"Bill Moyers Journal" will end with April 30 edition.
Fox News Keeps Fending Off Rivals
A shot in the arm for CNN hasn't led to a ratings revolution.
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The death of Michael Jackson has been an economic stimulus for cable news networks feeling the decline of Obama-mania in a post-election year.
Everyone from Nancy Grace to Geraldo to Larry King to Keith Olbermann has jumped into a wall-to-wall, flood-the-zone media strategy since the international pop star died on Thursday, June 25.
But for news networks CNN and MSNBC, it has been a temporary help that hasn't altered the basic landscape, where Fox News still reigns supreme.
All three of the main players -- Fox News Channel, CNN and MSNBC -- bested their viewership average by far with their first day of Jackson coverage less than two weeks ago, but only Fox has managed to retain most of those viewers.
This reflects a growing trend, as Fox has become not only the top-rated cable news network, but also the third most-watched channel in all of cable.
CNN, once the titan of the industry, has recently still drawn the largest audiences for specific events like the 2008 Presidential election, but that has not helped it rival Fox in overall viewership.
With Jackson, CNN surged to the top of the charts on June 25 -- the day of his death -- recording the most total viewers throughout the day and particularly during prime time, according to Nielsen.
Yet, though CNN carried some of this success into the weekend, by the following week it performed the worst of the three networks. It retained just 59 percent of its viewers on Monday and Tuesday, and 38 percent in prime time.
In response to these numbers, a CNN spokesperson said: "CNN experienced the largest ratings increase of any cable news network during the recent breaking news. The networks that didn't attract viewers are obviously seeing less of a decline -- they cannot be satisfied not to have grown as much as CNN."
Miles O'Brien, a former CNN news anchor, had a different take on the situation.
“I think what Fox has probably figured out is that you need to program and you need to program with personalities that people want to listen to even when the world is not falling apart,” O' Brien said. “CNN has historically been a victim of this. It has risen and fallen directly (with) world events.”
And in the wake of Fox’s success with recent event coverage, some even question whether CNN remains the primary destination for breaking news.
If CNN loses that battle, “then CNN has some problems, because that is their wheelhouse,” O’Brien said. “If they lose that then all bets are off.”
CNN's recent performance mirrors what has occurred since the presidential election, as CNN and MSNBC have seen a precipitous decline in ratings while Fox News has remained steady.
With Democrats dominating the White House and Congress, this divide has been most prominent in primetime, where Fox often draws more viewers than CNN and MSNBC combined, according to tvbythenumbers.com.
Of CNN’s prime time shows, Anderson Cooper 360 has lost nearly 50 percent of its audience from the last quarter of 2008 through this year’s second quarter while Campbell Brown has lost 37 percent.
Comments
armand conzienzia Says
The reason is obvious. CNN lost credibility.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gPR5xJ5CYT8
Brad Reeves Says
If Lefty's actually had valid argumentative points they wouldn't have to stoop to such lows as ignorantly claiming "racist" to whomever dislikes Obama. This "nut job" is so clueless to what is actually going on in America that he still uses the lies that Obama himself sold to get him to office.
Obama is so far left he's approaching the edge of the world (if it were flat). He uses a teleprompter top appear "left of center". The idea that our country needs to go into debt to end this recession is the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard! What is accomplished by being indebted, or enslaved, to other countries in order to "fix" (in actuality unemployment is currently "worse than projected") the economy?
And National Health Care? It's not an American "right" to be able to have the "best available care." The Dems have this idea that certain privaleges should be rights in order to achieve there perfect nation. Well guess what? If we didn't have the Liberal enacted policies that "spread the wealth" maybe some of these so called poor class people would actually try to work for a living and get out of their slump themselves. The Poor stay poor because the government comforts them and classifies them as Poor promising to give them undiserving compensation for their unfortunate and incorrectable social class. In reality what makes them poor is their lack of work ethic.
Remind me again why I'm a racist?
CoCoPuff Says
The success of 'Faux' news can't be a surprise. With a center left African American (half anyway) President in the White House, every racist, right wing nut is watching that channel. They have no where else to turn to on television to get their propaganda.
Brad Says
I can't believe what these idoits are saying! Fox News does not dominate the ratings solely based on technoligically illiterate fools. Did you ever think that maybe the reason FNC has viewers is because the shows are actually interesting, entertaining, and engaging. I'm a twenties-ish male and I would MUCH rather watch FNC Primetime than that trash on ABC, NBC, or CBS.
And, yes, I DO get much of my news from the interenet. Face the facts: People are looking for the truth now that the democrats are showing their true tyrannical faces to the masses.
StewartIII Says
ChickaBOOMer -- Peter Panned: Cable News Neverland
http://chickaboomer.blogspot.com/2009/07/cable-news-neverland.html
BK Says
Isn't FSN - Fox Sports Network???
Victor Says
As long as people like the ones whose comments show up here adopt the arrogant attitude that people who do not agree with them are losers, Fox is going to surge. I am sure I will be called an imbecile...for typing such a view via a laptop.
Jean C Says
Thanks to all networks and their OCD with the gloved one, I have returned to reading good books. don't know if I'll resume my "news" addiction when you morons have finished your death rating fixation.
Ann Says
Who wrote this?? Their ratings are lower because most modern people go ONLINE for news. It's easier and faster. I get constant news updates on my blackberry, before I even turn on my TV. I learned of MJ death from a CNN feed on my phone. Plus there is FaceBook and Yahoo. Please, FOX is just old folks who can't operate a Laptop.
Mark V Says
"“The media that is going to get the most attention is not the apologist for the administration,” said Marc Germain, a Los Angeles-based radio talk show host. “Fox did a good job of creating an us versus them mentality."
So Fox is only doing well because they're not the apologist for the Obama administration...yet during the W years that's exactly what they did and kicked CNN/MSNBC's ass the entire time.
Chen wen lai Says
It is unfortunate that the Late Michael jackson , without prejudice, may be mis-guided, and just sing, sing and act on the stage, He would be a bigger star, icon of icon, if he appeared in the movies. Nobody ever thought about encouraging him to do the movie.. What a shame... Many could remember Elvis Priestley more by seeing his movies. etc...His real life attitude and passion could be fed by the fans , young and old.
God bless and condolence to Michael's family.
WiltonDiary Says
PLEASE: CNN and MSNBC viewers utilize the Internet more, much more than FOX viewers; therefore the real numbers are skewered. Nielson too, like the GOP, is becoming obsolete and irrelevant. As they say, as long as there are old people, kids and those adults with IQ’s under 70, there will be plenty of FOX viewers!
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