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...

[pepsionice]

From what I've seen John Roberts has no vendetta against the Bush family, which is what drives Dan Rather. Dan has shown almost a dedication to going anti-Bush. I've tried to figure out why...perhaps some story he was denied by Bush 1....but who knows?

[linear]

I introduced our local talk show host, Mark Davis on 820 WBAP, here in Dallas to the term this morning - He seemed to get a big kick out of it.

[TruthWillWin]

Still just a title on Drudge.

Call CBS in your area and also email or call sponsors of CBS news and 60 minutes.

[TruthWillWin]

Still just a title on Drudge.

Call CBS in your area and also email or call sponsors of CBS news and 60 minutes.

[rintense]

I was listening to Savage last night while waiting to play softball, and he firmly believes that Bill O'Reilly's pass given to Rather is so Bill *himself* is considered to replace Dan on the CBS Nightly News.

Not a big Savage fan, but I've also turned off Bill O. Bill does have contacts at See BS, and it wouldn't surprise me in the least to see Bill dump FNC to continue to bolster his ego over at See BS.

[InvisibleChurch]

i'm inclined to believe rush ... dan will cling to his chair until he wants to leave... besides, why do i want him to leave anyway? if ratings are dropping because of dan then i want him to stay until cbsnews is no more... also it will be healthy for dan to cover W's electoral college romp on election night

[Rutles4Ever]

White House is gently leaning towards implicating the DNC on this. Just enough bait on the hook for some media hounds to keep digging. I, for one, think this Burkett thing is a mis-direct. I'm not sure who Bill Burkett had to blow to become "an unimpeachable source".

The suicide vests at DNC are being donned as we speak...

[Constitution Day]

Muahahahaha!! < /evil laugh >

Is it wrong for me to be gloating over this so much and enjoying it so thoroughly?
I hope not, because that's exactly what I've been doing.

[Lijahsbubbe]

Oh Danny Boy,
The hook the hook is calling....

[shield]

bmp

[G.Mason]

"Because of your continuing support of Dan Rather and CBS news, I am writing to inform you I am cancelling my American Express account, cutting my gold card in half, and will attempt to dissuade anyone I know ... "

That's rich! LOL

I did the same thing in 1991 when American Express supported Clinton.

They called and asked what the problem was. I advised them that the next four years were going to be very expensive, and that I simply could not afford their card any longer.

I never found a need to get Amex again.

[Clintons Are White Trash]

White House McClellan on Rather: “It’s always best for journalists to stick to reporting the facts and not try to dispense campaign advice'...

Ouch! That's gonna leave a mark!

[SF Republican]

Could this be a bigger problem for CBS? Can they become (without much more effort) the Arthur-Anderson of MSM? or will Dan walking the plank end the story?

[bray]

Glub, glub, glub as another Danosaur sinks below the surface of the Tar Pits of History.

Pray for W and Our Troops

[Constitution Day]

Fraud, if you will; something that should bother a credit card company.

Very good.

[Popman]

Couple this with pressure on their sponsors... and I think we know how this will turn out.

I would not be so sure.

Dan Ra^ther is a "brand" product. He's more than just a name. Think Coke, Mickey Mouse, Maytag, GM, Ford.

When people think of SeeBS, they think of Dan Ra^ther, at least the people who still watch the networks.

Don't you think Viacom would have tossed Dan out the door a long time ago if it was an easy "brand" to replace?

Ra^ther won't be easy to replace.

The real question Viacom is asking thenmselves is: Do we lose more share by dumping Dan or riding out the storm?

[kingattax]

Do ya think that Dandy Dan would mind if his paycheck was forged ?

[IndianPrincessOK]

CBS, Dan Rather fade??? They've been blown away by the people they thought were not watching or payng attention...UNITE America...keep up the pressure..Do NOT watch CBS and boycott all products that advertise with them...that is what causes change as obviously they don't have the morals to report FAIR!!and yes, I am in my pjs!

[VadeRetro]

The net viewership shows a big drop now, even with so many people who ordinarily wouldn't tuning in to see what outrageous tap dance he will do next. Count me in that number. I've watched something from twenty to infinity times the Dan Rather I normally would over the last week.

The entertainment value of watching Dan twist in the wind will necessarily pall, however. Against that, the hit on his and CBS's credibility will last for years.

If his ratings are bad now, what will they be in a month? In December?

[Arrowhead1952]

The Dan Ra^ther Memogate fallout continues ping!!!!