Monday, December 31, 2012

Sean Hannity's ratings hit rock bottom after President Obama's reelection. Now THAT is change I can believe in!

"I'm losing to Rachel Maddow? How can this be?"
Courtesy of the New York Daily News:

In a fitting coda to 2012, we’ve learned that the ratings for rock-ribbed conservative Sean Hannity cratered after Barack Obama won his second term, with viewers tuning out the Fox News Channel talk-show host in droves. 

According to Nielsen numbers, Hannity lost around half of his audience in the weeks after the election, while his Fox News colleague Bill O’Reilly — who steadfastly refuses to identify himself politically as a conservative — retained around 70% of his audience. 

So what happened to Hannity? 

The going wisdom is that viewers who basked in his preelection anti-Obama rhetoric tuned him out when they were stunned to wake up on Nov. 7 and discover that the President had won a second term — a scenario that Hannity had all but promised could never happen. 

Before the election, Hannity was riding high in the ratings and topped thought leaders on the right, like Dick Morris, Ann Coulter, Peggy Noonan and talk radio bulldog Mark Levin, who predicted Obama would lose in a landslide. 

Those voices — and many others like them — all but drove the political coverage on Fox News, talk radio and conservative blogs. 

But as Conor Friedersdorf wrote in The Atlantic just after the election, “Outside the conservative media, the narrative was completely different.” 

And when the dust settled, it turns out Hannity’s viewers opted to vote again — with their remotes. 

Adding insult to injury, two of Hannity’s rivals on MSNBC, Ed Schultz and Rachel Maddow, held onto huge chunks of their audiences, while at CNN, far less politically polarizing host Anderson Cooper lost almost none of his viewers postelection. 

It got even worse for Hannity in the “money demo” of viewers 25-54, who are prized by advertisers. 

With this group, Hannity held onto less than half his preelection audience. O’Reilly, on the other hand, kept almost 70%. 

And through the early part of December, Maddow actually beat Hannity in the coveted group — a shocking turn, because until the election, Hannity was unassailable by any of his rivals, at least in terms of ratings. 

This is the kind of news that I find especially heartwarming. And you know the thing is that I doubt Hannity will be able to attract new viewers due to the Fox News demographic dying out and the newer generation's disgust with the vitriol and bullshit that flows from Fox News.

I see this as only the beginning of the end for many of Fox's most  aggressive purveyors of propaganda, and have to imagine that about now the powers that be are thinking of ways to revamp the network in order to survive in the coming years.

I also believe that this all but dooms any hope Sarah Palin might have had of having her contract renewed. With the very symbol of Right Wing conspiracy taking such a hit in the ratings I do not see what business sense there is in bringing Palin, who is the very antithesis of honesty and journalistic integrity, back onto the airwaves in any other capacity except comic relief.

45 comments:

  1. Anonymous6:24 AM

    Remember Sarah Palin's little spat with Roger Ailes shortly before the RNC? What's the bet that it was because Ailes had just told her that she was out of a job come renewal time? I'm also thinking that all the chatter at the peepond about her contract is because they suspect she was sacked - she can't get a gig at FUX except to contribute to Hanutty's losing ratings or at the last minute on the occasional Friday night with GVS, when nobody is watching her/him.

    Gonna be a miserable 2013 for Mrs Palin. The pond certainly can't keep her in fugly platform sandals...

    And I'm not worried about some old impotent Las Vegas gazillionaire trying to resurrect her. No amount of Viagra can make up for the fact that Roger Ailes hates her.

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    1. Anonymous7:15 AM

      Sarah has long made an ass out of herself while proclaiming "I will not sit down and shut up." I wonder how this is going to work when she no longer can get anyone to turn a camera her direction. Of course, if she manages to do something like, say, get indicted she may get plenty more attention. My great hope is that some in Alaska, seeing her popularity crater, will decide that they aren't going to keep her many squalid secrets any more. That is one thing she should probably be very worried about right now. One thing, though: the sell-by date on juicy Palin stories may be approaching, so those in the know should probably be hitting up Enquirer any time now. Once everyone has totally lost interest the going rate for dirt on her his going to be down.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous8:07 AM

      They'll keep leaking stuff to gossip sites just to keep their name out there. Seems according to TMZ Wendy filed for divorce citing "incompatibility of temperament" and A hearing is set for January -- but until then Wendy has primary custody and James gets visitation ... as long as he lays off booze for 24 hours before seeing his daughter.
      The funniest part of the announcement is that it went form exclusive top of the page to the bottom when Kanye West announced Kim K is pregnant.

