Three weeks out from Election Day, surely more Americans are tuning into the Big 3 networks' evening newscasts, right?
Wrong.
In the past two weeks, Big 3 evening newscast viewership has actually declined by 360,000, or 1.6%. What's more, in percentage terms, viewership among "The Demo" of ages 25-54 has declined even further (220,000, down 3.1%).
Here are the rest of the gory details for total viewers (Source: MediaBistro's TV Newser - week of Oct. 6; week of Sept. 29; week of Sept. 22; Year Ended Sept. 2008):
Here's what it looks like for the 25-54 demo:
Yikes.
Given that almost anyone would have expected the nets to at least hold steady through Election Day, it's not unreasonable to surmise that some of the declines above might be due to:
- Charles Gibson's slanted and selectively edited interview of Sarah Palin on ABC.
- Katie Couric's similarly biased effort for CBS. Her Palin interview likely accounts for the ratings bump during the week of September 29, but notice that CBS was back below it two-week-ago level the following week. Is that a backlash?
- The ongoing MSNBC-ization of NBC.
- Relentlessly biased reporting in general.
- All of the above.
This result offers some hope that viewers -- and voters are looking for more accurate information in outlets outside of traditional media.
Cross-posted at BizzyBlog.com.
Editor at Large
Comments Policy
Well...I'll be darned, my
October 14, 2008 - 22:34 ET by bigtimerWell...I'll be darned, my heart be still...maybe, just maybe we all are making a difference in the long run...
Long live NBs!
Btw...I pick all of the above as cause too.
"America isn't the problem...America is the solution." ~ Rush Limbaugh
Bill O
October 14, 2008 - 22:43 ET by CANCON1cancon1 - O'Reilly announced earlier this week that he had beaten the CBS evening News in the ratings and that marked the first time a Cable show had ever done that. Ever! People go to the spots where they believe that a decent portrayal of the auguments will be presented. The Conservative won in Canada! Again.
Couric, a beacon of intellect, every day at 6:30 est.
The inherent vice of capitalism is the unequal sharing of blessings; the inherent virtue of socialism is the equal sharing of miseries
CC1.. Hey that's right
October 14, 2008 - 22:55 ET by bigtimerCC1..
Hey that's right and thanks...
You know that is an excellent point...I heard that too...I wouldn't of thought of that silly little fact until you refreshed my memory...good job.
It tickled me too when he announced that...just knowing that Kieth Olbermann was seething inside....made my night...
Of course we know it made BOR's too.
"America isn't the problem...America is the solution." ~ Rush Limbaugh
Little Nugets
October 14, 2008 - 23:20 ET by CANCON1cancon1 .
The problem that the media have these days is fragmentation. The medium is the message, never bought that line. The message is delivered through the medium. The message of the media these days is desperate, ratings driven garbage. I often wonder about hacks that thought they had a serious future is this so call profession. I mean I actaully laugh at a person who says they are a Journalist. It's like the Booze hound that says I am not an alocoholic if I don't drink in the morning, but a media hack these days has to go to sleep at night , really knowing that what they thought was noble is a lie.
crap you arent supposed to
October 14, 2008 - 23:36 ET by dark_dscrap you arent supposed to drink in the morning :)
crap
October 14, 2008 - 23:42 ET by CANCON1cancon1 - sometimes it is the only thing that works
Long live NBs!
October 14, 2008 - 23:09 ET by CoolShadesLong live NBs!
People are tuning out the network news?
October 14, 2008 - 22:42 ET by mizflame98I'm flabbergasted! :-P
“Anybody gone into Whole Foods lately and see what they charge for arugula? I mean, they’re charging a lot of money for this stuff.”
B.H. Obama
BO STILL VIOLATING FREE SPEECH RIGHTS
October 14, 2008 - 22:55 ET by john5750Very disturbing but goes to the heart of “freedom of speech”. Found this posted at Obamacrimes.com –this is serious people we all need to contact ———– ————– ———————— ————– ————— http://doctorbulldog.wordpress.com/2…blogtalkradio/
Quote: This is breaking news: In yet another Orwellian move by the Obamites, Tracy, over at “No Compromise when it Comes to Being Right” was shut down by blogtalkradio tonight when she was interviewing Phil Berg about the lawsuit against Barack Obama!
