All Cable New channels ratings crash except Fox!

Yahoo news.com ^ | 1/1/03 | Craig Offman

[Pliney the younger]

CNN, Headline News, MSNBC and CNBC suffered double-digit drops in year-end ratings .Only Fox News, which has become THE PRIMETIME CABLE NEWS DESTINATION experienced significant growth in total-day and primetime versus 2001.

[neversweat]

Do you suppose that's why they were rated the #1 morning news program last year?

[Dave S]

When Williams wasn't telling the viewers how dismal the shopping season was( which he did every single night) and linking it to Bush,he featured pieces on how Republicans have always talked in code to Southerners and how Bush is going to nominate "controversial" judges to the bench.

How did he link the poor Christmas season to Bush? Most Presidents rightly or wrongly get the credit or blame for the performance of the economy during their term.

You didnt know that the Republicans talked in code to Southern whites just like the Dems talk to blacks everywhere? Im shocked. Didnt you ever watch any Jesse Helms TV spots or Bush the Elder campaign spots?

I sure hope Bush nominates some judges that are controversial. Otherwise we may get another Souter. When they say he is nominating a judge that is controversial, Williams is not saying that the judge is evil or something, just that the Dems are going to fight that selection. Gee, get a dictionary before you go bizerk over "media bias."

As far as gift certificates, I suppose its possible that they might account for them as obligations rather than sales. However, why are you blaming Williams for his reporting. He doesnt know how 280 million people spent their Xmas dollars or whether they bought in stores/online or whether they bought merchandise or gift certificates. All he has is the reported numbers and the fact that retailers like Wal-Mart are complaining and advising the stock analysts that they did not do well. Time will tell.

[LS]

Ah, ah. You are using DEM speak now. An "increase" is a "cut" if it doesn't go up by some pre-set standard. No, and increase of 1.5% is STILL an increase. Maybe not as fast as I would like, but undeniable. Moreover, no one . . . NO ONE---has really taken into account the impact of on-line buying, which was off the charts this year. My prediction is it will continue to grow.

[Dave S]

That being said, I have never seen more traffic, longer lines, and crowds at malls than I witnessed this year. I'm not buying the publicized gloom and doom figures.

Ever think that perhaps everyone doesnt live like you? Perhaps the workers who lost their jobs dont live anywhere near your mall. You are generalizing from a specific. Kind of dangerous.

If the sales figures were being purposely held by the media to hurt Bush, dont you think that Fox News or someone on the Internet would have the numbers and would publish them? Or are you saying that it is all these individual corporate entities that are collectively doing their best to hurt Bush by hiding their sales figures until the last minute? I dont think so.

[Dave S]

You are using DEM speak now. An "increase" is a "cut" if it doesn't go up by some pre-set standard. No, and increase of 1.5% is STILL an increase.

Is a 1.5% increase a good Christmas for you. You spent $100 last year and this you spent $101. Great you spent more but dont expect the retailers to get excited. Normal performance in the US economy is 4% or more growth after inflation. During the early stages of an economic recovery it is often 6 or 7 %. One and a half percent is pathethic. Consider it media bias if you like but its just more evidence that more tax cuts are needed to get the economy moving again.

[Quilla]

I own my own company and I deal with other businesses and I can tell you that business right now sucks.

I own my own company as well. (Two for that matter, one is a manufacturing facility and the other is an industrial park.) In the 17 years I've been in business, 1999 and 2000 were by far the worst. My stock portfolio was kicking - internet IPO opening day pop-wise, but I'm convinced that was a fluke. The year 2001 started off with similar (pitiful) sales until (and I kid you not) September 11 and then things busted wide open. I haven't had a single bad month since. I sell to other businesses, so there are numerous other entities out there that are doing well too. Maybe the difference is our geographical locations, but the economy is my neck of the woods is doing beautifully.

I'm not saying individual companies are collectively doing their best to hurt Bush. I'm saying that the media is interpreting slightly less than expected sales increases as decreases.

[Samurai_Jack]

I dunno... they just annoy me is all... Im certain I would annoy them too.

[maxwellp]

"The morning show". Are you referring to Fox & Friends? I like them! The are serious when they need to be and refreshingly silly and funny when the occasion warrants.

[Chuckster]

BTW, That tripe about this being the worst Christmas selling season ever is pure Bravo Sierra. I am president of a statewide industry association and I know better. Our members report the BEST season ever.

[patriot5186]

that is good news...now when the advertising dollars reflect start chasing the ratings we'll see how committed the lefties are to their propoganda. ratings talk - advertisers walk.

[dasein64]

There will be an additional $5.00 mo charge if you want different reception on the second receiver. If you just want the same program reception on all your Dish tv's you will not have to pay extra. We have 3 tv's and it costs $10.00 a month more to have the extra 2 sets able to run independent of any other. Charges may differ in other localities but that is our cost.

[LS]

Dave, first there is NO "normal" growth rate for anything. That is Clintonesque---that we have defeated the business cycle.

Second, I call 1.5% in the midst of a war, the Venezuelan crisis, the Enron scandals, and 8 years of Clinton INCREDIBLY good.

Third, yes, there are many people I know who would be happy with a 1.5% increase in sales or bonuses.

[Hobo anonymous]

It must be that darned O' Reilly! He's using subliminal messaging! I swear! Donahue actually bolstered ratings for MSNBC(for a few minutes...) when he aired his "I'm an angry white man in America" segment lol. Looks like Donahue is gonna be back out on the street.

[LenS]

But you can't make judgements until the online numbers are in. This year, over 90% of my Christmas spending was online. Last year, it was 0%. From the tired look on the UPS drivers (not to mention the deliveries after 8 PM), I wasn't alone.

[antaresequity]

Shep is kewl...I like him...talented newscaster...tells the truth...doesnt take crap...great sense of timing and flow...One of the best

[antaresequity]

Williams is a biased lefty hack...he is not fair...and thats fine...but don't call him fair...

Fox isn't that fair either...and thats fine by me...I like biased news coverage...Lets consumers make intelligent decisions on which side of the aisle makes more sense...and guess which side they like....

[blackbart1]

How many million more pro-Americans will desert the leftists this year.

That is the $64,000.000,000 question. This is sooo rich!

[yendu bwam]

Now, if they only put Dan Blather out to pasture.

He has Bryant Dumbell to lead the way...