Fox News comes up big in year-end numbers

Lost Remote (& Media Bistro.com) ^ | 12/29/05

[LdSentinal]

TV Newser crunches a bunch of year-end cable news numbers for us. Of note: O'Reilly led the pack, with the most viewers overall and among the 25-54s. In fact, Fox News had 11 of the top 12 shows in 2005. Only CNN's Larry King Live busts in, at #6. This is the fourth year in a row at the top for Fox News.

Bill O'Reilly is the king of cable news again this year. He's #1 on the 2005 weekday program ranker, followed by H&C, Greta, Shep and Hume. The "Competitive Program Analysis" shows CNN's Larry King at #6.

The defunct NewsNight with Aaron Brown comes in as CNN's #2 program of the year, ranking #13 overall. Wolf Blitzer's Situation Room is CNN's #3 and Paula Zahn now is #4. Headline News star Nancy Grace ranks 25th on the chart, averaging 510,000 viewers for the year. Prime News was the second most-popular HLN show, averaging 335,000.

On MSNBC, Rita Cosby was #1. Chris Matthews (#2), Keith Olbermann (#3) and Joe Scarborough (#4) were all within 20,000 viewers of eachother. See it all for yourself:

2005 weekday program ranker (PDF)

For comparisons: Here's the 2004 ranker (PDF)

(Rankers courtesy FNC)

[abb]

I agree. The old Squawk Box was getting stale, but the gang did have chemistry. Bringing back Carl Q didn't help one bit.

The new stuff is hideous...

[wmileo]

"The Muslims will tear down all those gorgeous churches."

They will just convert them into mosques. At least they won't be empty.

[AlGone2001]

The left attempts to make FoxNews appear to be right wing and out of the mainstream.

America just doesn't buy that CNN (and all other MSM) garbage like they used to. For once, the left wing has an alternate voice, and it's number one.

My guess is that (along with the Internet) FoxNews has revealed the truth to the point that many are also canceling their newspapers. The left wing still has no idea what happened to them.

In my humble opinion, much of this can be traced to Rush Limbaugh, who dared to offer a right wing opinion.

[rock_lobsta]

That is just total domination. 11 of Fox's 13 shows are the top 12, with LK the sole holdout at #6.

Just goes to show what a little honesty and balance in news can do for your ratings.

CNN, PMSNBC... keep up the good work! You'll be getting CNBC numbers in a couple of years!

BTW... Rita Cosby, annoying and moronic Fox reject, is kicking Matthews' and Olberman's asses! ROFL! Couldn't happen to nicer guys...

[Ninian Dryhope]

Hume is the only one I watch regularly.

[blackie]

Apples and oranges ~ get a grip on your feeble attempt to dismiss the remarkable growth of FNC in the few short years it has been broadcasting.

Nice try.

[FreeReign]

Olbermann is the biggest liberal shill on prime time tv

Rubicon or shark, he's long ago crossed/jumped it.

[Reagan Man]

The article focuses specifically on cable news ratings. Not on the big three networks which supply over the air broadcasts available to everyone. Cablevision and satellite are extra charge services and not everyone gets that programming. But you're right about one thing. Too many Americans are still watching the old media's nightly news propaganda shows.

[bassmaner]

I agree. Old Media it is!!

I'm fond of Bill Bennett's term: 'Alien Media Nation'.

[FreeReign]

Let's not get too excited, the 3rd place broadcast news show, CBS Evening News has 8.3 million viewers or about 4 times the viewership of Bill O'Reilly. Bob Schieffer has added about a million viewers a night to CBS's ratings over what Rather was getting. Combined, the MSM(ABC, CBS, & NBC) has about 12 times the viewership of Fox News. Add in the other network news outlets (CNN, MSNBC, and PBS) and Fox has about 1/14th of the nightly news audience.

Now add Rush and talk radio and the free flow of information on the internet. I think we are about to turn the corner.

[Howlin]

What will CNN do without its top draw?

Supposedly put Bob Costas in his place.

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

[Howlin]

I saw that; that is really sad.

[Howlin]

The shriekers and whiners - Matthews and Olbermann - are #31 and 32, consecutively, on the list.

If we stopped watching Matthews, he'd go in the tank.

[NotJustAnotherPrettyFace]

I don't watch Matthews show anymore whatsoever. It's gotten so I can't even stand to look at him.

[bruin66]

FOX is the best thing to happen to American Journalism in 100 years.

Not so fast. Was listening to a Fox news radio broadcast this AM. The news reader (Uma something) referred to Bush's "illegal" wiretaps. Very surprising...

[snarkpup]

I don't watch Fox News as much as I used to. Seems like there's nothing lately but 1) crime stories of only local interest and 2) screeching Democrats.

[beyond the sea]

And Larry King is 72 years old. He is going to hang up the silver microphone before long. What will CNN do without its top draw?

Cindy Sheehan isn't too busy.

[beyond the sea]

but what we want to know is, who is FreeRepublic.com's highest rated poster?

Buckhead........ until another scandal is blown up.

When Rockefeller brought out that odd handwritten note to Cheney, I thought we may have another investigation, as the headings were not quite in line with Rockefeller's scrawlings.

;-)

[beyond the sea]

In a few years, he'll be old enough to move to CBS.

ROFL

[Edit35]

Headline News star Nancy Grace ranks 25th

Something about Grace gives me the willies, heebee-jeebies, and the chills, all at once.

In fact, when flicking past that Headline channel, I can't get my fingers to move fast enough to get her off the screen.