Cable News Ratings: Fox News Still Tops
HLN posts gains in afternoon and primetime
By Marisa Guthrie -- Broadcasting & Cable, 2/24/2009 6:06:41 PM
The Democratic administration of Barack Obama has not dented tune-in for Fox News Channel. On the contrary, the network finished February up 24% in total day (Monday-Sunday) and 21% in primetime (Monday-Friday) in news' target demographic of 25-54-year olds, compared to Feb. 2008.
FNC has been the top rated cable news network for 86 consecutive months, finishing February as the third most watched basic cable network in primetime.
CNN was 15th and MSNBC was 23rd. In primetime (M-F), FNC averaged 2.8 million viewers (657,000 in the demo). CNN averaged 1.3 million total viewers (407,000 in the demo) and MSNBC averaged 1.1 million viewers (377,000 in the demo).
HLN, which gets a fraction of the viewers that FNC does and still trails CNN and MSNBC, nevertheless posted some significant gains in February. The network was up 28% in total day and 62% in primetime. And HLN's Nancy Grace has now beaten MSNBC's Keith Olbermann for three consecutive months in the all-important sales demo. Buoyed by tragic cases of Caylee Anthony and Haleigh Cummings, Grace has posted gains of 74% and 83% in total viewers and the demo, respectively. The network's replacement for Glenn Beck, who jumped ship for FNC, has also improved the network's time period average. Issues with Jane Velez-Mitchell has given HLN its highest 7 p.m. numbers in network history, up 74% in total viewers and 54% in the demo.
Clearly Velez-Mitchell is a better fit for HLN - and Beck is a better fit for FNC. He has improved the 5 p.m. time period at Fox News by 101% in total viewers and 121% in the demo.
Meanwhile, HLN's bigger sister network CNN experienced a primetime ratings slide in February. Lou Dobbs is down 15% in total viewers and 23% in the demo compared to Feb. 2008. Campbell Brown is down 6% in total viewers and 21% in the demo. And Anderson Cooper 360 is down 12% in total viewers and 25% in the demo. Only Larry King Live has posted year-to-year gains - up 19% in total viewers and 8% in the demo.
On MSNBC, Countdown and Rachel Maddow are up year-to-year in total viewers and the demo. Countdown posted gains of 32% in total viewers and 15% in the demo while Maddow improved the 9 p.m. time slot by 134% in total viewers and100% in the demo. But both programs experienced ratings erosion versus last month. Countdown was down 4% in total viewers and 8% in the demo while Maddow was down 8% in total viewers and 16% in the demo.
-
As I recall, the Jerry Springer show got busted for trying to boost their ratings by staging and scripting their trash and the show was carried by....(wait for it)...NBC. 'Nuff said.
Gary Olsen - 11/6/2009 2:34:31 AM EST -
rachel maddow is horrifying...if she brought ratings up for awhile for MSNBC, it's probably like a shocking interest thing, like "is that chick for real?" such slanted, angry, biased news from such a tough looking face is definitely shock type entertainment, not real news. that's a shame they put her out as a legit "news anchor." and a shock.
verona shelman - 10/26/2009 9:16:35 PM EDT -
Dispute Fox News on the facts if you can, I tried for awhile and kept finding FNC more accurate than my beloved CNN on many topics. Because of this I am now a Fox viewer.
Please note I amd I think most Americans are smart enough to understand the difference between news programing and commentary programing on all the networks.
Sir Spamnot - 10/22/2009 10:11:34 AM EDT -
The only people who think that ALL of Fox News (not just the openly opinion programs) is distorting the news, while watching MSNBC with a straight dace, are people who vote liberal democrat. You guys can keep talking to each other, but the real middle of the country does not believe you, and that's why Fox News Beats CNN, MSNBC, HLN, combined. Here's a challenge to those liberals who pretend their opinions are objective: Name a NEWS story (not an editorial) by Fox that promulgated a falsehood. AND, if people only watch Fox for the drama, but I'm supposed to believe most Americans have liberal values, then that means a lot of liberals love drama. You know, I guess that is true.
M Antonio Roberts - 10/21/2009 1:02:05 AM EDT -
"Speaking of theories and rhetoric, has anyone ever watched Keith Olbermann?"
what, like oreilly, hannity and beck never spew theories and rhetoric? all the media has an agenda and states their opinions with theories.
but the difference between msnbc and cnn and fox news is that the first two networks do not overly promote political talking points and tea parties/rallies. the other networks report the news, and fox news just distorts it. thats the bottom line.
Kevin - 10/19/2009 7:11:04 PM EDT
Fox News Tops Banner Year for Cable News
12/19/2008
