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FOX News has won the perception war (for now)…
Inside Cable News ^ | 6/24/05 | Spud

Posted on 06/24/2005 2:03:15 PM PDT by Ravi

When FOX overtook CNN in the ratings early in this decade, CNN continued to put forth the notion that they were still the network to go to when news really mattered. In the run up to the Iraq war CNN was angling to own the coverage as they had during the first Gulf War, only it turned out that FOX showed that it could indeed mount a credible overseas operation for an extended period. While MSNBC, CNN, and FOX each brought their own unique tools to the table and to get the best coverage one had to be a channel hopper (MSNBC using the live anywhere anytime “Bloom mobile” nick-named after David Bloom who tragically died while on assignment there, CNN with its huge international organization and resources, FOX with its gutsy, aggressive reporters using satellite phones), FOX maintained its dominance in the ratings.

It’s no great surprise anymore that FOX is the number one cable news channel in terms of total viewers. But FOX’s dominance has always been explained away by its critics with a “Yeah, but…”; Yeah, but they’re a right wing network and it’s just Republican viewers…Yeah, but they pander to sensational stories…Yeah, but they spin the news….Yeah, but FOX isn’t real journalism. It’s a mistake to try and dismiss FOX this way. FOX’s dominance is more than just numbers. FOX now dominates the perception that they are the go to network for news. CNN has not only lost the ratings lead, they have also lost the perception lead. Consider the following case in point.

When Pope Bennedict XVI was installed as Pope on April 24th, all three networks carried the ceremony from The Vatican live. I liveblogged that event and was covering all three networks as the ceremony unfolded. The differences were striking.

(Excerpt) Read more at insidecable.blogsome.com ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: cableratings; clintonnewsnetwork; fnc; fox; foxnews; foxnewsratings; news
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This is an excellent read and summarizes why Fox will remain dominant for years to come.
1 posted on 06/24/2005 2:03:19 PM PDT by Ravi
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To: Ravi
CNN continued to put forth the notion that they were still the network to go to when news really mattered.

Well, yeah. If you're the tinhorn dictator of a fascist regime and you want to know if Saddam Hussein had a nice birthday party.

2 posted on 06/24/2005 2:06:30 PM PDT by Question Liberal Authority (It's the Anti-Americanism, Stupid!)
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To: Ravi
CNN shot themselves in the foot with their anti-bush agenda.  They really felt that the vast majority of Americans were leftist liberals and catered to that breed 100%.

Too bad they were wrong and now they would have a tuff time reversing their politics and risk losing their liberal audience in the process.

Sorry CNN, you backed the wrong horse on this one.

3 posted on 06/24/2005 2:13:01 PM PDT by softwarecreator (Facts are to liberals as holy water is to vampires)
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To: Ravi
..and just for the record, the Fox News Right Wing Bias is a myth.

Careful studies have shown they are right down the middle. They are only 'Right' when compared to CNN, MSNBC, and their ilk.

A study worth reading.
http://mason.gmu.edu/~atabarro/MediaBias.doc
4 posted on 06/24/2005 2:13:41 PM PDT by mnehring (http://www.mlearningworld.com)
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To: mnehrling

I want them to be right-wing....must be someone out there .....


5 posted on 06/24/2005 2:24:25 PM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach
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To: Ravi; All

You know what Fox news just reliable on viewer to listen to Pope speech in Italian that reason why I understand I do understand little Latin since Spanish and Italian are same LOL!

GIVE IT UP lib Blogger


6 posted on 06/24/2005 2:30:00 PM PDT by SevenofNine (Not everybody in, it for truth, justice, and the American way,"=Det Lennie Briscoe)
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To: Ravi

Yes, but they missed the main reason why. Sometimes we don't WANT to hear those people yakking on and on telling us what we are supposed to understand. Just shut up and let us hear it. There will be plenty of time for yakking later.


7 posted on 06/24/2005 2:35:54 PM PDT by pollyannaish
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To: pollyannaish

Seriously.

I watched Fox coverage of the Pope because they learned to mostly shut up during the main event. No one wants to hear ubber-lib Amnapour spouting her hate of Christianity when they are burying the pope.


