CNN and MSNBC out FOXed … again
The new Nielson Media Research ratings show that FOX News is still the number one cable news network, but more importantly, it has extended its lead as its chief competitors, MSNBC and CNN, have hit the rating skids. FOX averaged more than 1.4 million daytime viewers and more than 2 million viewers in primetime.
The real story is not about the success of FOX but about the disastrous decline of CNN and MSNBC. The two FOX competitors have been losing ground for years, but they have literally cratered since President Trump’s victory. MSNBC lost an astonishing 54 percent of its viewers in less than a month.
In the latest ratings, FOX topped CNN by more than 400 percent in daytime views and more than 570 percent in prime time. FOX led MSNBC by almost 300 percent in daytime viewership and 330 percent in prime time.
According to reports by FOX, CNN had its worst week since 2001 — almost a quarter of a century — with a paltry 268,000 daily viewers – and 297,000 primetime viewers. MSNBC maintained second place with 346,000 daily viewers and 465,000 primetime viewers.
FOX not only continues to draw an audience greater than MSNBC and CNN, but the Rupert Murdock network expanded that lead to more than double the MSNBC/CNN combined numbers in both daily and primetime viewer categories.
Since Election Day, FOX holds 73 percent of the cable news audience – and has 98 of the top 100 cable shows. FOX’s “The Five” was the top rated show in cable news with an average of 4.1 million viewers.
When CNN first aired their new evening lineup – following a brief period of serious reform — I predicted that it had no more appeal than the failing old lineup. Even during some of the biggest news days of the year, CNN’s 8 to 11 p.m. time slot drew a smaller audience than Bravo, TV Land, The Discovery Channel, FX, the Food Network and the History Channel.
Both CNN and MSNBC have experienced dramatic losses – especially in the all-important 25 to 54 age group. CNN hit a 30-year low with only 41,000 views. And in that demographic, MSNBC fared even worse, with a measly 29,000 viewers. MSNBC ran behind Nickelodeon, Disney Channel, E!, The Cartoon Networked, Oxygen, MTV, Hallmark Mystery, and more. It was MSNBC’s worst showing 27 years.
The latest ratings are further evidence that – contrary to the clams of the left – the people of America are not stupid, gullible or low information voters – even when voting with their television remotes.
So, there ‘tis.
The author loves his little cable news fishbowl where FOX has been number one for over eight years so is why does Horist seem surprised?
The only news in this is that FOX got less post election blahs than MSNBC. Here’s how an expert looked at it: *Post-election blahs are a cyclical feature of the landscape, regardless of which party wins.” And the title was: “The sky isn’t falling for cable news, yet.” *https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/tv-ratings-cnn-msnbc-fox-election-trump-1236080253/*
What Larry does not answer is where do people get their news. Turns out it isn’t TV and it may not be FOX cable news on your phone or pc either. *https://www.pewresearch.org/journalism/fact-sheet/news-platform-fact-sheet/*
Now, most do not read print news. But there too, the digital world provides access. NYTimes alone has 11 million subscribers, the author is hyping 2 million for FOX prime time. Snore.
Then there’s 20 questions to play before you say, hey, it’s all about cable news. Maybe to the author, but the real world get’s it’s news in lots of places, FOX dominates the conservative tv landscape, there’s not much competition. Perhaps newsmax and newsnation, but relatively new to cable and way down the channel guide, in the weeds, for me. Meanwhile, on the left we have msnbc, cnn, cnbc, bloomberg, and to a lesser liberal extent, pbs. And then you have network news which pulls over 20 million viewers (2022 and dropping between 5-10% per year). Again, FOX is a drop in the bucket to that.
Yup, when in doubt, fish the small pond to see FOX is number one in nowhere……
This data is easy to find if you want to play outside the box that is cable.
Speaking of which, and this is dated, 2014, but I bet similar today with a shift to digital like everything else. But hers’s a great piece showing, statistically Larry, how conservatives and liberals get their news like: liberals read, conservatives view. Conservatives seek out the liked minded, liberals seek out diversity in thought. OK, OK, unknot the knickers, I’m oversimplifying it, but there are differences that I think are work exploring IF one wants to step outside the fishbowl that is cable news into the real world on many different news suppliers as well as a difference in ideologies for demand for different sources. Cool piece: *https://www.pewresearch.org/journalism/2014/10/21/political-polarization-media-habits/*
Personal anecdote: I keep msnbc on muted to read banners in case something new pops up. I get my news from digital print, subscribing to NYTimes, New Yorkers, The Economist (dropped recently due to $$$$), and others. Much more from free sources aka search, but mostly sources that score well for media bias / fact check. Not that I won’t do a little dumpster dive, but I double source the skeevy shit. About end of Sept, beginning of Oct, I stopped watching cable. Nothing new there. Probably will pick up after January 20th, but not yet. So I fell off the ratings, but as the first story linked above states, I will be back soon. At least for the banners.
