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

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

[Rutles4Ever]

Just the title...

MORE INFO

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...

[GeorgiaYankee]

New Slogans for CBS News promos

CBS News: FORGING AHEAD

CBS News: FAKE, BUT ACCURATE

CBS News: We Cut and Paste, We Decide, You Drink the Koolaid

DAN RATHER: WOULD YOU BUY A USED MEMO FROM THIS MAN?

[Minus_The_Bear]

RatherGate.com has put together a form to easily contact all Viacom Class B Shareholders with a single form. Let them know what you think about CBS and Rather's lies. These people can make a difference. Only a few of them need to move to influence the stock.

[JesseJane]

Perfect!!

Couldn't have made it any easier.. thanks JBlain!!

:)

[Arrowhead1952]

but I think you can be an honest person and lie about any number of things."
O’Reilly: "Really?!?"
Rather: "Yeah, I do."

You have got to be joking. dan needs to retire. He has a bad case of who gives a $#!+ attitude.

[AZ Rangers Wifey]

I had long ago given up on their "seeBS" news reports, I do not know who their advertisers are now because I have locked CBS out of my home. I used to watch their soap operas as time allowed, but no more. If Dan Rather gets into my home ever again it will be through another network or because he is foolish enough to invade my home.

[Geezerette]

That's beautiful, thank you!!

g

[Semi Civil Servant]

"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,'

Oh, it's rightly, child, it's rightly.

[Minus_The_Bear]

I think that contacting the shareholders (as well as advertisers and local CBS affiliates) is VERY important. Please help in passing along the shareholder contact form.

[traviskicks]

Just sent an email to the top 50 Viacom shareholders at Rathergate.com. I wonder if they really have their emails.... and how they got them... Oh well!

[hawkaw]

I had long ago given up on their "seeBS" news reports, I do not know who their advertisers are now because I have locked CBS out of my home. I used to watch their soap operas as time allowed, but no more. If Dan Rather gets into my home ever again it will be through another network or because he is foolish enough to invade my home.

If he does invade your home, I hope you have a gun and live in Texas.

[gridlock]

When you factor out all the people who are tuning in just to watch Dan Ra^ther squirm, their ratings would look even worse!

[BellaBlackLab]

Finally THE PEOPLE SPEAK

CBS doesn't get it- it's not just the Bush supporters changing the channel - people don't like being treated like idiots. The rasmussen (spelling) poll yesterday showed that only 27% believed that the documents were authentic. (Does that mean 73% are for Bush Smile)


I saw this on Drudge too. was not able to find URL to back it up. Has anyone found a site or article backing this up yet.

[The Great Yazoo]

CBS' ratings are going in the can in the big cities! Since when are big cities GOP strongholds?

This is big! CBS News's partisanship has been outed to such an extent it is now "thoroughly discredited."

The sh*t is hitting the fan!

[RetiredArmy]

"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 have NEVER read a bigger line of pure, unadulterated B.S. in my life!!! Period!

[talleyman]

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

Uh, here's a news flash for CBS exec's: that happened years ago...

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

The sh*t is hitting the fan!

Wonderful!

[hiredhand]

Wow...good article. Ya know, this reminds me of several weeks ago when I posted some (erroneous) data about energy transfered by projectiles fired from the 7.62x39 and .223 cartridges.

After I did this, a whole BUNCH (not sure how many) of people pointed out my error. I went back to the book from which I gathered this info, and wondered how I managed to screw it up. There it was...just like I was being told. Hmmmmm....

So I said sorry....accepted the correction, and got on with it.

Unfortunately, CBS missed that "sweet spot". They stuck to their story in the face of damnimg evidence. Not only overwhelming in technical construct, but in force of numbers of the "Pajamahadeen" who came forth as experts.

We're watching the implosion of CBS now. With a fair amount of satisfaction I might add. But you know the other mainstream media outlets have GOT to be wide eyed themselves as they watch this. I'm sure it's affecting them as well, and how they'll operate in the future.