[dogbyte12]

Why are these numbers so low? Fox is doing much better than everybody else, but the viewers for each of the evening news shows on the big 3 probably all beat all the cable networks combined, and most of the people in this country have cable.

1.3 million for FOX means that 1 in 215 americans watch FOX news on a given night. 787,000 for CNN means that 1 in 355 americans are watching CNN. MSNBC's numbers are a further joke. I just did the numbers in my head roughly. FOX, CNN, MSNBC, CNBC, and Headline news average together 1 out of every 100 americans watching them on a given night. No wonder most democrats can't name their candidates, or Americans the name of the speaker of the house.

I don't know if it is because we are so wealthy as a nation that we don't have to care, but the thought that the 24 hour news stations can't generate more than 1 in 100 people a night combined disturbs me.

[sarasota]

I think there are many people who have tuned out the news on tv altogether. I know I have. I get my news here during the day. Evenings are for family and fun, not news.

[AVNative]

Yup! Disturbs me too. See my post #24.

Good breakdown on the practical fractions you listed. Critical thinking is such a lost art. . .

[Nonstatist]

1.3 million for FOX means that 1 in 215 americans watch FOX news on a given night.

At least 25 million watch the main stream Nightly news every night; thats about 9 % of all people, close to 20 % of adults.

There still are people without cable, thats part of the problem. The rest of the problem is inertia related.

[ken5050]

FYI, re your comments on the network evening newscasts..the NEXT step, supposedly, for Fox is to compete directly with them by offering the first half hour of Brit's show on the FOX network...they've show they can compete with the nets directly..the morning show Fox&Friends..is beating the CBS show consistently....I've heard this is gonna happen as we get closer to the '04 election, when interest peaks....it'llbe interesting to see if the audience on the usual FOX stations..which are showing Simpsons' reruns..will stay for Brit.....they WILL stay for Laurie Dhue..

[expatpat]

Remeber, that 1:100 is the fraction of people who are watching at any given time. Many people have other things to do besides continuing to watch news channels regurgitate the same news items all evening. Boys play electronic games, girls wash their hair, etc. Some people even go out on dates, or eat out!