Here is her post: Phil Berg is my guest today on No Compromise Radio: I scheduled a show with Attorney Phil Berg who has filed a lawsuit against Barack Obama for not being a US Citizen therefore he is an illegal alien. My show was terminated at the beginning of the show. Why?
The BTR assistant Director of Customer Relations, Shannon Dingee-Kramer stated that my show was, “racially or ethnically offensive, defamatory, unreasonably violent, threatening, intimidating or harassing; 2. contains falsehoods or misrepresentations that could damage BlogTalkRadio or any other person; (BTR red emphasis–not mine!)
In other words, those who claim to be for free speech are afraid of it when they see it, or hear it in this case! It might offend someone and that’s far more important to protect than the American Principle of exercising the flow of speech in the arena of public ideas. So I am officially off the air until further notice thanks to the Obamunists and Islamists who support him!
McCAIN-PALIN 2008 and HILLARY-ANYBODY 2012
John, I just clicked on the link. Post has been removed. Scary.
October 14, 2008 - 23:10 ET by R D HelmError 404 - Not Found
Sorry, but what you're looking for isn't here. Perhaps you typed a URL incorrectly or clicked on a broken hyperlink.
_______________________________________
And why is it I think we are going to be hearing this more and more:
...racially or ethnically offensive, defamatory, unreasonably violent,
threatening, intimidating or harassing; 2. contains falsehoods or
misrepresentations that could damage...
:-O
-Dave
Barrack Hussein Obama: The Marxist messiah.
Au Contraire
October 14, 2008 - 23:16 ET by mizflame98They can't shut down each and every page.
http://gto7.wordpress.com/2008/10/13/1899/
“Anybody gone into Whole Foods lately and see what they charge for arugula? I mean, they’re charging a lot of money for this stuff.”
B.H. Obama
Hehehe... Miz...you are
October 14, 2008 - 23:24 ET by bigtimerHehehe...
Miz...you are something else with your quick links...
Thank you once again.
No need to say anything...I am getting a kick out of this...
Sad what will happen with the suppression of our 1st Amendment and so-called free speech with everything this man and powers to be behind him have got away with so far doing just that...ah the left, don't you just love them.
"America isn't the problem...America is the solution." ~ Rush Limbaugh
;-)
October 14, 2008 - 23:47 ET by mizflame98“Anybody gone into Whole Foods lately and see what they charge for arugula? I mean, they’re charging a lot of money for this stuff.”
B.H. Obama
Bt...I nominate Miz as our Quick Link Researcher!!!
October 15, 2008 - 00:11 ET by TheSterYou up to the job Miz???
We are gonna need you for the next 3 weeks!!!
Now...we need a Legal Strike Team...WHO'S UP TO IT???
I'll be the Scarstic Funny Lib Troll Swatter.
Ster.
The Black Knight:
Right, I'll do you for that.
King Arthur:
You'll what?
The Black Knight:
Come here.
King Arthur:
What are you gonna do, bleed on me?
The Black Knight:
I'm invincible!
King Arthur:
You're a loony.
mizflame98 Reporting For Duty!
October 15, 2008 - 09:09 ET by mizflame98Count me in.
“Anybody gone into Whole Foods lately and see what they charge for arugula? I mean, they’re charging a lot of money for this stuff.”
B.H. Obama
mizflame98,
October 15, 2008 - 19:27 ET by R D HelmLOL-Tag, you're it.
Nice work, too. :-)
And welcome to NewsBusters.
-Dave
>>> Dee saves Dave from approaching insanity <<<
Short step from hate crimes to hate speech
October 15, 2008 - 02:43 ET by usinkoreaIt is a short hop from hate crimes to hate speech.
On college campus, where liberals are the gods and can do as they please, we have hate speech rules.
Think about that....
The ACLU used to defend the right of the KKK to march because leftists wanted to defend constitutional rights - period.
And now leftists are instituting hate-speech rules at centers of higher learning. And I believe in some places in Europe, hate speech laws are the laws of the land - so you can be arrested and fined for such things as attacking radical Islam - or - saying that Christianity in the Bible says homosexuality is bad.
