Cable News Ratings

By Jeralyn, Section Media
Posted on Sat Mar 15, 2008 at 02:26:49 PM EST
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Via Drudge, here are this week's cable news ratings:

FOXNEWS O'REILLY 2,979,000
FNC HANNITY/COLMES 2,280,000
FNC GRETA 1,896,000
CNN KING 1,640,000
FNC HUME 1,530,000
CNN COOPER 1,417,000
FNC SHEP 1,392,000
CNN DOBBS 1,057,000
MSNBC OLBERMANN 1,001,000
CNNHN GRACE 605,000
MSNBC HARDBALL 507,000

For political shows, Hardball is on the bottom and Olbermann right above him. Will this tell MSNBC anything?

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Cable News Ratings | 53 comments (53 topical)

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I had no idea that many people paid (5.00 / 2) (#2)
by Teresa on Sat Mar 15, 2008 at 02:31:15 PM EST

attention to Lou Dobbs. And now he is on the warpath against Obama. I'd say most of his audience will already vote for McCain though.

I hate (5.00 / 1) (#28)
by sas on Sat Mar 15, 2008 at 04:33:16 PM EST

to say this, but I have found Fox News with the most "fair and balanced" election coverage.

Unbelieveable, I know.

MSNBC has become the Obama network, and CNN is almost as bad.

But then again, I always thought I was a progressive, until I read the hate spewing from the mouths of the Clinton haters over there at the "progressive" site HuffPo. More and more I think HuffPo is regressive however,

Parent

: Refugees (5.00 / 1) (#40)
by waldenpond on Sat Mar 15, 2008 at 05:43:11 PM EST

Don't be ashamed. Many of us have been forced to seek shelter in the unfriendly land.

Parent

To be worse than Nacy Grace ... (5.00 / 2) (#3)
by cymro on Sat Mar 15, 2008 at 02:31:23 PM EST

... is the ultimate condemnation, in my opinion!

Yep (none / 0) (#20)
by Lou Grinzo on Sat Mar 15, 2008 at 03:10:20 PM EST

I've long said that if I could wave a magic wand and make any one person on TV retire to comfortable, quiet life completely off the airwaves, it would be Nancy Grace.

I honestly don't know why she sets my teeth on edge. It's not her gender or appearance or even her wackaloon approach to many topics in the news. Heck, even O'Really and Dobbs don't bother as much as she does.

Parent

: What I dislike about (5.00 / 2) (#21)
by Warren Terrer on Sat Mar 15, 2008 at 03:17:04 PM EST

Nancy Grace is her deep-seated belief that anyone who is charged with a crime must be guilty. And the anger that she projects. Oh, the anger.

Parent
: I was trying to figure out where Spitzer (none / 0) (#32)
by oculus on Sat Mar 15, 2008 at 04:45:58 PM EST

might land and thought of Nancy Grace's spot.

Parent

oops, Nancy Grace (5.00 / 1) (#4)
by cymro on Sat Mar 15, 2008 at 02:32:47 PM EST

Even the thought of her makes me cross-eyed!

I find it hard (5.00 / 1) (#5)
by white n az on Sat Mar 15, 2008 at 02:35:37 PM EST

to believe that people still watch MSNBC.

It has become channel non-grata here. KO was last straw.

What it will tell them (5.00 / 1) (#8)
by TeresaInSnow2 on Sat Mar 15, 2008 at 02:42:44 PM EST

What they will read is that they aren't being hard enough on Clinton, and therefore their ratings are dropping off.

They will think that more Hillary slamming == higher ratings.

They will continue to believe that certain A-list bloggers are the universe that needs to be pandered to, and won't let the fact that about 50% of primary voters support Clinton confuse them.

(Actually Keith's ratings dropped off on special smear-um comment day. I suspect that he believed that slamming Hillary would steal viewers from O'Reilly because KO had his own Republican red meat to share....didn't happen.).

What is a KO "Special Comment?" (none / 0) (#33)
by oculus on Sat Mar 15, 2008 at 04:47:50 PM EST

I know he just did one that was entirely anti-HRC. [I didn't watch it.] Are these "special comments" a regular feature of his show?

