Are Fox Ratings Dropping As Tea Party Election Fails Stack Up?

[Joanne98]

By Leslie Savan, The Nation
Posted on June 6, 2010, Printed on June 7, 2010
http://www.alternet.org/story/147117/

Could it be that the nation’s infatuation with Fox News is slowly, slowly coming to an end? Looking at long-term cable ratings, you might surmise that on its way to the Tea Party, Fox has indeed jumped a shark or two.

Nothing is simple when it comes to stats or cable news, but consider: Bill O’Reilly, Sean Hannity, and Greta Van Susteren have each hit their lowest point in a year or more with the key 25- to 54-year-old demo, according to the latest Nielsens. This 12- to 16-month measurement is more detailed than a “year to year” comparison, which can make a show look strong or weak depending on what particular month you start from. But as a CNN press release happily notes: “May represents The O’Reilly Factor’s worst performance since January 2009, Hannity’s lowest delivery to date since taking over the time period in January2009, and On the Record’s lowest since May 2009. Fox Report with Shep Smith had its lowest demo delivery since December 2008.”

O’Reilly, for instance, had some 625,000 viewers in the 25-54 age range in January 2009, built to a peak of one million by November, and dropped, to 693,000, by May 2010. Hannity and Van Susteren had similar rises and falls. Glenn Beck did not hit a 12-month-or-more low point. But as Eric Boehlert of Media Matters points out, Beck’s numbers have fallen since his high in January, and “fter twelve months of hype, Beck has not significantly grown his TV audience.”

And, by any measure, if you look at total viewership for all of Fox News, some audience-shedding is also evident. “In total day total viewers, FNC was down 6% year-to-year (while MSNBC was up 3% and CNN was down 16%),”writes Mediaite.

http://www.alternet.org/story/147117/are_fox_ratings_dropping_as_tea_party_election_fails_stack_up/

[Bitwit1234]

1. With the almost insane rantings of people like Beck

and Hannity I think most real republicans have come to their senses and realized they have been fed lies and manufactured stories for years. Maybe they are looking to other sources for real news. Maybe they do see the tea bags as a re-organization of the KKK as put together by people like Dick Armey to get political gain. I sure hope so, it is about time this insane cable SHOW and that's all it is a show, comes to an end. I hope Murdoch goes bankrupt.

[RKP5637]

2. I too think many real republicans might have come to their senses and have realized they have been

fed lies and manufactured stories for years. I do find it difficult to believe any moderately reasonable individual can take a steady diet of Fox News and not eventually wonder WTF.

[AlinPA]

8. There are not too many "moderately reasonable individuals" in the Fox "news" audience and

certainly not in the republican party. There is a large percentage of 'murcans that sit there and drool over Beck, Hannity, O Reilly, the "anchors", and the assholes on the morning show. The woman with blonde hair and the bug eyes on the morning show is the worst. Waiting rooms, breakfast rooms in motels and other public places are tuned to that crap and it is hard to avoid it.

[RKP5637]

9. I've noticed that a lot, "Waiting rooms, breakfast rooms in motels and other public places are

tuned to that crap and it is hard to avoid it." It's the brainwashing of America. Yeah, I think you are correct, the moderately reasonable individuals have long left Fox News by now.

[ladywnch]

12. yeah, both my mother and I have noticed the same thing

I was working on the road and every hotel I stayed at had FNC on in the lobby/eating area.

My mother has taken to walking into an establishment and going straight to the tv and changing the channel. She doesn't bother asking if anyone is watching it......she just turns it off.

I agree though, it is brainwashing. How do/did they get so much power? How do they get all these places to air only their programming? Are they (the businesses) getting paid to have Faux on?

[RKP5637]

14. I have a feeling sometimes it's a top down directive to be the channel of choice, because

they are seen as pro-business, waving the flag, RW and all... and very republican as are many top brass execs. I also think much of American is easily led and so gullible, so they fall for the fair and unbiased crap Fox News likes to spew... it's seductive brainwashing. We also have generations of Americans that used to be able to somewhat trust the news, those that somehow believe nothing wrong can be printed or aired on television. As often said, they walk among us.

