Fox News Keeps Wartime Coverage Lead

AP ^ | 3-25-2003 | DAVID BAUDER

[dangermouse]

Fox News Keeps Wartime Coverage Lead

By DAVID BAUDER, AP Television Writer

NEW YORK - The first Gulf War (news - web sites) established CNN as a television news outlet to be reckoned with. The second may be just as important for Fox News Channel's reputation.

Through the first five days of the war, Fox News Channel has averaged 4.16 million viewers each day to CNN's 3.74 million. Fox's audience was bigger when the war began March 19, and every day through Sunday, according to Nielsen Media Research.

While Fox has been the top-rated cable news channel for more than a year, industry experts wondered whether that lead would hold during a big breaking news story. CNN overtook Fox, for example, on Feb. 1 when the space shuttle disintegrated.

Despite CNN's overwhelming advantage in reporting manpower, more Americans — at least so far — want to watch the war unfold on Fox.

"I think it's a pretty big surprise," said Erik Sorenson, MSNBC president, on Tuesday. Because of CNN's experience with the first Gulf War, "I think people thought CNN would win, at least in its early stages. One of the executives there said they would own the story, and I don't think they do."

CNN spokeswoman Christa Robinson downplayed Fox's ratings advantage, saying Nielsen shows that more people at least sample some of CNN's coverage during the day. Fox's ratings are higher because its viewers watch for a longer time.

CNN also draws viewers to its Headline News and has a greater presence overseas than Fox, Robinson said.

"We're perfectly comfortable having the biggest audience in the world," she said.

A Fox News Channel spokesman didn't return a call for comment.

Fox's war coverage tends to be more uplifting, emphasizing the positive and trying to beef up morale and national identity, said Robert Thompson, professor of media and popular culture at Syracuse University.

The network usually maintains an American flag graphic on the upper left corner of its screen, and anchorman Shepard Smith wore a flag pin in his lapel on Tuesday.

Fox's fans seem to like the network's style more than the traditional news coverage of CNN, said Alex Jones, director of the Shorenstein Center on the Press, Politics and Public Policy at Harvard University.

The conservative ideology that drives its prime-time programming seems to be spreading more into its news coverage, he said.

"The Fox view is a useful one to have out there," Thompson said. "It's not as if they are hiding it or pretending that it's not there. You have three networks out there, they don't all have to be doing the same thing."

More viewers are watching war coverage with itchy fingers on their remotes, frequently shifting channels to find more action, Thompson said.

A survey released Tuesday by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press found that nearly four of every five people gave the press good marks for its war coverage. The survey found that people who agreed with the decision to go to war were happier with the coverage than those who disagreed.

During the busy first three months of the year, Fox's viewership has grown by 75 percent over the same period last year, Nielsen said. Fox and TNT are now tied for second behind Nickelodeon as the top-rated basic cable channel. CNN's audience has grown 53 percent year to year and MSNBC's 32 percent.

The war has provided a much-needed boost to MSNBC. The third-place cable network has averaged 1.76 million viewers for its war coverage.

MSNBC has played up its resources with the full NBC News team and, with NBC breaking into regular programming less frequently for war coverage, that has worked to MSNBC's advantage. MSNBC had 2.11 million viewers on Sunday, its best day since the war's start.

It dovetails with MSNBC's latest strategy, which is "to cover the news when it happens and analyze it when it's not happening," Sorenson said. The war is likely to delay the debut of former Minnesota Gov. Jesse Ventura's new prime-time show, he said.

[GOPrincess]

You're right about Fox having the right "attitude." It's a funny thing, some TV critics and media types are expressing *concern* that Fox has a pro-American position -- they are supposed to be "neutral" news carriers. Baloney. I want accurate news but I want it from a network that understands the gravity of the situation, including who should win -- the U.S. Interesting that the other networks carry "opinion" all the time (i.e., Jennings on ABC) but let a network be pro-U.S. and it's a concern!

[Caipirabob]

Quite frankly, the Fox pundits are a lot more interesting than the ones offered by CNN. The Colonel with the raspy voice is my favorite.

I keep waiting for him to break down and call Shepard Smith a "silky boy".

Just kidding Shep, you rock!

[GOPrincess]

"I even like Greta's show. She's a great interviewer, direct pertinent questions and does not try to put herself more than she should into the scene, plus she keeps it going hitting many subjects."

Another ditto. I was truly appalled when I heard she was moving to Fox. Couldn't stand her on CNN and she didn't start off well on Fox with all the publicity about her face job. As time goes on I am more and more impressed with the job she does and the number of subjects she tackles. I never would have believed I'd enjoy her show if you'd told me that would be the case a few years back.

[GOPrincess]

"Aaron Brown is completely unwatchable. I just can't stomach that insufferable half-smile and smarmy, condescending voice."

