1. Mediaite
  2. Gossip Cop
  3. Geekosystem
  4. Styleite
  5. SportsGrid
  6. The Mary Sue
  7. The Jane Dough

Fox News Extends Lead, But All Cable News Networks See Ratings Decline

ratings
» 35 comments

Fox News will not come close to abandoning its spot as the top-rated cable news network for a long time – but the entirety of cable news, including FNC, is on the decline.

In several key categories though, despite drops, FNC expanded its lead over the competition.

For the first time ever, FNC had all 13 of the top cable news programs in both total viewers and the A25-54 demographic during the first half of the year. There have been months where Fox News has achieved this, but never for a six-month average. The top 5 show hosts: Bill O’Reilly, Sean Hannity, Glenn Beck, Bret Baier, Greta Van Susteren.

In the second quarter of 2010, compared to the second quarter of 2009, FNC topped CNN and MSNBC combined in total day and CNN, MSNBC and HLN combined in prime time (total viewers). But like the rest of cable news, FNC saw declines as well.

In prime time demo, FNC was down 9% while MSNBC was down 10%, CNN down 28% and HLN down 23%. In total viewers, FNC was down 10% compared to MSNBC (4%), CNN (31%) and HLN (12%).

In total day, CNN continued to shed viewers, falling further behind first place FNC. But it is the third place network in total day (demo and total viewers), MSNBC, that fell the least – and for the first quarter is coming dangerously close to unseating CNN for 2nd place. MSNBC finished just 7,000 demo viewers behind CNN.

This battle – CNN vs. MSNBC during total day – appears to be the most hard fought as we enter quarter three of 2010. Fox News’ slight decline is an interesting storyline, but it doesn’t take away from their utter dominance of cable news (and really cable in general: they were 3rd in prime time overall in Q2). MSNBC continues to hold strong as #2 in prime time, despite continued year-to-year declines by Keith Olbermann at 8pmET (5th consecutive quarter down double digits). If MSNBC can topple CNN during the day it would be a coup in a category CNN likely considered bulletproof. We’ll see in a few months.

—–
» Follow Steve Krakauer on Twitter

Follow us on Twitter.

Sign up for Mediaite's daily newsletter.

Email Twitter Facebook Digg Reddit Stumble Upon Yahoo Buzz LinkedIn Tumblr Delicious
  • Munch

    For the first time ever, FNC had all 13 of the top cable news programs in both total viewers and the A25-54 demographic during the first half of the year.

    I wonder why?

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Tom-Betz/709063742 Tom Betz

    Ask H. L. Mencken: “Nobody ever went broke underestimating the intelligence of the American public. “

  • Munch

    I love to watch FOX nail all the other cable shows.

    It smells like victory!

  • me1ranger

    Liberalism is a mental disorder..they can’t work the remote..it’s not their fault. Don’t worry libs, obozo will just ban FOX soon enough, or maybe he’ll use a FOX ‘kill switch’. That will make it fair and balanced for you..

  • paulmdoro

    Yeah I heard the FNC ban will be implemented shortly. Right after they ban the bible, the American flag, guns, NASCAR, hunting, freedom, cowboy hats, pickup trucks, and Texas. Lots of work to do.

  • writer

    Don’t you kinda miss the Royal King jumping in here, telling us that these ratings mean nothing? I don’t.

  • me1ranger

    At least you put them in the proper company..FOX is as American as all you mentioned. And..even though you didn’t mean it, your lib brethren have been actively trying to ban all of the things you mentioned. So, way to make my point..enjoy your foot.

  • paulmdoro

    All that and then some. That’s only a starting point of the things liberals want banned. They spend every waking moment thinking of new ways to bad these things. It is all-consuming. They hate freedom and America and liberty and religion and the list goes on and on. There’s only so many minutes in the day to hate stuff and try to ban it unfortunately.

  • writer

    Many a true word spoken in jest.

  • paulmdoro

    Plus country music, fishing (outdoor sports in general), rodeos, demolition derbys, county fairs, small towns, and farms. Every day all I read about is liberals trying to ban all these things. I dare someone to find a liberal that actually likes America, or a conservative who criticizes America. Doesn’t exist!

  • writer

    You left out pickup trucks.

  • paulmdoro

    paulmdoro said:
    Yeah I heard the FNC ban will be implemented shortly. Right after they ban the bible, the American flag, guns, NASCAR, hunting, freedom, cowboy hats, pickup trucks, and Texas. Lots of work to do.

    Did not!

  • writer

    Oops. I’m hiding mine in the garage right now!

