Boycotted. Criticized. But Fox News Leads the Pack in Prime Time. Led by Tucker Carlson, Hannity And Ingraham, the channel’s pro-Trump lineup outranked every network from 8 to 11 p.m. in June and July.

New York Times ^ | 08/09/2020 | By Michael M. Grynbaum

[SeekAndFind]

In one sense, this has been a difficult period for Fox News: a star anchor fired after being accused of sexual harassment, a lawsuit depicting a misogynist workplace, a top writer exposed as a racist internet troll, advertiser boycotts and outrage after Tucker Carlson called protesters “criminal mobs” and questioned the patriotism of a senator who lost her legs in Iraq.

In another sense, business has never been better.

In June and July, Fox News was the highest-rated television channel in the prime-time hours of 8 to 11 p.m. Not just on cable. Not just among news networks. All of television. The average live Fox News viewership in those hours outstripped cable rivals like CNN, MSNBC and ESPN, as well as the broadcast networks ABC, CBS and NBC, according to Nielsen.

That three-hour slot is a narrow but significant slice of TV real estate, and it is exceedingly rare for a basic-cable channel to outrank the Big Three broadcasters, which are available in more households and offer a wider variety of programming.

Even the return of live sports did little to stop the momentum: The Fox News programs hosted by Mr. Carlson and Sean Hannity drew more live viewers than competing baseball and basketball games, including a Yankees-Nationals matchup on Opening Day.

Fox News’s big summer has been boosted by a rise in audience for news programming in general, an increase driven by interest in the pandemic, civil rights protests and the presidential election. ABC, CBS, and NBC, meanwhile, have more reruns on the summer schedule; the coronavirus has suspended most TV productions; and viewers are being lured away by streaming services and on-demand Hollywood movies.

But the Fox News ratings also demonstrate the size and resilience of America’s audience for pro-Trump opinion,

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NOTE WORTHY:

Complaints that Fox News prime-time hosts downplayed the coronavirus — and, in the case of Laura Ingraham, encouraged the use of hydroxychloroquine, a drug shown to be useless, and even dangerous, for Covid-19 patients — made little difference.

“The belief that hydroxychloroquine is something between a therapeutic and a miracle cure is wildly popular in conservative media, especially talk radio,” Ms. Hemmer said. “Tucker Carlson’s controversies have never really hurt his ratings, though they have cost him advertisers.”

Two days stood out when Fox News ratings fell significantly: the funerals of George Floyd, the Minnesota man who died after a police officer pinned him to the ground during a routine stop, and Representative John Lewis, the towering civil rights figure.

[joshua c]

not clicking on NYT. Do they give any numbers?

[cuban leaf]

I’ve spent time watching carlson and Ingraham as well as some hannity. And I’ve also watched Stelter, Lemon and Coumo. It’s not that one is the varsity team and the other looks like JV. Rather, the fox team comes off as, to use a football analogy, a professional team and the CNN team is a middle school team. It’s night and day.

[Herodes]

Of course those 2 days stood out. Who in their right mind would want 24/7 on either topic?

Better things to do...like changing the air in my tires.

[SeekAndFind]

RE:not clicking on NYT. Do they give any numbers?

These are the only numbers in the article:

CBS remains neck-and-neck with Fox News in the 8 to 11 p.m. slot, and could still take the summer crown.

On Wednesday, however, CBS aired what should have been a major draw: the two-hour season premiere of the reality show “Big Brother,” a rare new episode amid a raft of summer reruns.

“Big Brother” was seen by an average of 3.7 million live viewers. “Tucker Carlson Tonight” lured 3.9 million and “Hannity” just shy of four million — the most-watched telecast of the night.

[Fairhairedboy]

All morning long Rush has been using Fox’s dominance of the networks as a bludgeon to prove that we are winning and the networks are lying.

[2CAVTrooper]

“Representative John Lewis, the towering civil rights figure.”

Towering is a bit of a stretch.

A fresh steaming pile of dog poop is taller than that snake ever was.

[Lurkinanloomin]

It really sticks in the craw of the NYT that they haven’t been able to silence Tucker.

[Steve_Seattle]

"advertiser boycotts and outrage after Tucker Carlson called protesters “criminal mobs”

It was clear that Carlson was referring to the rioters and looters, of which there were plenty, even if the liars in the MSM want to deny it or obfuscate it.

[DIRTYSECRET]

Carlson was really good for those 2-3 days last month. One opening monologue went 20+ minutes. Sadly any hour long show gets boring. Then I wait for the first 10 minutes of Hannity. If his first commentators are Rivera/Bongino the gig is up with me.

[Steve_Seattle]

"Two days stood out when Fox News ratings fell significantly: the funerals of George Floyd, the Minnesota man who died after a police officer pinned him to the ground during a routine stop, and Representative John Lewis, the towering civil rights figure."

That's because funerals are for friends and family and - in these instances - for people who wanted to use the funerals as platforms for left-wing political rhetoric. Why watch?

[woodbutcher1963]

CBS probably had some pretty good ratings between 6-8:30 pm yesterday because of their coverage of the PGA.

I know it is golf on TV, but there were 6 guys tied at 10 under par with 4 holes to go. There were several others with 1 stroke of the lead.

Colin Morikawa won by two strokes because he Eagled the par 4 16th hole.

[rhinohunter]

Fox News was the highest-rated television channel in the prime-time hours of 8 to 11 p.m. Not just on cable. Not just among news networks. All of television

And yet...the only ads who will see on FNC are for male enhancement products or My Pillow...

[JBW1949]

I have never watched “Big Brother” and from what I’ve read about the show, I’m glad I didn’t waste my time...It sounds about as stupid and simplistic as “Survivor” is/was...Is it even still on the air???

[RightGeek]

You would think that this would be a great marketing opportunity for the other networks - appeal to a conservative audience. Nah, too easy.

[JBW1949]

That is much more entertaining and meaningful to watch than Big Brother...LOL

[combat_boots]

What these 3 are doing remind me of Nathan Hale

[CatOwner]

I wonder what the total of all leftist cable news networks is against the Fox total. If there was at least one widely available right-leaning network on at the same time, I’m sure they would split some of the viewership. Just saying.

[Steve_Seattle]

"Complaints that Fox News prime-time hosts downplayed the coronavirus — and, in the case of Laura Ingraham, encouraged the use of hydroxychloroquine, a drug shown to be useless, and even dangerous, for Covid-19 patients — made little difference."

Thus says the paper that itself initially downplayed the corona virus. As for HCQ, various studies have been all over the map as to its effectiveness for the corona virus, it is still widely used in many countries, and the claim that it is particularly "dangerous" is an outright lie.