Parent

They Are 'Semi' Regular (none / 0) (#44)
by flashman on Sat Mar 15, 2008 at 07:20:48 PM EST

He has done them from time to time over the years. Usually, it's a long harangue over something the Bush administration has done that really gets his goat. Not that he is "All Obama, All The Time" all of his invective is directed at Hillary. He uses the first 15 minutes of every show to smear Hillary and praise Obama. I haven't watched since he totally sold out. I hope he gets cancelled soon.

Parent

: Damn (none / 0) (#45)
by flashman on Sat Mar 15, 2008 at 07:23:17 PM EST

The thrid sentance should be, "NOW that he is
"All Obmam....

Parent

I'm amazed (5.00 / 1) (#23)
by stillife on Sat Mar 15, 2008 at 03:37:15 PM EST

that Larry King still does so well in the ratings. I'm not surprised by Dobbs, b/c he's always had a solid contingent of conservative rich white men who watch his show. I'm not sure this is still true, but I read awhile ago that his advertising rates were higher than other CNN shows b/c of his demo.

Speaking of demos, I have to wonder if the Obama lovefest on MSNBC in general and Olbermann in particular could be driven by the desire to capture younger viewers. Not that I'm cynical or anything.

Reality Check (5.00 / 1) (#25)
by Robot Porter on Sat Mar 15, 2008 at 03:52:50 PM EST

What are people really watching? Spongebob! Yup, week after week, Spongebob grabs multiple slots on the cable ratings.

And still almost no one watches Cable.

The top rated show on cable, in the week linked above, has just a bit over half the audience of the 20th ranked show on broadcast.

So when KO appears on Spongebob or American Idol, then I'll start to worry. Until then ... much ado about nothing. A sideshow of a sideshow.

: yes but (none / 0) (#49)
by jimakaPPJ on Sat Mar 15, 2008 at 10:22:26 PM EST

The audience on cable is most likely to vote and support.

Parent

glad to see KO 3rd (5.00 / 1) (#26)
by thereyougo on Sat Mar 15, 2008 at 04:15:21 PM EST

from the bottom and Tweety AT THE BOTTOM.

Why do they keep him? He keeps sinking yet he hovers and hangs in there.I don't watch him for 5 years now. He's so pathetic

Why does he command media darling status?

A ski jump (5.00 / 1) (#36)
by facta non verba on Sat Mar 15, 2008 at 05:03:25 PM EST

has a gentler slope than KO's ratings. I looked at the Nielsen ratings. In a nosedive since early-mid February, which leads me to ask this question. Was his Special Commentary on Geraldine Ferraro a desperate attempt to drive ratings?

Well (none / 0) (#41)
by Steve M on Sat Mar 15, 2008 at 06:18:17 PM EST

Small wonder then that he decided to make such a blatant play for the dkos constituency, assuming I don't have my cause and effect reversed.

It's kinda similar to how Chris Dodd was running out of money in the primary and getting nowhere, when all of a sudden he decides telecom immunity is the most important issue of all time. Now, I'm certainly happy he did what he did, but it still seems like it was a blatant play for netroots cash.

Parent

: perhaps (none / 0) (#43)
by white n az on Sat Mar 15, 2008 at 06:48:38 PM EST

but thankfully, BHO paid off his campaign debt and unsurprisingly, endorsed BHO.

Parent
: KO Posted On KOS a Day Or So Ago (none / 0) (#46)
by flashman on Sat Mar 15, 2008 at 07:26:20 PM EST

His posting was just weird, and didn't make any sense at all. This from a professional communicator. Even his fans were confused.

Parent

I miss Aaron Brown (5.00 / 2) (#39)
by zyx on Sat Mar 15, 2008 at 05:22:23 PM EST

CNN dumped him for Anderson Cooper. I don't know what the details were but I think it was a mistake.

Aaron wasn't pretty enough (none / 0) (#50)
by jimakaPPJ on Sat Mar 15, 2008 at 10:25:44 PM EST

I thought he was great in Seattle...and watched him on CNN.. Now I never stop on CNN or MSNBC. Why should I? I know what they will say.

Parent

I guess you mean (none / 0) (#53)
by zyx on Sun Mar 16, 2008 at 11:31:41 AM EST

like Anderson Cooper is "pretty". That doesn't do anything for me.

