Why Fox News’ Massive Ratings Wins Still Matter
We’ve written a lot about Fox News’ huge ratings this year, especially recently.
In November, FNC was still on top of the cable news world by a mile, and one important statistic revealed something else – while most cable news programs, including many on Fox News as well, are seeing year-to-year declines after a huge 2008, FNC’s two big news programs are not down.
Special Report with Bret Baier at 6pmET was up 8% in total viewers vs. 2008 and 5% in the A25-54 demographic. The FOX Report with Shepard Smith at 7pmET was flat year-to-year. While FNC’s prime time shows are seeing increases in the demo, their total viewers are down.
Baier and Smith’s news hours also cracked the top five cable new programs in total viewers, ahead of FNC’s 10pmET prime time program, On the Record with Greta Van Susteren. Smith’s 7pmET hour had its highest month of 2009 in total viewers during November. Baier’s 6pmET, along with Bill O’Reilly at 8pmET and Sean Hannity at 9pmET, beat their competitors (CNN, MSNBC, HLN) combined in both total viewers and the demo.
Of course, FNC is known mostly for their opinion hosts – Glenn Beck, O’Reilly and Hannity. But the strong numbers seen from their news anchors continues to boost FNC’s argument about their own news product, as they face criticism from those on the left…and the White House.
Some other key stats:
• O’Reilly had his highest month of the year in total viewers and the demo (It was also Baier’s).
• FNC had the top 13 programs on cable news in total viewers, and the top 10 programs in the demo.
• FNC beat MSNBC, CNN and HLN combined in total viewers in total day and prime time
• FNC had the 3rd highest rated cable network in prime time, 5th in total day.
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5 comments
JazzDrummer7 says: The problem with Fox News and their high ratings is that far too much misinformation is being broadcast, not by Shep or Bret but by the Three Stooges, Beck, Billo and Hannjob. In addition, some of the pundits on the other shows on Fox also spew a lot of right-wing spin that does not always coincide with the real facts. Unfortunately, Fox viewers think that everything they hear on Fox is absolute truth which generally leaves them ingnorant of the true facts of the the issues, like health care reform. As a result, the typical Fox viewer would be unable to ever make an educated comment about any of the issues because they are not aware of the facts. Any polls taken of Fox viewers would have to be considered invalid for the same reason. Let’s put it this way, any news station that solicits the opinions of a world-class, mean-spirited, conscience-free, smear-spewing nerd like Karl Rove should have no credibility with anybody. To the detriment of this country and President Obama, far too many one-issue people (abortion, i-love-my-gun-types, etc.), i.e. hypocrites and idiots, make up the biggest portion of their audience. I have to believe that because Fox News vieweers thinks Sarah Palin is Presidential material, Michelle Bachman is sane and rational, Michelle Malkin is knowledgable, Ann Coulter is attractive and Glen Beck is of this planet. You cannot be intelligent, or genuine or rational to believe any of the above. The Three Stooges have one goal in mind: to Destroy the Presidency of President Obama. They want him to fail so badly they can taste it. If President Obama fails, the whole country would be in worse shape than it is now. So, how can any person claim to be a true patriot yet still want Obama to fail..?? That is the quintessential example of HYPOCRISY…
Fidoohki says: it’s called ‘free speech’. you know, one of those little pesky ‘constitutional rights’ the left seems hell bent on
curbing. Until the left succeeds however, they have a right to say it. Just like others have a right to point out where they think they are wrong.
astutemonkey says: “Unfortunately, Fox viewers think that everything they hear on Fox is absolute truth which generally leaves them ingnorant of the true facts of the the issues…”
Unfortunately, assuming JazzDrummer7 is not a Fox viewer, one non-Fox viewer commenter has no trouble casting stereotypical dispersions against millions of people he does not know. Shocking ignorance from someone accusing millions of unknown people as “ignorant,” un-”aware,” “hypocrites,” “idiots,” un-”intelligent,” un-”genuine,” and ir-”rational.”
Being averse to “smearing” people of whom I have no knowledge still leaves me able to notice that Mr. Drummer is looking inward for material.
My question to Mr. Drummer is: Do you really hurt that badly inside?
ImNotBlue says: Steve, I gotta be honest with you… I’m a little disappointed by this piece. I don’t think you answered your statement: “Why Fox News’ Massive Ratings Wins Still Matter.”
Yes, the numbers continue to show FNC is dominant. But I don’t think you quite hit the importance of it.
Is it that these numbers show an overall political trend in the country?
Is it that these numbers are so strong other networks will continue to emulate FNC’s style?
Do they prove that providing “opposition” or “a more critical view” of the White House is a ratings winner?
Does it mean that because FNC doesn’t applaud the White House, and prop up Democrats and left-wing causes like so many other programs and outlets do, that they’ve got a monopoly on that niche market?
I think there’s a lot of potential reasons why FNC’s numbers are important to the country AND the media landscape… but I’m not sure that was answered here. What do you think?
..must agree with astutemonkey. based on drummers coments, it is not hard to see that the content shows …jazzdrummer is not a fox news viewer and yet claims to know what FOX broadcasts across the board–then flings out ridculous claims and zero actual verifiable example of false reporting of the news or opinion braodcasts. the claim that FOX viewers are basically idiots indeed identifies themselves as one of the far flung liberals that think only the left (lame-stream) media are spewing unbiased news when they fail to report on news that would be unpopular to BO. Dude – share examples to backup your claims about FOX – with the masses moving to FOX and painting the viewers as idiots shows a sign of fear of truth being discussed on public media of any kind. I believe that FNC gives pres. BO credit when he actually deserves it however for the most part he has done little to deserve an attaboy. also a blanket jab to the OBAMAcare discussion is irresponsilbe, this takeover of healthcare is another step in destroying the US economy – we’ll never be able to pay for the reid bill. the reidbill is not that much different than what other countries tried and not one government on the face of the planet has been able to make entitled gov healthcare actually work. search for recent reverse by Germany – after more than 100 years they are moving to the same care currently in use by the U.S. today. get your facts straight, provide examples when you make your own ridiculous claims.. drummerboy, get a couple examples you speak of then we have something to discuss, otherwise you should go and research your claims (for real – eyes open) you might just come around and regain your senses.
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