Fox News Dominates Ratings During Plane/Helicopter Crash Special Report

Cable news ratings, August 8, 2009: Check out the highlights, and see the full ratings below:

• During the plane/helicopter crash on Saturday, Fox News was the #1 cable news network viewers went to get their news. The Special Report coverage – lasting from 1-8pmET, gave FNC a big victory in both total viewers and the A25-54 demographic (1,010,000 total viewers, compared to 576,000 for CNN and 380,000 for MSNBC). But MSNBC, which did not break into its doc block, was #2 in the demo.

• While MSNBC took some heat for not breaking into doc block beyond special reports on Saturday, it didn’t hurt them in the ratings. MSNBC tied FNC for #1 in prime time demo, and was #2 in total day demo. CNN was #2 in total viewers.

Check out all the ratings below, and leave your own thoughts in the comments:

TV NEWS RATINGS: 25-54 DEMOGRAPHIC (L +SD)
5 pm	Special Report   215	Newsroom   163	Special   142	News   68
6 pm	Special Report   236	Newsroom   140	Special   127	Prime   85
7 pm	Report   217	Newsroom   122	Investigates   213	Issues   64
8 pm	Huckabee   251	Presents   125	Investigates   156	Grace   99
9 pm	Beck   353	King   119	Investigates   183	Issues   104
10 pm	Manson Murders   307	Newsroom   170	Investigates   238	Grace   127
11 pm	JER/FNW   231/260	Presents   111	Investigates   293	Showbiz   180
TOTAL DAY	230	137	180	106
PRIME TIME	192	138	192	104
Data by Nielsen Media Research. Live and same day (DVR) data.

TV NEWS RATINGS: TOTAL VIEWERS (L +SD)
5 pm	Special Report   920	Newsroom   503	Special   302	News   246
6 pm	Special Report   905	Newsroom   467	Special   321	Prime   225
7 pm	Report   941	Newsroom   464	Investigates   389	Issues   203
8 pm	Huckabee   1671	Presents   484	Investigates   343	Grace   245
9 pm	Beck   1424	King   611	Investigates   336	Issues   300
10 pm	Manson Murders   845	Newsroom   640	Investigates   427	Grace   312
11 pm	JER/FNW   680/860	Presents   252	Investigates   540	Showbiz   359
TOTAL DAY	870	485	345	250
PRIME TIME	1314	578	369	271
Data by Nielsen Media Research. Live and same day (DVR) data.

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