Fox fattens lead on CNN in peak year for cable news

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution ^ | 1/6/04 | CAROLINE WILBERT

[outfield]

News from Iraq made 2003 a good year for ratings at cable news networks -- and it was especially good at Fox News.

Fox, the cable ratings leader for the past two years, widened its lead over Atlanta-based CNN. Fox averaged 1.02 million viewers at any given moment, a 53 percent increase from the year before. CNN averaged 665,000, a 24 percent increase.

Fox grew the most in prime time, averaging 1.7 million viewers for the 8 to 11 p.m. time slot, a 45 percent increase. CNN averaged 1.1 million, a 22 percent increase.

Fox also grew slightly more than CNN among 25- to 54-year-olds, a key demographic for selling advertising.

Though Fox has become the ratings leader, Atlanta-based CNN still enjoys higher advertising revenue and fatter profits.

CNN executives found some good news in the year-end ratings data. The network continues to attract the largest total number of viewers. That's because more people check in briefly with CNN, while Fox viewers tend to watch significantly longer.

CNN spokeswoman Christa Robinson said the network is benefitting from an overall increase in viewership of cable news vs. broadcast.

In 2003, the average American household watched 3 hours and 6 minutes of cable news per week -- an increase of 41 minutes over 2002, according to CNN's analysis of Nielsen Media Research numbers. At the same time, the average household watched 2 hours and 19 minutes of broadcast news programming, including magazine shows -- a decrease of two minutes from the year before.

"It shows a continuing trend of viewers migrating from broadcast to cable for news," Robinson said.

The analysis, however, is somewhat of an apples-to-oranges comparison because a broadcast network like ABC airs three hours of news on a typical day, compared with a cable news network's 24 hours. Broadcast newscasts attract much larger audiences than even the top-rated shows on cable.

MSNBC, already a distant third among cable news networks, slipped in most categories. For instance, it averaged total day viewership of 320,000 viewers. That was a 22 percent increase over 2002 -- a smaller gain than competitors enjoyed. MSNBC is expected this week to announce a new prime-time show featuring Georgia native Deborah Norville as the host.

[Fenris6]

CNN censured crimes against humanity in Iraq to get the "scoop"

Why are they even allowed to be on Cable to begin with? Heh. Lets take the CNN execes to the ICC. How rich.

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[b4its2late]

Good. CNN sucks.

[Brilliant]

The liberal networks better pull the plug on their existing management, or they will all be sucked down the drain very shortly.

[sharkhawk]

I got it! Bush invaded Iraq to help his buddies at fox news. Must remember to include statement at next debate.
</dean brain off>

[ServesURight]

FOX is on fewer stations than CNN and they're still kicking their butts.

[WinOne4TheGipper]

Your HTML says Dean brain off. Isn't it already off?

[ServesURight]

fewer stations

That should be fewer homes.

[mlbford2]

I watch Fox mostly but I also like MSNBC. It surprises me that they also don't do better than CNN.

[bobjam]

CNN gets more advertising profit, but not for long. That's a lagging indicator.

[Drango]

Hearing the news that Fox was leading, Senators Kennedy and Boxer demanded an increase in PBS funding in order to provide balance.

[hardknocks]

That is true, but it appears to me that the public is sick and tired of hearing the leftist crap they spew at CNN, sorry but the truth isn't coming from them. The ratings tend to go towards the most respectful organization in times like these, and I would say that is clearly FNC.

[jackbill]

FOX is on fewer stations than CNN and they're still kicking their butts.

Tonight, Brit Hume welcomed folks on a cable system in Philadelphia. Was Fox News banned from Philadelphia until today? Or are there competing providers in the area?

Regardless, this means that FNC viewership will increase, and continue the burial of CNN.

[cynicom]

Fox keeps adding people like Chris Wallace and they will be in the tank also.

[katykelly]

I heard that , too. I think he said Time Warner cable . That's what surprised me.

[hardknocks]

You are certainly entitled to your opinion, but I think Chris Wallace has done a great job. In fact, he should pull some numbers from Meet the PRess.

[outfield]

Cynicom, have you ever seen Wallace's show? He is a solid journalist who is a great interviewer. you should check out Fox News Sunday sometime before you start making baseless claims again.