Fox News back on top in second quarter of 2008
NEW YORK — Fox News is poised to reclaim the title of the most-watched cable news network in the key advertising demographic in the second quarter of 2008.
The cable channel attracted the most 25- to 54-year-old viewers in prime-time this quarter, according to preliminary Nielsen Media Research data, drawing an average of 346,000 in that age group through Tuesday.
CNN, which was buoyed to first place last quarter by the presidential primaries, is back in second place with an average of 301,000 viewers in the demographic most sought after by advertisers. MSNBC is in third with 269,000. (Final numbers will be available next week.)
CNN’s win in the key demographic in the first quarter of 2008 marked the first such victory for the cable news network in more than six years, and its success with political coverage animated executives.
Bill Shine, Fox News’ senior vice president for programming, said his network regained the top spot in the second quarter because “we do better television than anybody else.”
“In the first quarter, CNN benefited from an intense Democratic race, but I think in the second quarter, after they spent millions and millions on sets and talent and graphics, it wasn’t enough for them,” he said.
Still, CNN’s viewership in the second quarter was up 24% in the key demographic, compared with the same period last year, while Fox News was down 1%. MSNBC’s audience was also up, spiking 46% year-to-year.
“The facts say it all: CNN is up 24% in prime-time, while Fox is down,” said CNN spokeswoman Christa Robinson, who added that the network did not build new sets for its political coverage. “The trends are clearly in our favor.”
Fox News rejected the characterization that its audience was eroding, noting that its viewership was essentially flat.
“The only current trend is CNN losing their momentum and battling MSNBC for second place,” Shine said.
Overall, Fox News continues to pull in the largest cable news audience, drawing an average of 1.6 million prime-time viewers so far this quarter. CNN is in second with 977,000, while MSNBC pulled in 690,000.
-- Matea Gold
People who watch Fox news do not want to be informed they want propaganda, they want to feel good about torture, immoral invasions, global warming etc...Fox watchers drive huge SUVs are really fat, leave the air conditioning on in the spring and fall, and don't care if their government is responsible for war crimes and crimes against humanity...they don't want to know if jews are being gassed or amased in the concentration camps...they are no different than the Germans that believed every word coming out of Hitler's mouth...those who watch CNN, ABC are not much better CBS and NBC start to inform a little bit but are careful not to invite people like Noam Chomsky....the only real news in America today is on Democracy NOW!....It is a sad reflection on America that Fox is number one...really sad that so many Americans watch this trash!
Posted by: birdflewover | June 27, 2008 at 03:51 AM
There should be a law against being officially categorized as a news network, which in reality just entertains.
Posted by: kadene | June 27, 2008 at 04:08 AM
I like to refer to them as Faux Snooze
Posted by: marilyn bibbee | June 27, 2008 at 05:16 AM
I wouldn't put to much stock into this, look where it coming from,The LA times and the Nelison who we know do not really to a good job.
Posted by: john | June 27, 2008 at 05:27 AM
"MSNBC would be better if they weren't so biased. They have practically made Obama into Jesus. The station would be 100 times better if they got rid of Keith Olbermann and Chris Matthews"
Posted by: Lauren O'Rourke | June 26, 2008 at 06:44 PM
Are you serious?! Are you implying saying that Fox News is so popular because it isn't biased? Bias is the driving force behind Fox news and now liberals watch it just to laugh at the fear mongering and lies. You are clearly uninformed. Hardball with Chris Matthews and Countdown with Keith Olberman are MSNBC's HIGHEST RATED SHOWS! Why would a network get rid of their highest rated shows?!
Some people just don't get it.
Posted by: LM | June 27, 2008 at 05:45 AM
Fox News is to journalism as wrestling is to sports. It does well because of flashy graphics and jingoism.
Posted by: A.. Freund | June 27, 2008 at 05:48 AM
It remains a mystery why such a large audience enjoys false information. In various PEW Reseach & Truth in Media projects, FOX News was only correct in their news accounts 60% of the time. It is not a serious news venue, but rather an intertainment channel. Not only is Ruper Murdoch & Co. a disgrace in spewing hatred and false reporting, but it is a blow to the American Educational System on why so many idiots would watch Fox Cable News.
Posted by: dean | June 27, 2008 at 06:17 AM
FIX News is a good channel for the proselytizers. Go somewhere else if you are not brain dead.
Posted by: rh mayo | June 27, 2008 at 06:26 AM
FOX news is pure propaganda, just like MSNBC. You choose to watch which side you more relate to. I think that Oreily is a Hack, so is Hannity and the loudmouth fact distorting drama queens at FOX.