      She's done and just about everyone knows it except for it seems some of her "real American Patriots over at C4P but to be honest is it just me but do some you worry about them being out by themselves.

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    3. Who the heck are Wendy and James? Palin's kid and wife are Track and Britta.

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    4. Anonymous9:31 AM

      Who the hell are these people? I could care less about people only tangentially associated with the Palins.

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    5. Anonymous9:47 AM

      I was wonderting the same....were wendy and james the kids in Peter Pan? and if so what does that have to do with dysfunctional Palin family?

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    6. Anonymous11:29 PM

      Wendy is James Palin's wife - Toad Palin's brother. So...Toad Palin's brother James Palin is divorcing his wife, Wendy! so everyone in the Palinism is divorcing every body!

      http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/31/palin-divorce-sarah-palin_n_2388970.html

      Delete
  2. Lying about an election?
    Is that what it took to make people what fox news really does?

    I'm sure there is that 25% of Americans that can never ever be made to understand that fox news lies 24/7.

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    1. Anonymous9:37 AM

      Spot on. Anybody invested in the Hannity meme are already off the wall. The ramp up narrative before the election was nothing but showboating in the echo chamber. Remember, they have no ability to reason and avoid facts at every opportunity. It is all about hate and money.

      Delete
  3. Anonymous7:20 AM

    His ratings are still too high; if we are still looking at him. He needs to be off the air.

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  4. "...rock-ribbed conservative Sean Hannity..."

    "...rock-head conservative Sean Hannity..."

    There, fixed it for you, Daily News.

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  5. Anonymous7:37 AM

    I think of fox news as a hate group, almost as vile as the Westboro church. Hopefully, both will self-destruct.

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    1. Anonymous11:37 AM

      '''''Anonymous7:37 AM

      I think of fox news as a hate group, almost as vile as the Westboro church. ''''

      I SO agree.

      Delete
  6. Anonymous7:37 AM

    but....but.....I LIKE comic relief!

    This fiscal cliff stuff is showing just HOW much the repubs carer about what happens to this country and its citizenry.

    Whether it's Hannity or Karl Rove's meltdown on election night, FUX has shown exactly who they are for all the world to see. It's probably why there's been no peep out of Esther, too. Her days are OVA and why do Facebook or tweets? It was all for show and attention, and she cares about this country like she cared for the "great state of Alaska" when she quit. ZERO.

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    1. Anonymous9:00 AM

      You're wrong about the repubs not caring. They care deeply about over spending and the debt crisis. It's just that they're wrong and they haven't come to terms with the necessary income redistribution that needs to happen. Sadly, but lucky for them, Bush set the stage and put America in a hole so deep it's going to take a long time to climb out of it.

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    2. Anonymous10:08 AM

      Don't see how that's lucky. I would for ONCE like any of them to admit that's how we got here. THEN I might think they care even a bit.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous10:33 AM

      I watched a Republican Congressman be interviewed this morning and he kept talking about how the debt ceiling had risen since President Obama took over. The only thing he forgot to mention was the Bush did not put the cost of the two wars he got us in in the budget and when President Obama took office, he placed the costs where they should have been and correctly so!

      The Republicans are complete assholes and lie, lie, lie. They are trying to blame this 'cliff' mess to be President Obama's fault vs theirs.

      Time to vote as many as possible out of office in 2014. They don't work - they obstruct - they lie and don't give a friggin' damn about the American people!

      Screw them!

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    4. Anonymous11:10 AM

      AMEN. Repubs do NOT care. In the LEAST.

