Have Keith Olbermann’s Ratings Taken A Post-Suspension Dive?

by Mark Joyella | 2:04 pm, November 17th, 2010

» 19 comments

Is Keith Olbermann in the midst of a post-suspension ratings freefall?

Noel Sheppard writes today on his NewsBusters blog that “Keith Olbermann’s ratings have plummeted since his post-suspension return to MSNBC.”

Have they?

You’ll perhaps remember Olbermann was sent home for a long weekend after NBC bosses learned of campaign contributions the star host made in violation of NBC News policy.

According to the liberal bias fighters at NewsBusters, “Countdown saw a 35 percent rise in viewers last Tuesday when the host came back after his brief suspension,” but proceeded to lose “almost 500,000 viewers” by Monday. “One has to wonder just how far this ratings plummet will go,” says Sheppard.

I don’t know–maybe till Tuesday? Just-released ratings for last night’s Countdown show no signs of a viewer exodus: 1,281,000 viewers.

For some perspective on the trends in Olbermann’s ratings, isn’t it wiser to look at month-to-month than day-to-day? Yes.

Even on Monday, Olbermann’s show was far and away the biggest ratings performer on MSNBC, and easily beat both Nancy Grace on HLN and Parker Spitzer on CNN.

But what about Bill O’Reilly on FNC? Comparing the ratings for the very same days that Sheppard selects, in the very same hour, O’Reilly also saw a drop–only a bigger one. O’Reilly had 3,795,000 viewers on November 9, but dropped to 3,194,000 by Monday. So–let me grab my calculator here–that’s a “plummet” of more than 500,000 viewers. 601,000 viewers to be exact. To be fair, while O’Reilly had a slightly larger drop, it represents a smaller percentage drop, since his overall ratings figures are so much bigger.

Is O’Reilly in freefall too? Next.

Bill O'Reilly, fox news, keith olbermann, msnbc, plummet, Ratings

Moderate

“but (Olbermann) proceeded to lose “almost 500,000 viewers”

500k for O’Reilly is no big deal, for Olbermann it represents a major portion of his available audience.
dhg

Olbermann’s audience is a fairly limited group.He does not draw or represent the entire left,just a portion of it.Obviously he does not draw the right and likely few independents.I suspect he also pushes away some possible viewers with his style and pretty ridiculous tenedencies to do dumb things and pursue dumb stories on his show especially the presecution complex he seems to display fairly often.

It will be interesting to see what happens under Comcast and at his next contract expiration.If he stays at MSNBC he’ll probably take a pay cut.He isn’t the big draw he once was and no longer is worth the headaches he creates.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Phil-Bourekas/1538058627 Phil Bourekas

Olbermann lost 1/3 of his viewers, which is about 2x the normal cyclicity evidenced by O’Reilly. O’ Reilly’s numbers, while depressed, were about 3x Olbermann’s.

There are lies, damned lies, and statistics. The 600k viewers analysis is clearly in the latter. The article cleverly omits the rest of the quantitative data required to do the math.
newzmaker

I noticed recently, that Ed Schultz finally has a promo for his program, after having threatened to ‘torch the place.’ LOL. MSNBC gives the dork a promo ad, to keep him form burning the place down. Too funny.
newzmaker

*from*
Just4thefax

Fact: Obermann not quite the superhero as once believed?
Z_man723

It may have to do with the fact that his show sucks, just an observation.
jrcmi

Newsblusters is just as corrupt and dishonest as Fakes “News.” They are attempting to instigate yet another baseless right-wing smear campaign.

What’ll they do next? Accuse KO of taking an expensive Asian trip?
CosmosDan

He had viewers voting on whether to bring back his Worst Person segment. I voted NO, but I heard it’s coming back. Olberman’s a smart guy and has the potential to intelligently discuss things, but he comes off as such a blowhard. He’s had some good informative segments but some are unwatchable.
Tedderman

I can see the Fox viewers commented first since they didn’t even bother to read the whole article. I’ll continue to watch Olbermann every night usually twice. And since he asked I voted 30 times to bring back the Worst Persons bit. I really don’t give a round rats ass what those on the right think and I’m sure the feeling’s mutual. So thumbs up…..your butt!
rocky road

Tedderman said:
I can see the Fox viewers commented first since they didn’t even bother to read the whole article. I’ll continue to watch Olbermann every night usually twice. And since he asked I voted 30 times to bring back the Worst Persons bit. I really don’t give a round rats ass what those on the right think and I’m sure the feeling’s mutual. So thumbs up…..your butt!

And that’s why nobody watches your hero. Your post is almost as ugly and vile as Olbermann.
Tedderman

Vlie and ugly, huh? WPITW is schtick, a poke in the eye not to be taken too seriously. But if you don’t watch him you don’t know that. Sorry if I offended your tender sensibilities.
Cecelia

“To be fair, while O’Reilly had a slightly larger drop, it represents a smaller percentage drop, since his overall ratings figures are so much bigger.”

“To be fair”…

Well, thanks for being fair, Mr. Joyella…, but doesn’t that proportionality thing… sort of undermine your next statement?
RIChris

How is it that every article that starts out about MSNBC, CNN…..or someone anchoring MSNBC, CNN….or someone on MSNBC, CNN….closes with FOX News?
Papa Smear

C’mon, Edward R Murrow had some bad days too.
dhg

Tedderman said:
I can see the Fox viewers commented first since they didn’t even bother to read the whole article. I’ll continue to watch Olbermann every night usually twice. And since he asked I voted 30 times to bring back the Worst Persons bit. I really don’t give a round rats ass what those on the right think and I’m sure the feeling’s mutual. So thumbs up…..your butt!

LOL thanks I was hoping for some comedy!
Tedderman

If you’re that easily ammused, I’ve got a boil on my ass that should just slay you.
Kird

Who the fuck cares about newsbusters? Isn’t that site run by bozo the clown?

Oh, and someone in editorial forgot to tell the new kid Mediaite’s anti-Olbermann.

“Next.”
Tedderman

Just realized, a lot of my posts refer to asses. I’m not fixated, really I’m not. Good God I might be the “worst person in the world” today.