Exactly. I want my news from someone who is smart (i.e., my idol, Brit Hume!) but I don't want my news from someone who thinks he's smarter than I am.

[Pete'sWife]

I sent 'em an email this morning:

Thank you all for your balanced, unbiased, TRUTHFUL coverage of our actions
in Iraq!

We have depended upon FoxNews exclusively since 2000, and have no plans to
switch.

While visiting family members who do not receive FoxNews, we saw network
coverage of the conflict, and wondered if they were covering the same war.
ABCCBSNBCCNN's coverage is so blatantly biased against our President and our
military, it's a wonder the polls in favor of our actions are so high!

Our personal favorites are Britt Hume, Shepard Smith, John Gibson, and your
team of military advisors is simply the best in the business.

Again, many thanks from a diehard viewer!

Sincerely,

[MeekOneGOP]

bump! bump! bump! . . .

[rocky88]

Glad to hear your idol is Brit Hume. I get the impression he is the anchor that the FNC attitude is built around. He is class personified, and Jennings, Rather, Brokaw or Brown can't hold a candle to him. I love the "round table" and the way Brit reigns Fred Barnes in and has made Mara Liasson interesting to watch, something I never thought would happen.

[Thinkin' Gal]

Several months ago, I first started watching Fox & Friends, to help me wake up in the morning. Col. Hunt got my attention right away. He was so spontaneous and interactive, unlike the typical "expert commentator".

One day, Steve Doocy was either sent out of the studio or not at work, so they (E.D. and Brian I think) suggested that the Colonel do the weather report. He got all excited, asked if they were serious, then jumped over to the weather map. He didn't have a clue how the map worked, but proceeded to ad lib and scribble "predictions" as he thought them up. Absolutely hysterical. He should be a permanent host. He can replace that weird Mike Jerrick.

[rocky88]

THAT'S IT! We need to start a Colonel David Hunt daily fan thread!!!

[Benrand]

Col Hunt is a funny guy, great sense of Buck Turgidson humor. "Suicide by tank". LOL

But I almost vomited last night when the huge head of Aaron Brown, and it seems they zoom in on that guy's face as to make him appear to have more gravitas, but only make his huge head loom larger like an alien spaceship, but he BIT HIS LIP when talking about the POWs. He did a Bill Clinton special, the biting of the lip when giving a somber speech. I laughed a that pompous bore. And to top it off he never mentioned the POWs that got shot in the head for being American. The idiot. He makes me count sheep when he comes on the TV feeling sleepy must get some rest oh I'm tired...

[GOPrincess]

You're absolutely right about Brit Hume being a class act. (One example, I was delighted to receive a reply when I emailed him a complimentary note a couple years ago.) I also think he's more intelligent than the other anchors -- combined. :)

[Thinkin' Gal]

Major Bob

Is he the ex special forces guy with the steely eyes and the goatee? I like that guy... pleasant and mild-mannered, but he looks like he could scare the living hell out of somebody if he so desired.

[dancusa]

Simon Marks(the Brit)is great.Don't forget Capt.Dave Christian and Mike Tobin.Fox cuts through all that Clinton PC baloney that CNN espouses.Aaron(whiner)Brown is unwatchable.

[Thinkin' Gal]

I wish they'd let him do the weather again. I thought I'd never stop laughing.

[Contra]

Did any of you notice that the FOX News guys put on their gas masks like clockwork when the sirens go off in Kuwait City, but the CNN guys don't? I think this says something about the difference between the two network's personnel right there. Gee, wouldn't it be a shame if the CNN announcer (like Wolf Blitzer) keeled over and died during a gas attack while the FOX guy kept on reporting?

[Fifth Business]

My wife and I call Fox the "Good Hair" channel, because nearly all the men have full heads or hair and are well groomed.

[alnick]

CNN spokeswoman Christa Robinson downplayed Fox's ratings advantage, saying Nielsen shows that more people at least sample some of CNN's coverage during the day. Fox's ratings are higher because its viewers watch for a longer time.

Memo to CNN: That's not something that you should be happy about.

[alnick]

I like that Major Backula, Balakaula, Blakilula, whatever, guy with the black goate, gotee, go-tee, AH SCREW IT!!!!

Major Bob.

[alnick]

Someone answer a question for me; when they compare the ratings with CNN, does that take into account that Fox News has fewer cable outlets?

No, I think that they pretend that they're on a level playing field.

[cybergal]

I love Maj. Bob and Col. Hunt. Last night Major Bob was on with O'Reilly and said something about one of those big bombs cracking Saddam's head open like a melon. My husband and I thought it was hysterical! I also think that Rick Leventhal and Greg Kelly are doing a great job of reporting from the front lines. The two british guys, Jonathan Hunt and Simon Marks are also good.