Kieth Olberman is carrying MSNBC right now, but I believe he is far more popular than anything on FOX, regardless of what the ratings say.
Olberman is a left wing version of those guys, but I never notice him distorting the truth like Oreily and hannity do.
FOX is entertainment for the old guard, they are not news!!!!
Posted by: Tom Todia | June 27, 2008 at 06:41 AM
It is sad that this country would watch a station that is focused on fear mongering and hate. Fox does not report objectively, They report what the corporate sponsors ask them to. I for one will not support any advertiser that supports Fox and will look elsewhere for my goods and services.
Posted by: Dean | June 27, 2008 at 06:50 AM
"The Huffington Post. I also check daily, the English version of Aljazeera on their web site and the Asian Times."
Scary.
Posted by: Bob Skilnik | June 27, 2008 at 07:13 AM
" MSNBC demonstrates excellence in depth of coverage with appealing news hosts. "
-Oh yeah, Keith Olbermann and Chris Matthews, such depth, such excellence, no bias.
"Viewers are turning to CNN and MSNBC to get their news because FOX has proven itself to be less of a news operation and more of a right wing propaganda outlet."
-Viewers AREN'T turning to CNN and MSNBS. Their ratings go from abysmal to pathetic and you morons think they're doing great. You are so blinded by your bias that unless anchors toe the Obamessiah line, you think they're the ones who are biased
Posted by: Shawn | June 27, 2008 at 07:56 AM
I find it hard to believe that people can watch that whiny Hannity and the incredibly arrogant O’reilly. To hear Billo complain that he might have to pay more taxes if Obama is elected is just sickening. Hannity is perhaps the worst as his show has virtually no entertainment value, he just whines. Like Rush Lipbalm on the radio, Oreilly says enough silly and stupid thing you can get a laugh now and again. On the other side, can’t stand Olberman, but I find Matthews enthusiasm refreshing.
Posted by: Ted | June 27, 2008 at 08:05 AM
god help us...and we wonder why this country is going down the toilet when Fox passes for news
Posted by: Mel | June 27, 2008 at 08:08 AM
god help us...and we wonder why this country is going down the toilet when Fox passes for news
Posted by: Mel | June 27, 2008 at 08:08 AM
Bill Shine, Fox News’ senior vice president for programming, said his network regained the top spot in the second quarter because “we do better television than anybody else.”
Love it. Better television. That's the best motivation a news station can have. No conflict of interest there.
Posted by: naturethings | June 27, 2008 at 08:25 AM
Why is it that in almost any discussion about left versus right the left has to go to the lowest level of civility? Name calling and telling lies just to make a point. You can't watch someone like Keith Olbermann because he is so disgusting. He and Chris Mathews are both irriatatingly rude and melicious. At least a discussion with say Brit Hume and the panel he puts together gives you a civil discourse of the subject at hand. Even Bill O'Rielly will have opposing arguments voiced on his show but not the MSNBC duo. It is so obvious that they are in the tank for the Democrats that you have no need to watch them and that is one reasons I no longer do. If KO thinks he is doing the watchers any good he is sorely mistaken.
Posted by: Kay | June 27, 2008 at 08:45 AM
I wonder how many of those 346,000, like me, occasionally watch FOX because it is just so horrible. Kind of like when you slow down to stare at a particularly gruesome car accident.
Question: Why aren't we boycotting FOX? We're kicking Lieberman out of office - we made an impact on FISA - why are we still allowing FOX to spread its hatred and lies every single day to nearly half a million people, unchallenged? If we could just get a petition going to boycott the advertisers that tout their products on FOX, and get enough people to sign it, we could send them a message that we're tired of their non-stop propaganda. If we don't: goodbye ANWR, goodbye clean beaches, because FOX is now batting 24/7 for BIG OIL, convincing America that drilling for more oil is the only way to change gas prices in the short term, though they know for a fact that it's a lie.
Is Rupert Murdoch satan? Seriously, he's the most ridiculously evil person I can think of alive today.
Posted by: GKenyon | June 27, 2008 at 08:51 AM
Fox News is nothing more than the mouthpiece for the extreme right political wing. As a result, I never watch it. I have no interest in propaganda.
Posted by: Marc | June 27, 2008 at 08:53 AM
People don't want to hear the truth. Fairy tales are easier to deal with and that's what fox "news" broadcasts.
Posted by: susie | June 27, 2008 at 09:17 AM