Broadcast TV news climate change airtime U.S. 2015-2024, by network
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CBS aired the highest number of minutes of climate change coverage in 2024, with a total of 381 minutes (over six hours) across its morning news, evening news, and Sunday political shows. Figures for 2015 to 2019 do not include morning shows for ABC, NBC, or CBS, but show an overall increase in coverage between those years. Fox News Sunday aired 40 minutes of coverage in 2021, the highest since 2017, but this number fell to just seven minutes in 2024.
Climate coverage in broadcast news remains limited
In 2023, over half of all climate change segments across broadcast television news programs were aired between July and September. Most aired in July (the hottest July on record) when a total of 203 news segments on ABC, CBS, NBC, and Fox combined covered the topic. The main driver for climate coverage was extreme weather across the globe, with these discussions making up over 35 percent of coverage. However, only five percent of segments were dedicated to climate justice.
Representation and diversity
In 2023, of the 411 guest appearances made during climate coverage on broadcast TV climate segments, just 89 were made by people of color. The source noted that whilst climate change disproportionately affects minority communities, most people appearing on broadcast TV news to discuss the matter were non-Hispanic white men.
