From Politicususa:
The ratings troubles at Fox News continue to mount as along with the collapse of Glenn Beck, the networks entire prime time lineup is down in down in total viewers over the past year. FNC embraced the Tea Party and saw its ratings fall 6%, while MSNBC’s have grown by 3%. In other words, since Fox News embraced the Tea Party, they have lost over 120,000 daily viewers.
According to the entire FNC prime time lineup has declined from their 2009 numbers. In May, “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.” O’Reilly and Hannity had his lowest numbers in the demo since January of 2009, and Greta Van Sustern did her worst numbers since May of 2009.
The logic of using someone as polarizing and unpopular as Palin as bridge between the network and the Tea Partiers is dubious at best. It is as if no one ever thought that Palin could become the same kind of anchor around the necks of Fox News and the Tea Party that she was to John McCain’s presidential campaign in 2008. This isn’t to say that Palin herself is strictly to blame. She isn’t, but she is the embodiment of what has gone wrong for both Fox News and the Tea Party.
The notion that Fox News could shift even further to the right, hire Sarah Palin, and engage in overt political advocacy, while still increasing ratings was a pipe dream akin to George W. Bush’s dream that he could make the economy flourish by both increasing spending and cutting taxes. Fox News embraced Palin and the far right only to see their reward be declining ratings. The execs at FNC guessed wrong on the future direction of the country, and now they are paying the price. The Fox News freight train is still strong, but is losing steam, because in politics, anger is a fuel that burns quickly, and has limited effectiveness.
The curse of Sarah Palin continues, and it could not happen to a more deserving network.
You made my day with this news
ReplyDeleteHope it continues to go down, wow...
this world may be made of good decent people
after all.
Hmmm you know I also think the fanship has decreased even more dramatically than that! Because of the far right Nuttery in the past year I.e. Palin spouting lies, hannity going ape, the tea parties and of course Glenn beck - I actually suspect that the number of people watching for a sure fire train wreck have increased - I have certainly watched more! So accounting for the 'freak show' effect, maybe the numbers of people watching Fox because they like it and respect it as a source have sharply decreased. It gives you faith in humanity because I was beginning to feel as though everyone leaning conservative was lurching wildly to the far right but maybe this means the non bat shit insane conservatives are watching palin bachmann beck et al (and fox's ongoing support of reprehensible people doing reprehensible things) and they are rightly thinking these people are crazy let's watch the real news. Phew. I was getting so concerned about the fringe right taking over the US.
ReplyDeleteYou have got to be kidding Gryphen? Fox is still #1 by miles. KO ratings are horrible. MSNBC will never come close to Fox in any demographic. This is like complaining about a billionaire losing $20 on the lottery. When you're #1 by miles you can afford a slight dip in ratings without raising any red flags.
ReplyDeleteThe problem is that Fox is viewed in many more markets than MSNBC or CNN. I am almost inclined to believe that they pay for position, the same way that someone can pay to be the first thing that comes up when you hit Google.
ReplyDeleteWe have friends who live in Israel, and they are addicted to Fox; they have been brainwashed by Fox. The only other station available to them is CNN International, which charges too much money for a subscription.
As we have traveled around the country, we notice that many hotels do not receive MSNBC as part of their cable package. Fox News yes, MSNBC no. This is especially true of red states or the conservative parts of large states. It is also true of Air America (or whatever it is called today). Their market are the coasts and a handful of liberal locations; Rush and right wing radio have a much larger market, so they have many more listeners. Democrats are poor about messaging.
One interesting aspect is how important the internet has become in spreading information, both rumors and lies (think Swift Boat) and the truth (George Allen and macaca). When something goes viral, it may have more readers, viewers and listeners than all of the TV and radio stations put together. The same goes for a cat playing a piano.
MSNBC have both sides on and actually let them both talk. Instead of talking over them. They also do research and if they are wrong correct it. Here is your Fox news number one going to court to Misinform.
ReplyDelete"misinform"=o give incorrect information
tell an untruth; pretend with intent to deceive;cause someone to believe an untruth
Link where they went to court to do so.
http://www.relfe.com/media_can_legally_lie.html
In February 2003, a Florida Court of Appeals unanimously agreed with an assertion by FOX News that there is no rule against distorting or falsifying the news in the United States.
When NBC is sold to Comcast one of their first jobs will be to 'repurpose' MSNBC. The sale will complete by fall, KO and Ed and the rest will be gone by Thanksgiving.
ReplyDeleteGood one! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteNot to be a wet blanket, but couldn't some of the ratings drop be due to the fact that the Presidential election is over. Let's face it, it was pretty newsworthy regardless of the side you were rooting for. On the plus side, the whole right wing screed and Tea Party stuff doesn't seem to have had the traction that Fox News channel might have hoped for, even though there seems to be 24/7 coverage of these people and their vitriol on all the channels. I hope that's the case.
ReplyDeleteMeredithp, agree with your theory. People are so tired of fighting and nonsense from all parts of the political spectrum. Now with the oil catastrophe in the Gulf there is only so much room in our brains to assimilate information and keep emotionally on an even keel.
ReplyDeleteSarah Palin is an exception. We must focus disinfecting white light in every corner of her secretive life. She is not the cause of many issues, yet she is a shit disturber of the worst kind. She reminds me of a firebug who sets a blaze then hangs around to watch the outcome of their dirty work. A more disgusting creature cannot be found (except mcbatty).