      Delete
  7. Anonymous8:19 AM

    Poll: Obama, Clinton still USA's most admired persons

    http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2012/12/28/obama-hillary-clinton-most-admired-gallup/1797093/

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  8. Anonymous8:28 AM

    More FUXery.

    http://www.politicususa.com/public-utterances-republicans-hillary-telling-truth.html

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  9. Smirnonn9:01 AM

    Well, good. Couldn't happen to a nicer guy. I'm usually a peace loving kinda guy but when I watch insHannity I just want to eviscerate him.

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    1. Anonymous10:27 AM

      x2

      Delete
    2. Anonymous12:22 PM

      I second that emotion...Oh..if you feel like...oops. Well, you know.

      Delete
  10. Dinty9:51 AM

    OT, but slightly related - It's funny that we haven't heard anything about a certain former half-term Governor getting her contract renewed at Fox News...

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  11. Anonymous9:58 AM

    What? You mean Sarah did not raise his ratings when she was on?

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  12. Anonymous10:02 AM

    Remember last year around this time when Sarah was on Faux nearly every week giving her skreeds from her crypt by the Dead Lake? I do think she is on her way out the door at Faux. She is no longer "hot" and consequently does not bring in the ratings. I would not be surprised if her contract is not renewed.

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    1. Caroll Thompson12:59 PM

      I think Sarah's hatred has turned her into a very ugly person. She used to be "hot", but now she is just butt ugly.

      Delete
  13. Anonymous10:27 AM

    Best news of the day! The article didn't mention Sarah Palin being on his show all the time. Everything she touches turns to shit! Too bad he had to learn the hard way. Way too big an ego!! This will cut him down to size!

    I bet Greta will be next! And, I agree IM, I seriously doubt Sarah Palin will have a spot at FOX anymore.

    Happy New Year everyone!

    MSNBC - Rachel, Lawrence, Al and Ed are the ones to watch - listen to and learn from! Yea!!!! Why anyone ever paid attention to FOX beats the hell out of me!

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    1. Anonymous11:12 AM

      Happy New Year! Ding dong the witch is DEAD. FINALLY.

      Delete
  14. Anonymous11:28 AM

    Do you suppose the reason Sarah has been so quiet is because she has been informed her gig is over at Fox?

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    1. Anonymous12:21 PM

      I suspect it was the media's speculation over her dramatic weight loss and appearance this fall that actually sparked her remark about writing a diet and fitness book. She was cornered, getting negative press and had to come up with 'something.' "Oh, I'm getting so thin because of my healthy diet and exercise routine."
      I'm sure she's been frantically trying to find a ghost writer educated in the science of diet and exercise to pen this book for her...She'll pose for an abundance of photos, photos of her loving, motivated (healthy!) children and then slap her name on it...
      Then the attention-getting, never-ending grifting to fill her SarahPAC book tour begins!! She'll parlay this into yet another money-making scheme that will net her not only money, but attention....

      Delete
    2. Anonymous2:33 PM

      What a kick in the ass! Sarah Palin has no fucking clue how to cook - proven by Levi and her kids! She is the worst example of a mother out there! Wish just one person would ask her specific questions about foods - she'd flunk as to the answers no doubt about it!

      Another book by a Palin that will fail.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous2:45 PM

      There isn't going to be any fitness book.

      Another pathetic lie, plain and simple - just like brisdull! ha!

      Delete
  15. Anonymous12:11 PM

    Huffington just posted another Palin divorce. Sarah's sister in law... wow, gets better all the time.

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  16. Anonymous12:31 PM

    This is O/T: but I must share...

    A friend of ours, Steve, came over last night and while we (my husband, Steve and I) were watching TV, he spouted off about how Obama's 'big' vacation cost U.S. taxpayers $600 million A DAY. (And you know, the president stayed on vacation for soooo long...)

    I asked him pointedly: "Where did you hear that?"
    His reply was: "I heard that on John Boy and Billy."

    Now, for those of you who do not know of, or ever have listened to John Boy and Billy...they are a Southern redneck country music station duo...they broadcast out of Charlotte, North Carolina...they are strictly an entertainment/music show duo.

    I said to him, "You do know that John Boy and Billy are not a credible news outlet, don't you?"
    He didn't care. This was said on this ridiculous mess of a radio station, by a ridiculous mess of a duo, and he believed it. Done deal.

