Down Steeply Since Late Jan., Big 3 Evening Newscasts Stuck at Low Summer Levels

NewsBusters ^ | September 17, 2009 | Tom Blumer

[Zakeet]

After a summer swoon, you would think that the evening newscasts of the Big 3 networks would start to recover a bit now that many Americans are back from vacations, kids are back in school, and fall routines are getting established or re-established.

So far, you would be wrong.

It's early, and there's still plenty of time this fall to recover, but during the time period after Labor Day, the broadcasts primarily anchored by Brian Williams at NBC, Charles Gibson at ABC, and Katie Couric at CBS:

• Are down a combined 28.5% from their peak in late January during the first full week of Barack Obama's presidency.
• Have lost a combined 37.7% of their audience in the 25-54 demographic during the same time period.
• Are down year-over-year compared to September 1, 2008, the week after Labor a year ago, by 8.9% overall and 18.1% in the 25-54 demographic.
• At 19.55 million, are basically drawing audiences no larger than they were during this past (for them) miserable summer.

What follows are related graphics; source material comes from posts in the Evening News Ratings Category at Media Bistro's TV Newser.

Here's the overall, down from 26.24 million during the week of January 26 to 19.55 million during the relevant days this past week:

Here's the by-network look, where ABC can take a tiny bit of comfort in having passed NBC during the past week -- but only because NBC lost about 500,000 viewers:

Finally, here's a chart comparing this past week to the January 26 peak week and the analogous week from a year ago:

There's little point in denying that Big 3 Nets supported and heavily invested in Barack Obama's electoral rise and ultimate victory, risking large-scale alienation of what remained of its already-shrinking audience. From a ratings and presumably financial standpoint, it's pretty hard to argue that it was worth it. The Internet doesn't cause almost 30% of an audience to disappear in less than 8 months. More recently, as documented frequently at NewsBusters, all three networks have bit on the "subtle racism" meme and, until recent days, totally ignored James O'Keefe's and Hannah Giles's unmasking of the seamy side of ACORN, more than likely driving even more viewers away.

Although the 500 employees getting laid off at NBC (after buyouts were offered to "virtually everyone") would probably agree the complete sellout has not been worth it, it wouldn't surprise me if the hardened ideologues with the smiley faces at the Big 3 networks consider such actions unfortunate and inconvenient collateral damage.

[Dem Guard]

Geez, at this rate they will only be broadcasting to themselves soon!

[VOA]

only liberals/morons listen to the propaganda...er, “news” divisions of
the “Big Three” of new reportage of the USA.

So long to the “BIG THREE” of Detroit automanufacture AND the New York
manufacture of news and opinion!!!!

[Sir Francis Dashwood]

Headline edit...

Down Steeply Since Late Jan., Big 3 Evening Newscasts Suck at Low Summer Levels

[Carley]

Pity party at Jack Kevorkian’s house.

[Peet]

Well as soon as the very biased liberal diane sawyer takes over for Charlie Gibson that network also will lose a good percentage of viewership just a did c.bs. Stop the liberal slant msm or lose your audience.

Diane Sawyer:

  "You know, I wanted to sit on a jury once and I was taken off the jury.
    And the judge said to me, 'Can, you know, can you tell the truth and be
    fair?' And I said, 'That's what journalists do.' And everybody in the
    courtroom laughed. It was the most hurtful moment I think I've ever had."

            - Diane Sawyer, Good Morning America, 7/12/07

A teachable moment and she didn't learn a thing.

[Joe Boucher]

Very good job Peet,
Thanks

[sionnsar]

I only watch the news when my internet is down.

I don't watch it even then. Gave up on it as worthless in 1981.

Maybe occasionally if there is a big local story (California fires) or on election day to watch returns.

Usually not even for the former and definitely not the latter since we went all-mail-in ballots. Results are not to be had for weeks.

[SkyPilot]

"You know, I wanted to sit on a jury once and I was taken off the jury. And the judge said to me, 'Can, you know, can you tell the truth and be fair?' And I said, 'That's what journalists do.' And everybody in the courtroom laughed. It was the most hurtful moment I think I've ever had." - Diane Sawyer, Good Morning America, 7/12/07

LOL!