Frank, great comment. I will check out the articles. I read much of my news and like you, I am a banner watcher. I do Bloomberg, Economist, Forbes, BBC, Aljazeer, NYT, WSJ when I can find a free article, but NEVER consider Horist articles as news or even well informed opinion. He has way to many biases for me, i.e. political bias, racial bias, and he lives much of life in the past like some old geezer trying to brag how he just learned how to use Facebook.
I thought you had an interesting observation that the data I have read in the past seems to correlate to. You said, “Liberals read, Conservatives view”. I am not sure where an independent like me fits in because I do both read and view. But to your point, I can believe you comment because other stats show Dems have more college degrees and GOPs have less college degrees and more blue collar. This probably suggests that Conservatives view because they cannot read well. Most of the non-college classmates I had in high school all were poor readers.
But to the bright side, Horist has an undiscovered niche: If shit sells for 5 bucks a pound, Horist is a billionaire!!! So there ’tis!!!
What’s not mentioned (unless I missed it) is that thousands of people per week are dropping cable/satellite TV. As other things like groceries, rent, and electricity are up 50% or more, luxuries like cable TV are getting the axe. If you don’t have cable, you don’t have access to Fox News, CNN, or MSNBC. My household dropped cable in 2017–just because we realized we were really paying $125 a month for Fox News! $10,000 saved so far. Now for TV news, we have OANN for $5 a month and a selection of news channels, both conservative and liberal, on Pluto TV (free).
Uh, 50%. What is that high in price and where do you live?
You quit cable in 2017; inflation didn’t make you do it. Less expensive alternative programming did. And fyi; fox.com and other places to stream Fox News. There’s an ap for it to.
The highest price, eggs, due to virus, most others have dropped in NJ.
I take it you have internet? Smartphone?
All my kids are off cable and stream anything you can imagine. I remain on cable since I need blazing speed from internet and tv becomes virtually free. Streaming same price whether I net it or cable it but I have a common ui for all cable streaming offers which is nice. I use the cheaper ad sponsored versions, we use the breaks to clean up stuff. Couldn’t even drop land line which morphed to cable, again free. Just strange messages left now which text to email so don’t even have to listen. Once streaming starts aggregating to common ui, and either air or fiber get here with the same bandwidth. I will cut the cord like you.
Disney was the best. Cheap, lots of new content. Now they just priced like the other guys, my deals ended. went to ad version, less new content, but they are beginning to aggregate other services providing a quasi new content offer. These guys really know how to market to the win win. Expect others to follow this out-of-nowhere market share leader. The deals they are a coming. It’s the nature of new market evolution.
I agree WB! I dropped cable many years ago. I have google tv’s and get Fox, MSNBS, CBS, etc. all on internet mostly via Pluto and free Youtube. Another very good network (it was excellent in the Trump Manhattan Election meddling trial was Meidas Touch) which has lawyers explaining many of the issues around Trump, SCOTUS, POTUS, etc. Not sure why you bother wasting money on OANN which is worse than watching Fox. You might want to try checking out the internet sites for free OANN.
What kind, loving and caring posts have happened today. Great people posting. They are the only ones on this earth that has the truth, but I, for one, will NOT hate on Larry Hoist or the other real editors. I am not like Hitler.
The real reason Fox is doing better is because they actually report the News!
Any station reporting just one side is a ( Feel good news Network )
This is liken to telling BLM rioters that burning buildings is a good thing? ( NSMBC )
Although anarchy’s is not always a bad thing, one must realize the impact of what they are
spewing.
Just because one has the power to report, they should understand the impact of ( IF THEY SHOULD )
in a Biased fashion!
Fox is Conservative based, but at the same time they report both sides.
The opinion of the news maybe that of the Host , but non the less, I was given a choice with the facts presented!
Larry I recall that this article’s info was is much the same and a repeat of Conservative FOX stats vs the competition Apparently this “news” takes you to your happy place in which you dwell.
FOX is News Lite and over pays it celebrity hosts for unsubstantiated comments and comedic misinformation, and single perspective innuendo.
Nothing new and full of interesting incites on the days events come from FOX headliners.
The rating are what they are is shame It says what the majority right tune into and why there is a falling standard in American education FOX gives programming at the level of their audience.
AC – Does AC stand for Alistair Crowley? LOL
The news beat is tough gig with its rapidly changing terrain and competition to be the first on a top story and with developments coming out of that story.
Why certain media outlets choose as they do on the subject, the tact politically, the online time dedicated, and the downside risk of blowback boils down to marketing plan, business model, mission statement, and the financial bottom line.
Fox News & Entertainment had the top following at the moment but there fortunes could be about to change, Its owner base is two generations of the Murdoch family and their vision looking forward. They have done really well in their market by anchoring the conservative end on the political continuum. FOX’s owners are reportedly divided on whether or not the company should stay the coarse and continue backing Trump offer its brand of ideology unrelentingly because that’s where the market share is right now.
Watch and see if the junior Murdoch family members bring changes to their company’s vision and mission. That change could make it a whole new ballgame.