MSNBC Scores Ratings Win Thanks to Interview With Federal Inmate Michael Avenatti

Ari Melber’s phone interview with the incarcerated felon Michael Avenatti kicked up plenty of controversy, but it also scored in the ratings for MSNBC.

On April 9, The Beat with Ari Melber averaged 155,000 viewers in the key demo of 25-54, the highest of any MSNBC show that day. The Avenatti interview accounted for the most watched half-hour for the network that day. The first half hour, which is when the interview aired, averaged 166,000 viewers in the key demo. The next hour averaged approximately 130,000 viewers in the demo.

Avenatti’s interview was within the first 15 minutes of the show, and the next 15 minutes were dedicated to reactions. Both of those quarters brought in more than 1.7 million viewers overall, with a slight dip after Avenatti ended his phoner from prison.

The first half of the show also beat everything on rival network CNN, though not Fox News, the current ratings juggernaut in cable news. For the same hour, Bret Baier at Fox brought in more than 200,000 in the key demo and more than two million viewers total.

Melber phoned Avenatti to discuss Donald Trump’s upcoming hush money trial in Manhattan, which kicks off on April 15. The former president is facing more than 30 counts stemming from a hush money payment made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels to cover up an alleged affair. Trump has denied the affair and any wrongdoing.

Disbarred lawyer Avenatti previously made a name for himself on cable news representing Daniels. He is now serving 19 years for extortion, fraud, and more. He was also convicted of stealing from Daniels.

Avenatti predicted in his Melber interview that Trump would be convicted in his hush money case, arguing he can’t get a “fair trial” in New York.

The interview drew some backlash. Former Watergate prosecutor Nick Akerman said on Melber’s show Avenatti knows “nothing about this case,” leading to a back and forth with Melber on the merits of the interview.

Watch above via MSNBC.

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