The Decline of Fox News

Media Monitor ^ | 8/31/2005 | Cliff Kincaid

[Mike Bates]

In response to my column on the decline of cable news because of their obsession with missing-person cases, one person wrote in, "Come-On. Get a Grip... What's wrong with a couple of hours 'break' from Real News.."

A couple hours break?

On the other hand, one said, "I am so sick of hearing all of the details of the Aruba fiasco that I just can't tolerate it any more. This Aruba show is sinking Fox News, and I am watching it less and less."

Here's what someone else wrote:

"I just read your article and have to agree completely that the Holloway reporting has gone completely off the deep end. I used to be a junky watching Hard Ball, O'Reilly, Hannity/Colmes and then Scarborough Country until about a month or two ago.

It was getting too much for me to waste that much time but these shows used to be compelling. Especially the first year or so of Scarborough Country. Joe used to be hard-hitting, very conservative and used to expose media bias and liberal hypocrisy. Not any more. Lately he has tried to go head to head and compete with Greta just because they are on at the same time.

[CommandoFrank]

I get my news from other places and it's not the MSM.

Yes, and the main source is right here with Free Republic...

At least whenever you change subjects you don't have to hear "DING - This is a Fox news alert."

[highball]

Well if your article is truthfull, then why is Fox News Channel leading in all the cable news polls?

I have two responses to that: 1) it shows how awful the other cable networks really are, and 2) quality doesn't always win out, especially where television is concerned.

Tabloid television sells. One tabloid television station might be better than another, but that doesn't make it high-quality in its own right.

[wmileo]

"Everything you need to know in life can be learned right here on FreeRepublic"

If you include Rush, I agree. However I am a creature of habit and find it necessary to watch TV News. FOX, with all of its shortcomings, still serves that purpose better than the other Networks. Also, I work until 2:15 PM and only listen consistently to Rush for the final 45 minutes of the day. The only way I can keep up with Rush is by reading NewMax.com during Lunch.

[proudofthesouth]

I watch Fox and Friends both weekday and weekends (love them!) and Shepard Smith.

[cubreporter]

We listen to Rush then Brit. The only two serious shows on the face of the earth.

[Rosemont]

Fox is alright, but its numbers are high because CNN and PMSNBC are unwatchable. Few people are more annoying than Aaron Brown or Chris Matthews.

[Tallguy]

Yet the Fox news numbers continue to rise. The ratings actually showed that more people WANTED to see the Aruba story. Someone please explain that one.

Could it be the difference between 'sustained' viewing & 'drive-by' viewing? I'm not expert on TV ratings, but it seems like the ratings agencies have a hard time distinguishing between the 2. The one place you know where to find the latest development on the Holloway case is FoxNews. Seems to me that this churns the drive-by numbers...

[sodpoodle]

It's becoming increasingly clear to me that Fox is marketing itself to an audience with an average IQ of about 90
_______________________________________________________

Mean or median? Inquiring minds want to know.

[Alberta's Child]

Neither -- it's actually the mode, and not the mean nor the median. :-P

[NormsRevenge]

The Decline of Fox News

Quantitatively per the ratings,
No

Qualitatively per the feedback,
Yes

[voteconstitutionparty]

Something's happening in Aruba?

[Mike Bates]

Hey, lighten up.

Well, if you absolutely insist. . .

[NormsRevenge]

Thanks for the vote of condidence and support!

I would be open as the others might be, but only if Laurie Dhue is my personal assistant. :}

[threeleftsmakearight]

Seems to me that many people here don't want to admit they watch Fox News...for fear of being labeled a radical right-winger by their lefty friends.
It's the same mindset that afflicts those RINO's in Washington, trying to get along with Tim, Katie, et al.

[WestCoastGal]

"Nork, Glock, Steveegg, Westcoastgal and Grrrr could host the weekly NASCAR Shows "

Count me in , but please don't make me dress like those pit lizards on Nascar Nation!

[ARCADIA]

Ratings for FOX just released and they were up HUGE, again. I guess the FACTS dispute the author's premise.

The ratings are historical, whatever Fox is doing to undermine its audience will show up later on, if an when, a alternative goes on the air. I still have a negative sense of CNN that stems from the damage they did during the OJ trial. Who has been able to accept them as a serious news business since? If FOX create enough of that kind of negative association, people are going to be willing to change channels; and, the way the whole broadcast/cable space has been going I wouldn't be surprise if they started disconnecting altogether. In my home the TV has been relegated to serve as little more then a monitor for the DVD. The cable is there to provide some news access, but I am getting less and less out of that, and I probably wouldn't feel disconnected if I disconnected.

[sodpoodle]

Well, I for one am just stuned - because I watch Fox news and thoroughly enjoy doing so.

sP-:

[ZULU]

I thought they were conservatives.

[WestCoastGal]

"I would be open as the others might be, but only if Laurie Dhue is my personal assistant. :}"

I just told FA and Steve that I was open but not to make me dress like the pit lizards on NN.

I would choose Shep or Greg Kelly as my personal assistant. News wise, but as for Nascar, well, ya'll know who my assistant would be. Guest host I guess would be his name.

[shekkian]

Yeah, that's what I'm talking about. I personally have an eye for Juliet Huddy.