8 posted on 06/24/2005 2:42:15 PM PDT by Republican Red (DU: ''Reality sucks. That's the problem. We want another reality.'')
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To: Question Liberal Authority
"CNN continued to put forth the notion that they were still the network to go to when news really mattered". ---

Well, yeah. If you're the tinhorn dictator of a fascist regime and you want to know if Saddam Hussein had a nice birthday party.

You nailed it. It's not that CNN isn't glitzier, because they are. And it's not because CNN and MSNBC don't have more corespondents, because they do. It's that we trust FOX and we don't trust CNN, NBC, CBS, MSNBC or any of the others. FOX isn't fancy, just trustworthy.

(That said, FOX could spend a little more money... We accept bare bones stuff because they're honest, but it would be nice to have a little more...)

9 posted on 06/24/2005 2:51:34 PM PDT by GOPJ (Deep Throat(s) -- top level FBI officials playing cub reporters for suckers.)
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To: Republican Red
Good point:

I watched Fox coverage of the Pope because they learned to mostly shut up during the main event. No one wants to hear ubber-lib Amnapour spouting her hate of Christianity when they are burying the pope.

10 posted on 06/24/2005 2:52:10 PM PDT by GOPJ (Deep Throat(s) -- top level FBI officials playing cub reporters for suckers.)
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To: Republican Red
I watched Fox coverage of the Pope because they learned to mostly shut up during the main event.

Same here.

The is the same reason I watched Walter Cronkite during the first moon landing. He did not talk. You could actually listen to astronauts. I really appreciated that. Later, Walter apologized for his lack of commentary. He said he was just too spell bound to talk. It is sad that this is the one thing this jerk ever did good for America and he regrets it.

11 posted on 06/24/2005 2:53:43 PM PDT by Jeff Gordon (Recall Barbara Boxer)
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To: Ravi

Fox News Channel is far more trustworthy and faithful to the news rather than commentary than all the rest. Why would anybody want to be poisoned by the garbage of the Main Slime Media or the Clinton News Network? Can't be trusted and expect that all of them will spew their hateful garbage before giving it to you straight.


12 posted on 06/24/2005 2:59:16 PM PDT by kevinm13 (The Main Stream Media is dead! Fox News Channel Rocks!)
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To: Ravi
I think that MSNBC's coverage was pretty good too. Dr. Arnout comes to mind.
13 posted on 06/24/2005 3:04:51 PM PDT by Mike Darancette (Mesocons for Rice '08)
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To: Ravi

Did the broadcast networks cover it as thoroughly, or anywhere near, as the cable ones?


14 posted on 06/24/2005 4:43:08 PM PDT by FreeKeys ("Most people are afraid of invoking the wrath of Hillary Clinton." -- Edward Klein)
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To: Ravi

Since I was watching Fox I missed the Amanpour analysis, but I read that she informed viewers that "John Paul II was the first non-Catholic Pope in 300 years."


15 posted on 06/24/2005 4:55:25 PM PDT by Malesherbes
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To: Malesherbes

I watched FOX and thought it was great that they just showed us what was happening, and let us decide what it meant. I guess the mind numbed robots of the left need to be told what the party line is. Nicht Var?


16 posted on 06/24/2005 5:10:05 PM PDT by SubMareener (Become a monthly donor! Free FreeRepublic.com from Quarterly FReepathons!)
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To: SubMareener
I watched FOX and thought it was great that they just showed us what was happening, and let us decide what it me.

I watched FOX, too and that was after I channel surfed the others like I always do on big stories. My viewing preference is "the fewer talking heads the better." What REALLY makes me mad is when they talk OVER the event.

17 posted on 06/24/2005 5:20:53 PM PDT by ShowMeMom (America: The home of the free because of the brave.)
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To: Ravi

I agree, CNN just doesn't have a clue. Jon Klein's recent comments and their ratings also illustrate that fact.


18 posted on 06/27/2005 2:00:20 PM PDT by outfield
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To: Mike Darancette

Dr Arnott was great; he had wonderful, personal and positive stories -- which is why he was fired from MSNBC.


19 posted on 06/27/2005 2:06:13 PM PDT by Laverne
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To: Laverne

Isn't he at Fox now, or not?


20 posted on 06/27/2005 2:12:44 PM PDT by rwfromkansas (http://www.xanga.com/home.aspx?user=rwfromkansas)
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