One-Two Punch: MSNBC Loses Rachel Maddow, Ratings Battle with Fox on Nightmarish Day for Network

With MSNBC reeling from the news that its top-rated host will take some time off, Fox News reported that it demolished its rival in Saturday’s prime-time ratings.

Rachel Maddow will take what has been reported as "several" weeks away from “The Rachel Maddow Show” to work on a podcast and a movie for NBCUniversal, Business Insider reported on Monday.

Maddow will host her final 9 p.m. installment of her show -- the highest-rated one on MSNBC -- on Friday, according to the report.

A series of rotating hosts will fill in for Maddow. I haven't read anything specifying when she would actually return to her show at 9pm, if at all. Here's one example: https://t.co/SpPMwnqASZ To say Maddow's absence shouldn't really affect MSNBC's ratings downplays Maddow's importance to MSNBC: she can't be replaced!

— DaddyDawg2 (@DaddyDawg_2) January 31, 2022 Rachel Maddow Taking Hiatus From Her MSNBC Show https://t.co/GE0cRy7Eoj pic.twitter.com/NMLguSPrDj

— Daily Wire (@realDailyWire) January 31, 2022

According to AdWeek , Maddow has the fourth-most-watched show on cable news.

Despite her draw, the network overall saw its prime-time ratings drop 28 percent in 2021, AdWeek reported.

News of Maddow’s hiatus came on the same day Fox announced how its new Saturday night prime-time lineup fared. This is why @joerogan is smashing their ratings… @MSNBC creates “bad guys” to fit their narrative, most people can see right through it https://t.co/Bj2IHPDOpF

— Ripple McNuggetz (@BupalSilver) January 31, 2022 People are looking for truth that is why @joerogan is killing @MSNBC in ratings. All these ideas that were once called conspiracy theories like natural immunity are now being accepted. Important for free societies to have intelligent conversations. pic.twitter.com/rvZHTl8ZpM

— Jeb Hardworker ?⛏?????? (@goldstocktrades) January 31, 2022

Fox News Channel, citing early Nielsen Media Research figures, said its prime-time lineup this past Saturday drew 1.5 million total viewers and 224,000 in the key 25-54 age demographic.

CNN drew 340,000 total viewers and 64,000 in the 25-54 range while MSNBC brought in 385,000 total viewers and 33,000 in the 25-54 age slot.

Thus, Fox's total viewership more than tripled that of MSNBC and CNN. ICYMI: Thank you for joining me for the debut of #OneNation ! I’m thrilled to take this journey with our viewers – see you again Saturday at 8pm/et. https://t.co/3PUcI1k7tz

— Brian Kilmeade (@kilmeade) January 31, 2022

Fox’s show in the 8 p.m. time slot, “One Nation with Brian Kilmeade,” was the highest-rated cable news program with 1,525,000 viewers and 188,000 in the 25-54 age range. Fox said that showing topped the numbers for CNN and MSNBC combined. Thank you! ❤️ https://t.co/TtKhfMnE3t

— Lawrence Jones III (@LawrenceBJones3) January 30, 2022 INBOX: Fox News is out with the ratings for the new Saturday night slate of Brian @Kilmeade , @DBongino , and @LawrenceBJones3 and they drew an average "1.5 million total viewers and 224,000 in the key 25-54 demographic," which was more than triple CNN and MSNBC

— Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) January 31, 2022

“Unfiltered with Dan Bongino,” which airs at 9 p.m., had 1,457,000 viewers overall, with a top-rated 246,000 in the 25-54 age group, according to Fox.

“Lawrence Jones Cross Country” debuted at 10 p.m. and attracted 1,461,000 total viewers and 238,000 in the 25-54 age bracket.

Fox said that total more than quadrupled what CNN and MSNBC achieved combined.

This article appeared originally on The Western Journal .