Posted on 10/11/2017 8:24:28 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
Fox News is back on top in the cable news wars. Two weeks ago, Fox News began to introduce its new prime time schedule and the shift in programming, which will be complete on October 30 when Laura Ingraham and Shannon Bream launch their new shows. Now it has regained its previous position as the #1 cable news channel.
The #1 prime time show in recent months, MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow at 9 P.M. E.T., has on most nights since September 25 been relegated to second – sometimes a distant second – place by Sean Hannity. Last week, for example, with overall cable news ratings pumped up by breaking news coverage of the Las Vegas shootings, Hannity handily won the week against his competition on MSNBC and CNN. Not only that, as TVNewser reported on October 10:
Sean Hannity had the No. 1 program of the week across all of cable news, beating rival Rachel Maddow and fellow Fox Newser Tucker Carlson both in total viewers and in the all-important [age] 25-54 demo.
Sean Hannity
In times past, CNN, banking on its once-unchallenged reputation for being the original, the oldest, and the only cable news channel for its first 16 years (1980-’96), often rose to the top during times of major breaking news, but recently it has been coming in third to the other two news channels, breaking news events notwithstanding.
On October 3, in an analysis of the first week of Fox News’ new schedule, A. J. Katz wrote at TV Newser:
(Excerpt) Read more at americanthinker.com ...
But half the fun is watching the libs make fools of themselves debating Tucker!
Why give the scumbag Liberals air time for their BS?
Know your enemy.
Fox—or more correctly, the Murdoch spawn—are facing a conundrum. It’s no secret they dislike Hannity. When Sean was displaced from the 9 pm hour to make room for Megyn Kelly, they were hoping he’d quit and go somewhere else. Instead, Hannity doubled down, worked harder than ever (and his work ethic is legendary) and made his show even more successful.
Now, with the talent upheaval at FNC (and the failure of The Five at 9 pm), the network had no choice but to return Hannity to that timeslot. And he’s delivered some very impressive numbers so far. Obviously, they will level off in time, but there’s no doubt Sean is powering the resurgence of FNC in primetime.
Hannity (by my calculation) is about two or two and a half years away from the end of his current contract. He is acutely aware of how he has been treated in recent years, and the fact the younger Murdochs detest him. But with the ratings and revenue he’s delivering, they can’t afford to let him walk away. So, Sean will extract his revenge by getting his biggest contract yet, and probably well before the current deal expires. I believe he’s just shy of $20 million a year at FNC, and the next contract will probably make him the highest-paid talent in cable news.
I’m not a huge Hannity fan, but I admire him for sticking to conservative principles and his amazing work habits. So, the Murdochs better prepare to back the Brinks truck up to FNC and give Hannity the richest deal in cable news. He’s earned it.
That was funny
The Shep problem will take care of itself. His patron, Roger Ailes, is dead, and he doesn’t have anyone at the network with that kind of power in his corner. Shep’s current salary is $8 million a year—for anchoring a show that airs at 3 pm EDT. Fox has a deep bench and there are plenty of anchors who could fill that slot for a lot less.
At renewal time, FNC will offer Shep about half of what he’s making right now, pointing out that he no longer anchors the news at 7 pm, and he only covers breaking news for Fox broadcast network (and many local stations don’t pick up the feed because it cuts into local programming). And he only covers breaking news on FNC if the regular anchor doesn’t have it in his/her contract to remain on the air during those situations.
As a talent, Shep peaked years ago. His next gig after FNC could well be back at the local level.
My only complaint about Hannity is his way too long monologue which is usually a rehash of stuff from the night before. The longer his monologue goes on, the more whiney he sounds. I have his talking points memorized.
Shep needs to go, so does Juan Williams. On Juan, not because he is a “lefty” ... I see why they need a lefty on “The Five” etc ... but lets face it, Juan’s IQ is set to dim.
Fox still needs to move “special Report” out of the Swamp Sewer to get me back. It’s still : Breathlessly report the latest fake news anti-Trump story, and then talk about it endlessly in the Swamp Panel.
Richard Fowler is a motor-mouth. I cannot stand it when he is on. He never shuts up, and talks over and faster than anyone I have ever seen on the tube before.
I could do less with Marie Harf. Austin Goolsby is also hard to watch or listen to.
The customer IS NOT always right.
But, the customer is always the customer.
Yep, and he can’t even come up with something more original to call it than “Opening Monologue.” O’Reilly had enough sense to keep his “Talking Points Memo” brief, with over-the-shoulder graphics to reinforce the key items.
RE: What great news...and if they were really conservative, they should get three more ‘groups’: a black conservative such as a younger Herman Cain
Kevin Jackson or Larry Elder would be great.
RE: Asian conservative
Why not hire Michele Malkin? Asian and a Woman to boot.
RE: Native American
You got me there. I don’t know of any articulate enough to make it on TV.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.