1Q20 - Cable News Viewership

Updates

Later, 8:36 a.m. CT: huge correction made below; a reader caught the error. Thank you. When I die (perhaps of coronavirus) and this blog is shut down (or taken over by Sophia), the ending credits to the success of this blog will have to include a handful of readers, for catching my errors. LOL.

But look at that. I did not know. Fox News -- almost twenty years as the most-watched cable news network in total-day and primetime.

And with the recent surge, it's hard to believe Fox News dominance will change any time soon. I've always wondered why the mainstream media is so vocal and so negative about Fox News. It now makes sense.

It also explains why President Trump generally goes there first to reach out to the American public. It's all about viewership.

Original Post 

Data points, 1Q20 cable news results, according to Nielsen Media Research:

• Fox News set network records for total-day and primetime viewership
• this was the network's 15th straight quarter as the most-watched network in cable
• 73rd quarter (almost 20 years -- 18.25 years to be exact) as the most-watched cable news network in total-day and primetime
• But this is what is most impressive:
• these numbers represent a whopping 38% increase over total viewership one year earlier (1Q19)
• CNN also saw a considerable gain: up 29% --but it was coming from a very, very low viewership to begin with
• MSBNC: also grew, but only a 1% increase from 1Q19
• slipped 1% in demo viewership
• demo viewership:
• Fox News gained 42% (and already very, very high viewership)
• CNN gained 27% (coming from a low base)
• MSNBC: slipped 1%
• Fox News dominated everywhere
• claimed 13 of the top 15 cable news programs
• claimed all of the top five
• Hannity: first (my least favorite of those I've seen)
• Tucker: second (my personal favorite but can count the times I've watched him on two hands)
• The Five: third
• The Ingraham Angle: fourth (I sort of enjoy it, perhaps better than Tucker; again, seldom watch)
• Special Report with Bret Baier: fifth (years ago, I watched it often; haven't watched him in years)
• most amazing: Fox Business Network -- a paltry 173,000 viewers

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Compound Eyes