What a Shame: Spitzer's Current TV Ratings 'Plummet' From Olbermann's Puny Numbers

May 5th, 2012 1:31 PM

The Hollywood Reporter has some less-than surprising news: Eliot Spitzer can't even hold on to Keith Olbermann's puny audience at Current TV. The paper's headline said "predictably plummet." Compared to Olbermann's average in March, over the same time period, Nielsen has Spitzer's four-week average down 62 percent with adults 25-54 (14,000, down  from 38,000) and 68 percent with total viewers (46,000, down from 145,000). The demo average managed to reach 19,000 in its second week, but dropped to 12,000 in the third and just 9,000 in the fourth.

I'm sure he could find some Republican-in-name-only sparring partner to spruce it up. The paper tried to soften up the bad news by explaining other shows have dramatically improved in the ratings -- from when the channel was running unnoticed documentaries. Call it Cenk TV:

And in the absence of a flagship personality, the network does see growth in other time slots. The Young Turks with Cenk Uygur  has the 7 p.m. hour up 229 percent in total viewers, year over year, and since Olbermann's departure is now the network's highest rated program in with all key demos.

In the morning, and after five weeks on air, Full Court Press: The Bill Press Show (6 to 9 a.m.) and Talking Liberally: The Stephanie Miller Show (9 a.m. to 12 p.m.) have the six-hour block up 200 percent in total viewers compared to the first quarter. Press is also up 25 percent with adults 25-54, with Miller up 160 percent.