I used to call Aaron Brown "Mr. Rogers for grown-ups", but I meant that in a GOOD way. I really liked him a lot--calm and even, though now and then he did show a flash of temper in social-justice matters.

I really couldn't believe that they just disappeared him like they did.

Parent

: Nope (none / 0) (#54)
by jimakaPPJ on Sun Mar 16, 2008 at 12:23:11 PM EST

I meant what I wrote. Cooper has nothing to do with CNN deciding that Brown was an aging star and that youth must be served.

Parent

Hey, don't knock it (none / 0) (#1)
by Kathy on Sat Mar 15, 2008 at 02:28:56 PM EST

last I checked, Olberman was at 850K. This is a huge jump for him. No doubt some repubs have started paying attention (preaching to the choir)

Olbermann carved out a niche audience (5.00 / 1) (#24)
by OxyCon on Sat Mar 15, 2008 at 03:39:30 PM EST

by giving a voice to those of us who felt like we didn't have one.
Now, he's gone and pissed off half his audience. While his numbers will not drop automatically, because I believe there are still many people who are angry at him who are still watching him for the "shock values" of it all, I do think his ratings will eventually hit rock bottom.

Parent

: Shock Value (none / 0) (#47)
by flashman on Sat Mar 15, 2008 at 07:28:32 PM EST

All I get is wrech value. I can't stand to look at his smirking face anymore.
And I very rarely missed in installment in the previous 5 or so years.

Parent

so? (none / 0) (#6)
by progrocks on Sat Mar 15, 2008 at 02:37:42 PM EST

and more people watch american idol than the wire. Is that supposed to tell HBO something?

all it shows is that america watches crap, nothing more, nothing less. trying to make comment on ratings is a little out of your pay grade. there are many long term and systematic reasons for why it is the way it is, and none of it has to do with how they treat Hillary Clinton

Will this tell MSNBC anything? (none / 0) (#7)
by Adept Havelock on Sat Mar 15, 2008 at 02:38:45 PM EST

Sure, that they still have a long ways to go catching up with CNN and Fox. Nothing new there.

What is the 8 pm CNN show? (none / 0) (#9)
by Big Tent Democrat on Sat Mar 15, 2008 at 02:43:06 PM EST

Lately they have been (5.00 / 1) (#10)
by Jeralyn on Sat Mar 15, 2008 at 02:44:45 PM EST

repeating Anderson 360, at least in Denver, he airs at 8 and again at 9 and it's the same show.

Parent

That's interesting (5.00 / 2) (#14)
by Big Tent Democrat on Sat Mar 15, 2008 at 02:47:02 PM EST

Keith was running second at 8, now he is back in solid 3rd.

He clearly has lost Clinton folks with his approach.

Parent

Well, He Lost Me... (5.00 / 2) (#29)
by AmyinSC on Sat Mar 15, 2008 at 04:34:12 PM EST

And I was an avid, faithful viewer. I dvr'ed it every night. But once he lost his objectivity, he lost me. I really thought he WAS the Edward R. Murrow of our generation. Now? Not so much. Not even close. Not worthy to use his sign-off...

Parent

: I never thought he was obective. (5.00 / 1) (#35)
by Joelarama on Sat Mar 15, 2008 at 05:03:12 PM EST

But I thought he was pretty fair. Not any more.

Parent

Election coverage (5.00 / 1) (#30)
by jcsf on Sat Mar 15, 2008 at 04:36:12 PM EST

has something to do with it.

Parent

I second that, (5.00 / 1) (#31)
by sas on Sat Mar 15, 2008 at 04:41:16 PM EST

Back to sportscasting?

Parent

I reluctantly cancelled my TiVo (5.00 / 1) (#34)
by Joelarama on Sat Mar 15, 2008 at 05:02:07 PM EST

season pass. That special comment was so scattered, so stupid, I couldn't watch him any more.

Parent

He is still second in the demo (none / 0) (#16)
by Big Tent Democrat on Sat Mar 15, 2008 at 02:50:16 PM EST

25-54 though.

