CBSNEWS EXECS CONCERN OVER VIEWERSHIP PLUNGE; RATHER RATINGS FADE IN MAJOR MARKETS

The Drudge Report ^ | 9/16/2004 | Matt Drudge

[Rutles4Ever]

Just the title...

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XXXXX DRUDGE REPORT XXXXX THU SEPT 16, 2004 11:42:09 ET XXXXX

CBS EXECS CONCERN OVER VIEWERSHIP PLUNGE; RATHER RATINGS FADE IN MAJOR MARKETS

CBS executives on both coasts have become concerned in recent days that Dan Rather's EVENING NEWS broadcast has plunged in the ratings since the anchor presented questionable documents about Bush's National Guard service.

NIELSEN numbers released this week show Rather fading and trailing his rivals in every Top 10 city, other than San Francisco, with audience margins in some cities running more than 6 to 1 against CBS!

Executives fear many voters inclined to vote for Bush are now switching off Rather.

"The audience appears to becoming polarized," a top CBS source said from LOS ANGELES on Thursday. "Rightly or wrongly, we're being perceived as 'anti-Bush,' which I do not think is fair to Dan, who is a fine journalist... of course we do not like to see the ratings coming back the way they are this week."

In Philadelphia, the nation's #4 market, Rather pulled a 2.6 rating/5 share on Tuesday night against ABC's 13.3 rating/23 share and NBC's 4.0/7.

In Chicago, Rather hit a 2.3/5 to ABC's 9.2/20.

CBS trailed ABC by more than 2 to 1 in Los Angeles.

And in the nation's top market, New York, Rather finished not only behind NBC NIGHTLY NEWS and ABC WORLD NEWS TONIGHT -- but also pulled less audience than reruns of the SIMPSONS, WILL & GRACE and KING OF QUEENS.

Rather finished dead last in New York during the 6:30 pm timeslot among all broadcast channels tracked by NIELSEN on Tuesday.

Developing...

[democrats_nightmare]

keep hammering...... relentless.... never give up.... hammering....YOU ARE RIGHT ON THE MARK ITS THE ONLY WAY YOU BREAK THROUGH THE GRANITE COMPOSITION OF THE THICK LIBERAL SKULL.....THEY ALWAYS ARE THE KINGS OF DENIAL.

[BoBToMatoE]

WHY didn't Drudge cover what happened last night?!

---

I am guessing that Drudge didnt know. I know I didnt know. So some markets are now blackingout DNC 60 Minutes II?

You know, this reminds me of when the MTV crowd booed the Kerry sisters at the awards.

[Chad Fairbanks]

Ouch! That's gonna leave a mark!

[granite]

THE LEFTY NETWORK
Mark L. Genrich
Corporate communications,
longtime journalist

In his book, Bias: A CBS Insider Exposes How the Media Distort the News, Bernard Goldberg, a veteran correspondent for CBS News, documents beyond doubt the profound and pervasive liberal bias at CBS News.

Thus it comes as no surprise CBS manufactured a miniseries titled "The Reagans," (starring Mr. Barbara Streisand) trashing the Reagan legacy with mendacious fiction.

Curiously, however, CBS has now pulled the program, transferring it to the cable channel Showtime, succumbing to thousands of complaints based on promotional clips and portions of leaked script.

So, there you have it. CBS is not only dishonest, but has now proven itself to be cowardly as well.

Just the network for the left.

[sargon]

Money talks, and bullsh-- walks...

[American Sovereignty Defender]

Seems to me that Knox was lying through her dentures. Last week she had no opinion on Bush and this week CBS must have put her in a trance to recount some specific details. Her story may not reflect any authentic documentation, but heck she's either lying or - bless her heart - she is only senile and deserves to be trusted...just like he favorite liberal "Danny boy".

CBS should be ashamed, that phony interview was cheesy.

[SunkenCiv]

At times, there's nothing scarier than the truth. This is one of those times. Had CBS been aware of the phenomenon, they wouldn't have been confronted by it in such a convincing fashion. Dan will have to be suspended pending an investigation, or bow out as gracefully as his "no apologies necessary" stance will permit. If I ran CBS, I'd have fired his ass, and told the new anchor to read the termination and the reasons for it as the lead story.

George W. Bush will be reelected by a margin of at least ten per cent

[Grampa Dave]

Great Data!

"And in the nation's top market, New York, Rather finished not only behind NBC NIGHTLY NEWS and ABC WORLD NEWS TONIGHT -- but also pulled less audience than reruns of the SIMPSONS, WILL & GRACE and KING OF QUEENS.

"Rather finished dead last in New York during the 6:30 pm timeslot among all broadcast channels tracked by NIELSEN on Tuesday.'

This should eliminate most of the advertisers for Blather.
Any company advertising with this low market shares at premium prices should be turned into the SEC for wasting corporate funds.

I will link this thread to the Ad Boycott thread. This should be sent to the board of every advertiser of anything Blather appears on.

[NCC-1701]

I agree with you. However, I would like to see him hang on through at least election night. To see him HAVE to declare W the winner would be priceless. He'd have a look on his mug like he had just taken a big bite out of an effluent eclair. That, too, would be priceless. After that, call for the guys to bring the wrap-around sports jacket and take him away. Adios!

I'm a proud FReeper and I approve this posting.

[Law is not justice but process]

"Rightly or wrongly, we're being perceived as 'anti-Bush,' which I do not think is fair to Dan, who is a fine journalist..."

I agree with the part about Rather being perceived as he is, Anti-Bush, but the rest of that statement can only be true if your definition of "journalist" is "partisan hack!"

[Publius6961]

Isn't it remarkable how one senile, stubborn a$$wipe can cause so much grief for so many people and cost them acual financial loss? And get away with it?

Sometimes I just love Political Correctness!

[hispanarepublicana]

There was a whole thread on the CBS-Blackout. Here is the link: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1217235/posts
We tried like heck to FLOOD Drudge with this last night, but if ya'll could take it up today, maybe he'd cover it. Also would be good for someone to CALL RUSH and report this.

[Casloy]

Rather pulled a 2.6 rating/5 share on Tuesday night against ABC's 13.3 rating/23 share and NBC's 4.0/7.

And ABC is the only network going after Rather. Coincidence? I think not. In any case, this will hit CBS where it really counts. Dan is history. What a wonderful way for this dirtbag to end his career.

[hispanarepublicana]

There was a whole thread on the CBS-Blackout. Here is the link: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1217235/posts
We tried like heck to FLOOD Drudge with this last night, but if ya'll could take it up today, maybe he'd cover it. Also would be good for someone to CALL RUSH and report this.

[101st-Eagle]

Yes, he would really need to declare America had thrown another "temper tantrum" ala 1992, I think it was, to keep his own head from exploding in dissonance.

[ArmedNReady]

"Dan Rather, should be incarcerated in the local mental institution"

I think a fitting end would be to sentence Rather to hold the Bible for Bush during the inauguaration in January!

[101st-Eagle]

Sorry, 1994..

[Happy2BMe]

Down . . down . . down go the (CBS) ratings.

Up . . up . . up go the red flags (everywhere) - ping.

[Congressman Billybob]

"Seven and a half cents doesn't mean a heck of a lot / Seven and a half cents doesn't mean a thing...." From the song of that name about the hourly raise the workers in the pajama factory were seeking.

Congressman Billybob

Latest column, "Time to Talk about the 2008 Election"

If you haven't already joined the anti-CFR effort, please click here.

[Skywarner]

OUTSTANDING letter!!! I will be sending this to my local affiliate this evening.

BTTT!