Bad Tidings for Cable News Pack [FOXNEWS on a roll]

Reuters ^ | By Craig Offman

[JohnHuang2]

NEW YORK (Variety) - For cable news networks, a war with Iraq may not be such a bad thing.

CNN, Headline News, MSNBC and CNBC suffered double-digit drops in year-end ratings vs. 2001, the year that audiences flocked to the television for updates on post-9/11 events.

Only Fox News, which has become the prime peacetime cable news destination, experienced significant growth in total-day and primetime versus 2001.

In 2002, it climbed 44% to an average of 667,000 total-day viewers, according to Nielsen Media Research.

In the same time period and category, second-place CNN slipped 7% to an average of 536,000 viewers. Third-place MSNBC tumbled 23% to 263,000.

CNBC dove 44%, and Headline News slipped 12%.

Several individual broadcasts are nonetheless gathering momentum for their cable parents.

CNN's 7-10 a.m. breakfastcast "American Morning with Paula Zahn" jumped 32% in total viewership to an average of 509,000 in 2002. The show, however, still trails Fox News' two-hour "Fox and Friends."

MSNBC, which overhauled its schedule in July, saw its biggest gains in time slots that it considers placeholders.

The 7 p.m. (ET) "Countdown: Iraq" boosted the slot 20% versus the third quarter when the network previously aired "Nachman," now on at 5 p.m.

"MSNBC Reports," which succeeded "Ashleigh Banfield: On Location" at 10 p.m. (ET), has improved the slot by 30%.

Most networks, however, saw significant growth in those specific timeslots during the October sniper attacks, when audiences likely tuned in when they got home from work or later when they turned in for the night.

The coverage of the murders in northern Virginia gave Fox News, CNN and MSNBC a boost in fourth-quarter total-audience ratings vs. the previous quarter.

[homeschool mama]

big smile from homeschool mama :oD

[friendly]

Never underestimate the awesome power of denial. You or I could financially turn MSNBC around in six months, no sweat.

However, we are not afflicted with liberal denial. We are not blindly destroying an investment worth hundreds of millions of dollars.

My problem is: Is there no financial supervision of these moron program directors? Is there no accountablity to stockholders?

[chnsmok]

I love Fox News, but 667,000 viewers? Where do people get their news or DO they get their news and if they do not, why are they voting?

[homeschool mama]

I would think the FOX #'s would be higher...

I get most of my news on FR. :o)

[Nita Nuprez]

Hey, Roger Ailes! If you ever let Bob Bevelacqua or Sean Hannity get away from you, I may just get wandering eyes. :-)

[chnsmok]

902,195 people in the STATE of Montana. How many Freepers in Montana? Get my news here also :)

[Simmy]

Most people (those who care about the news) still gets it from the networks (NBC, ABC, and CBS). After all, 60 Minutes and Dateline, for example, still bring in millions. Cable news is a relatively small market. A small market that Fox is winning.

Not to mention, in certain places (like San Francisco) Fox News still isn't availble (no surprise here. Not like a lot will watch in the first place, still, the 1000 or so who would can't).

[bradactor]

I think we have more people getting news here at Free Republic than Fox News Channel. The problem is Fox News Channel is not on every cable provider.
Brad

[Joe Boucher]

You have to understand that many many cable systems in very many parts of the U.S. don't or won't carry the FOX channel.
Seems the liberal media don't want to compete on the same ground. Now if you kept the many liberal news agencies off systems you'd hear a howl like never before about bias.

[Neanderthal]

"Not to mention, in certain places (like San Francisco) Fox News still isn't availble (no surprise here. Not like a lot will watch in the first place, still, the 1000 or so who would can't)."

We get Fox News (cable ch 34) and we live 20 miles east of SF. I'm surprised to hear that you can't get it in the city.

[Simmy]

Actually, I live 50 miles south of SF (in San Jose and I get it). I heard about SF not getting Fox News on the Melanie Morgan/Lee Rodgers Show on KSFO. Funny. The most liberal city, and it doesn't get it.

[martin_fierro]

Fox News' two-hour "Fox and Friends."

I like "The Big Story" with John Gibson and won't miss "Special Report with Britt Hume", but IMO F&F is unwatchable. The inane Steve Doocy is like nails on a chalkboard.

[martin_fierro]

Howdy, neighbor!

[martin_fierro]

CNN, Headline News, MSNBC and CNBC suffered double-digit drops in year-end ratings vs. 2001, the year that audiences flocked to the television for updates on post-9/11 events.
Only Fox News, which has become the prime peacetime cable news destination, experienced significant growth in total-day and primetime versus 2001.

And yet, CNN never seems to report this.

[Semper Paratus]

The inane Steve Doocy is like nails on a chalkboard.

I saw him doing times square interviews news year eve on ABC!?

[mystery-ak]

No data on Donahue or Matthews?.....hmmmmmm!

[chainsaw]

Bad Tidings for Cable News Pack [FOXNEWS on a roll]

They still don't get it. A dumbed down high school freshman could tell them what their problem is.

[Salvation]

&&Only Fox News, which has become the prime peacetime cable news destination, experienced significant growth in total-day and primetime versus 2001.**

And we know why!

[Salvation]

**In 2002, it climbed 44% to an average of 667,000 total-day viewers, according to Nielsen Media Research.


In the same time period and category, second-place CNN slipped 7% to an average of 536,000 viewers. Third-place MSNBC tumbled 23% to 263,000.


CNBC dove 44%, and Headline News slipped 12%.**

BTTT!