[Grassy Knoll]

16. Good for your mom....

I have done that myself.
I was at a chinese lunch the other day, they had it on fox news, no sound,
I asked why have it on then ? the manager stated , the bright colors and the blonds,
ever notice that they turn the color way up on the broadcast ?

[LongTomH]

19. The Answer: TV B-Gone

TV B-Gone is a little, remote-like device that turns off TV's.

Your TV-B-Gone® universal remote control resembles other TV remote controls, but is different in two important ways. First, it only has a power button that allows you to switch a TV on or off. You control when you see, rather than what you see. Second, the device is so small that it easily fits in your pocket, so that you have it handy whenever you need it wherever you go: airports, bars, restaurants, laundromats, etc.

Gotta get me one of these!;-)

[Bert]

20. You got that right

For a while I worked as an electrician in a slaughterhouse in Indiana, actually owned by Mittsubishi that employs hundreds of illegals and was reputed to advertise in Mexico. Anyway, they got a new breakroom that was locked onto Fox, I think one time the channel was changed and they got real mad and had it locked to Fox 24/7. Ironic to say the least that a business that employs illegals was playing Fox 24/7, or maybe not so ironic at that. At the very least it was a hamhanded attempt to brainwash it's employees. I made it a point not to buy anything that was advertised on this channel.

[left coaster]

3. "Could it be that the nation’s infatuation with Fox News is slowly, slowly coming to an end? "

Even at the height of Faux News viewership, was the above statement ever really true? yeah, I know, even if ten people watch that RW noise machine, it's ten people too many.. still.. I'd like to see some numbers that back up that statement, anyway..

[nxylas]

7. If ten people are watching Fox Noise...

...nine of them are probably sitting in a publicly accessible place of business (bar, restaurant, hotel lobby etc.) owned by a Republican.

[RKP5637]

15. +1, n/t

[AndyA]

4. Anyone with any intelligence and common sense will eventually see Faux News for what it is.

You can't watch Glenn Beck for long without questioning his sanity. At some point, you realize his rantings are more about stirring up controversy than really reporting the news, or presenting information in a way that allows the viewer to decide for themselves what's what.

Bill O'Reilly is a hypocrite, and has been called out regularly for being one by Keith Olbermann. Most recall his abusive manner toward women, which should not be tolerated at all by anyone. He lies and states he's never said something, yet multiple examples of him saying it exist.

The blonde bubbleheads with their low-cut tops exposing cleavage just cannot be taken seriously.

I really think all but the most hateful, bigoted zealots will eventually realize that Faux News isn't what it says it is. Perhaps that is beginning to happen, now. The world is already insane, we don't need a cable channel adding fuel to the fire.

[RKP5637]

5. Yeah, I love the blond bubbleheads with the anchor chains around their necks. They look

like they are going into battle in medieval England with body armor around their necks and at least two cans of hair spray.

[asjr]

6. It could mean there are not as many

dumbasses in this country as previously thought.

[Bluenorthwest]

10. For comparison, Network News ratings...

Numbers for the week of May 24:
NBC ABC CBS
• Total: 7,400,000 6,650,000 5,330,000
• A25-54: 2,150,000 1,930,000 1,620,000

[tiny elvis]

11. almost 1% of adults watch foxnews

it is just a part of our commercial news problem

[Union Yes]

13. K&R nt

[nichomachus]

17. This November will tell the tale

The TeaHadists haven't been in a real election, yet. Their "successes" -- e.g. Trucky McCenterfold in MA -- came because it was a special election and they could focus all their nationwide resources on one race.

In November, they will have to deal with 435 house races, as well as 30 or so Senate races, along with a lot of state and local elections. November will tell just how powerful -- or not -- they really are.

[classysassy]

18. The american public

or the citizens of this country are too damn lazy to get off their fat rear ends to read a news paper or magazine,they would rather sit and listen to the slop and cow manure from the likes of Beck, and Hannity.We are the most ill informed country on the planet.