Parent

Here's the TVNewser ratings page (none / 0) (#13)
by TeresaInSnow2 on Sat Mar 15, 2008 at 02:46:36 PM EST

It tells what was shown on cable news late afternoon/evening and the ratings for the last few weeks

Link

Parent

KO still in second in the demo (25-54) (5.00 / 1) (#15)
by Big Tent Democrat on Sat Mar 15, 2008 at 02:49:39 PM EST

most nights, but he is 3rd in some of them.

He used to never finish 3rd.

It seems to me MSNBC has made a mistake in becoming the Obama network. I am surprised, I figured it was helping them

Parent

: see the thing is (5.00 / 1) (#18)
by white n az on Sat Mar 15, 2008 at 02:53:27 PM EST

that they aren't really the Obama network but rather the home of all things CDS.
KO is an Obama supporter, perhaps Chuck Todd (Political Director) but you won't find any others.
Beyond that, they are clearly in McCain's camp and the realization of that will become obvious once they get their way and eliminate HRC from the campaign -or- the other way around.

Parent
: Keith Olbermann (5.00 / 2) (#19)
by TeresaInSnow2 on Sat Mar 15, 2008 at 02:55:28 PM EST

KO tends to echo the DailyKOS site. The last time I watched (about 3 weeks ago) their headlines were frequently his headlines.
It certainly saves time in research for him to do this, but it kills his viewing audience when he gets so one-sided.
He thinks the whole liberal web thinks like DailyKOS. He's wrong. The rest of us have just scattered (like roaches ;-).

Parent

This is the more relevant link (none / 0) (#27)
by jcsf on Sat Mar 15, 2008 at 04:32:54 PM EST

As you compare same time period. All of Fox's stuff seems to repeat - are the Drudge numbers above, including the repeats? It must be, that's the only way that Grace beats Countdown.

Parent

woops - no, mistake - maybe Larry King (none / 0) (#12)
by Dr Molly on Sat Mar 15, 2008 at 02:46:07 PM EST

Sat. Night Live Tonight (none / 0) (#17)
by Jeralyn on Sat Mar 15, 2008 at 02:51:06 PM EST

should be better than all of them, I can't imagine they won't skewer everyone.

Maybe it tells them to be more like Fox? n/t (none / 0) (#22)
by vj on Sat Mar 15, 2008 at 03:19:29 PM EST

actually (none / 0) (#37)
by sef on Sat Mar 15, 2008 at 05:03:53 PM EST

These aren't the numbers for tweety, but rather only his 7pm numbers & I suspect only his 25-54 numbers. In total viewers, Tweety beats grace.

MSNBC's 6pm political talk shows had worst numbers than Tweety's. Tucker got crushed with only about a third of Olberman's numbers.

The 9pm numbers on MSNBC weren't that great either.

The problem with MSNBC & viewers isn't Tweety & Olberman rather that it is MSNBC.

Logic (none / 0) (#38)
by BlueMainer on Sat Mar 15, 2008 at 05:17:23 PM EST

By that logic, we should all be watching O'Reilly?

: For Clinton supporters (none / 0) (#42)
by zahid on Sat Mar 15, 2008 at 06:30:07 PM EST

the place to go these days really is O'Reilly as well as Hannity and Rush.

Parent

if you live by ratings... (none / 0) (#48)
by diogenes on Sat Mar 15, 2008 at 08:34:47 PM EST

If you think Hardball should learn by ratings, then obviously the best political show on the air is Bill O'Reilly.

Wow (none / 0) (#51)
by Slado on Sun Mar 16, 2008 at 09:58:16 AM EST

I had no idea FNC dominated as much as they do. 5 of the 7 top news shows are on FNC.

I actually like watching Hardball because CM is entertaining in what crazy notions he'll throw out but FNC frankly is just more entertaining to watch.

Brit Hume's show is good because they have honest debate with the same people every night so you get a good feeling of what they're about and how they'll comment and what they're point of view is. Mort is middle of the road, Fred and Crystal are right wingers, Mora is a blue blood liberal and Juan is all over the place.

Olbermann (none / 0) (#52)
by Deconstructionist on Sun Mar 16, 2008 at 10:06:21 AM EST

has not changed in the slightest. He is as he always was-- it's just his choice of a target du saison that has changed.

Cable News Ratings | 53 comments (53 topical)

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