  • paulmdoro

    Smart move because as I type this liberals in your town are working diligently to ban them once and for all.

  • tiredofbs

    Bring out the Liberal ego Boo-Boo Strips

  • writer

    Gotta go for now. I can’t get it started.

  • me1ranger

    Don’t forget Christmas..

  • paulmdoro

    How could I forget Christmas?! I mean I am on the ECC (End Christmas Committee) in my town. Plus Easter, Memorial Day, and the 4th of July.

  • me1ranger

    We saw how obummer treats Easter at the White House, we saw how he had a Mao tree ornament, and we witnessed his failure to go to Arlington on Memorial Day. Wonder what him and Bill Ayres and Rev. Wright have planned for the fourth..maybe a good ol’ fashioned flag burning. That’s one thing you libs have refused to ban..

  • paulmdoro

    The 4th of July Flag Burning/Communist Cookout is in the early planning stages. I burn one daily as do all liberals I know. When I need to read at night, I just torch a flag. Keeps my electric bill down.

  • Moderate

    writer says:
    June 29, 2010 at 3:33 pm writer(Quote)

    “You left out pickup trucks.”

    My liberal neighbors tried that, it failed.

  • me1ranger

    I’ll go to your communist cookout if that hot Russian spy is going to be there..gotta teach her a lesson.

  • me1ranger

    After a proper cavity search that is..you guys haven’t banned them yet, have you Paul?

  • paulmdoro

    Cavity searches will be banned soon, so conduct them while you can. And of course now the hot spy will not be able to make it, being incarcerated and all.

  • AngelPeters

    Broadcast and cable news are both down in viewership. Any tracking of internet newser readership?

  • me1ranger

    Oh well..guess I’ll just have to settle for the red head I have at home. I’ll get her to speak in a Russian accent..

  • paulmdoro

    Sounds like a solid backup plan.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Tony-Westover/1496648721 Tony Westover

    The overall decline is typical. It’s going to pick up again once the primaries are over and the real midterm election season starts.

    And as usual, FNC will absolutely dominate their competition combined.

  • Tesseract2

    The reason they’re losing ratings is because they’re all so bad. CNN only has about 2 hours of real news a day, and FNC and MSNBC act like spoiled kids trying to be more “clever” (read: immature) than the other one.

  • ladyruth54

    Don’t forget the liberals trying to ban McDonald’s toys for kids.

  • BatBoy

    Q2 2010 Ratings: MSNBC Down From Last Year, Tops CNN in Primetime

  • timzank

    Tesseract2 said:
    The reason they’re losing ratings is because they’re all so bad. CNN only has about 2 hours of real news a day, and FNC and MSNBC act like spoiled kids trying to be more “clever” (read: immature) than the other one.

    Ever consider maybe “summer’ has something to do with the “dip” in viewership across the board?

  • Alz

    The reason Fox has the lead is because people learn more from Fox. If you watch CNN, MSNBC and FNC, you see that you get more informatiuon from Fox. People choose what to do with it, but over the years, people end up choosing Fox over the CNN and the other ones.

  • WildMan

    What????? You mean to tell me there is still an MSNBC & a CNN????? WOW!!! That is unbelievable. I thought they both went the way of the dinosauers. Oh well, I may try to find them via the remote if I am having a down day since laughter is good for bringing one out of a funk. And with those two one is guaranteed a good laugh. Especially Chris Matthews, Ed Schultz and Keith Olberman.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/David-Mangan/100000213524770 David Mangan

    Chris Matthews, Ed Schultz and Keith Olberman are refugees from a bygone era and the only thing keeping them on the air is the nostalgia Jeff Zucker had for the times before he lost his mental stability through too much Kool-Aid straight from the Jimmy Carter “Billy Beer” tap in his basement! Oops, did something happen to Zucker on the way to the Broadcast Hall of Shame? So Comcast has replaced Comrade Zucker, the Chief Commissar of all the Mess-NBC cadre formations, with Steve Burke, a happily married churchgoer with three kids and membership in the REPUBLICAN PARTY? Looks like lights out for the Human Torch and Tweety Bird and Keith Overbite, after a suitable interval [weeks rather than months] for Burke to drain the swamp in the sub-basement of 30 Rock…!

© 2012 Mediaite, LLC | About Us | Advertise | Self-Serve Advertising | Newsletter | Jobs | Privacy | User Agreement | Disclaimer | Power Grid FAQ | Contact | Archives | RSS RSS
Dan Abrams, Founder | Power Grid by Sound Strategies | Hosting by Datagram