    This is so typical, not only in the South, but all over the country. Limbaugh says something...and his ditto-head followers believe it to be in the Bible.

    Friends, it's frightening. Just thank the flying spaghetti monster that enough reasonable, intelligent people didn't fall for the right-wing rhetoric on Nov. 6!

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    1. Anonymous2:49 PM

      It's sad, but this is why I believe we aren't "supposed" to talk politics and religion with our friends and family -

      We will find out that they are not as bright, or as caring, as we had believed.

      It is actually devastating when you had thought someone a kind and intelligent person, only to find out they are able to ascribe to the lunacy and blatant hypocrisy of entertainment conglomerates, like Faux News and Limbaugh.

      and the irony is, they will FIGHT you b/c they BELIEVE they are being EDUCATED, and it is YOU who are the Uninformed Dolt being led astray by the "lamestream media".

      Delete
  17. Anonymous12:40 PM

    I think of the Fox channel as a boil on the butt of America.

    I found myself rooting on the attempts by many to try to petition their demise...despite my usual aversion to that method of getting rid of anything.

    To hear that it is happening because the people are getting WISE to the onslaught of puke and shit they allowed themselves to be covered with, every time they tuned in, is a much better outcome.

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  18. Caroll Thompson12:58 PM

    Best news I have heard all year. I guess even FOX viewers know they were lied to. FOX has been little better than the right wing of the right wing. And I have to say that just because you say it is to (Obama loses) does not make it so. Obviously, the viewers are not happy at being lied to. They actually believed that Romney would win because FOX said so.

    And what does Hannity have to offer but hatred of the President (same with Sarah Palin - all she has to offer is her hatred of the President).

    I still think President Obama is the best President of my lifetime and I think we are all very lucky to have him.

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    1. Anonymous2:50 PM

      I think Hannity's ratings fall is an EXCELLENT indicator that Sarah the Bitch got her pink slip.

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    2. Anonymous3:31 PM

      Oh, she is DONE. Let the pee pond cry and clutch their prayer beads.

      Delete
  19. Anonymous2:31 PM

    What are the Repubs gonna say when President Obama ends up on Mt. Rushmore as one of the best presidents our nation has ever had? Won't that be a kick in the ass?!!!!

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  20. Anonymous5:46 PM

    TMZ is reporting another breakup at Palins, thisntime its Todd bro. This family values sucks.LOL

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  21. Hannity's crisis actually began earlier, during the "Slutgate" crisis in which Hannity had backed up Rush Limbaugh for days before he finally apologized.

    http://www.opednews.com/articles/Limbaugh-and-Hannity-Turn-by-Gustav-Wynn-120401-941.html

    The radio audience numbers didn't move much then, but 'barter' advertisers requested they no longer have spots automatically placed in "offensive" programs like Hannity.

    Since then, his show has had many more "filler" ads, like PSAs and even dead air. As a result, Hannity and Limbaugh's syndicators have reported millions in losses.

    Hannity was pathetic during the super storm Sandy, caught repeatedly lying the day before the election about unions blocking relief efforts and gas availability.

    http://www.opednews.com/articles/Shock-Audio-Hannity-s-Lat-by-Gustav-Wynn-121106-875.html

    But Hannity was simply awful since the election. After the biting loss, Hannity actually advocated on the air the US start a war in Gaza - this is not an Onion headline, he really said this.

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  22. Anonymous9:05 PM

    Hannity is such a horses ass, i hope his ratings continue go down.

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  23. Anonymous11:31 PM

    These vile psychopats not only should not be on the air ,but they should be thrown out of America, they're making an already violent,volatile society even more so with their lies, hate and subtle(or less subtle) inciting to some kind of 'fight' against the 'black' president or democrats(remember Gifford?! The most vile people I've ever seen(or heard) in my life and I was born in..communism and hated them , but,believe me, they were Mother Teresa compared to these racist,greedy,corrupt,LYING vile creeps(including GOP!)You can only take that 'freedom of speach' so far and for granted, for so long!! Sooner or later, that right(or privilege?) should be taken away from them!!

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