewership of CBS and FOX. Both Bay News 9 and News 13 recorded higher viewership than The Weather Channel during the period of October 7 -11.
  • On October 9, during the storm, the Spectrum News App on mobile (+795%) recorded eight times more visits, Spectrum News’ Florida websites (+685%) saw seven times more visits, and CTV app (+512%) six times more visits as compared to the previous month’s average.

*Spectrum set-top box and streaming data is sourced from all markets where Spectrum News has distribution, and are based on a minimum threshold of five consecutive minutes of viewing on one station to count as a viewing HH.

**Nielsen metrics are based on Live+SD, Total Day household impressions for Spectrum subscribers in the following DMAs: Charlotte, Cleveland, Dallas, Los Angeles, New York, Orlando, and Tampa.

About Spectrum Networks

Spectrum Networks is a series of 24/7 news and sports networks owned and operated by Charter Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ:CHTR), a leading broadband connectivity company and cable operator with services available to more than 58 million homes and businesses in 41 states. Spectrum Networks carry distinct, comprehensive, and exclusive local programming on over 30 networks across Charter’s footprint. More information on Spectrum Networks is available at spectrumlocalnews.com.

Media Contact

Chris Chafin, Christopher.Chafin@Charter.com