Ratings
Information about Red Eye's Nielsen ratings is sparse. In March 2007, when the show was still airing at 2 am, Red Eye averaged 309,000 viewers in its time slot, down about nine percent from March 2006 when another show aired in that same time slot. In the age 25–54 demographic, however, the show was up 15 percent from the prior year. In March 2006, the 2–3 a.m. time slot averaged 134,000 demo viewers; in March 2007, it was 154,000. In the 18–34 demo, the time slot was up 27 percent, from 33,000 to 42,000.
After the show moved to its current 3 am time slot in October 2007, Red Eye 's ratings decreased. As of the show's one-year anniversary, average viewership dipped 15 percent, to 285,000. The 25–54 demo was down 24 percent, to 123,000. The show's second anniversary episode on February 5, 2009, however, showed significant improvement: Red Eye averaged 390,000 viewers, with 166,000 in the 25–54 demo. Nielsen also found that in March 2008, 6.1 percent of Red Eye's total viewership came from those who recorded the show, as opposed to watching it when it aired.
In July 2009, Red Eye averaged 335,000 viewers, with 135,000 in the demo. In September 2009, Red Eye averaged 433,000 viewers, with 203,000 in the demo. In 2009, Red Eye was the 40th-highest rated cable news program, in terms of average total viewers. It averaged 365,000 viewers, with 163,000 in the demo. From February 1–5, 2010, the week of the show's third anniversary, Red Eye again averaged 433,000 viewers, with 180,000 in the demo.
By its 1,000th show, Red Eye averaged 365,000 viewers, with 185,000 in the 25–54 demographic, up 17 percent over 2010 in total viewers and up 13 percent in the demo. In October 2011, the show averaged the largest audience in its history. In the key 25 to 54 age demographic, it beat CNN's Piers Morgan Tonight, Erin Burnett Outfront, John King, USA; MSNBC's Morning Joe and Hardball With Chris Matthews; and HLN's Nancy Grace.
Read more about this topic: Red Eye W/Greg Gutfeld