We will most definately see more speech-limiting rules like "...racially or ethnically offensive, defamatory, unreasonably violent, threatening, intimidating or harassing; 2. contains falsehoods or misrepresentations that could damage..."
...selectively applied. (You will never see such a clause applied if - say - some Christian complains of being intimidated by someone promoting the idea that Christians are homophobes if they oppose gay marriage on religious grounds.)
This is the future --- unless Conservatives get back into fighting to define public discourse on more than blogs and talk radio.
This election has convinced me the need for action against a trend I've long viewed --- how Conservatives dropped out of the fight at the end of the Cold War thinking they'd won.
Conservatives have to fight their way back into professorships at universities. They have to fight their way into the newsrooms across the country. They have to fight their way into the teacher's unions - or set up, fund, and support alternative ones. They need to organize in Hollywood and in TV in New York to do more than turn out 1 conservative movie like American Carol.
There are plenty of people on their side. There is plenty of money. Their needs to be a return to activating and organizing it.
We did it during the Cold War. We gave up too much in certain sectors of the society after we won.
Good Luck
October 15, 2008 - 08:20 ET by Copperhead Ridge"Conservatives have to fight their way back into professorships at universities."
I have first hand experience with this. If a candidate even has a flicker of conservative thought, they are thrown out of the process.
Universities are cesspools of intellectual and social inbreeding. They love getting their hands on mushskulls (37% of freshman at the nearby university cannot read or do math on a high school level) and indoctrinate them. They do nothing to enlighten them, and in moments of candor professors will tell you that they are trying to produce legions of left thinking followers.
Let me just echo what
October 15, 2008 - 08:51 ET by HAL9000Let me just echo what Copperhead has written here. I am a conservative university professor in a southern university and he's spot-on in his assessment of the university atmosphere. As I alluded to in a post from a couple of weeks ago, I find myself keeping mum about my political affiliation; no bumper stickers, politically provocative posters, and no political buttons. My liberal colleagues constantly make digs at the President in meetings, etc. and I feel uncomfortable responding. Liberals in administration have the power to deny tenure and promotion, hold back merit raises and the like. I've even heard of openly conservative professors being denied grants and graduate and research assistants because of their political positions. I'm trying to support my family, pay for my house and raise my son and I can't afford to put my position in jeopardy. I'm a little uncomfortable now while typing this on the school-owned computer in my office. I'm careful to not leave Drudge up on my screen when I'm away and I keep the volume low during the noon hour when I'm streaming Rush. It's ridiculous that I have to keep my head down like this but it's the world I live in. Are there any other university professors out there experiencing the same thing?
I was made operational in Urbana, Illinois- HAL9000
Who wants to watch a movie
October 14, 2008 - 22:55 ET by d1carterWho wants to watch a movie when you already know the ending? No matter what they report we know which side they will take. If BO wins the election, I guess NBC gets the front row seat.
Too bad
October 14, 2008 - 23:00 ET by zachlindWow, gosh, gee and darn… too bad. Poor old Perk-Perk. The crows feet are creeping up, the eyes are narrowing and the feet are growing. Gravity is here.
zac... 'Perk-Perk'.... I
October 14, 2008 - 23:08 ET by bigtimerzac...
'Perk-Perk'....
I'm laughing as I post this, that is hilarious....
"America isn't the problem...America is the solution." ~ Rush Limbaugh
It is not surprising at all
October 14, 2008 - 23:07 ET by PandionIt is not surprising at all that the big 3 networks are loosing ratings. Their time has come and gone, but what I do not understand is why they keep playing the same loosing game. To me, it would make sense for the one who is consistently lowest in the ratings, CBS, to change tack, and become more conservative if for no other reason than to try something else to make more money.
Ideology trumps money
October 15, 2008 - 02:50 ET by usinkoreaIn the old days, the media accepted they would lose money but felt proud, nobel about that loss because they were serving a higher puropse - keeping power in check and watching out for the American people by doing hard hitting, non-partisan, investigative pieces.
Now, they don't do much investigating and have deluded themselves into believing that serving the narrow slice of American society they slant toward is the same as serving the nation as a whole. And I guess losing viewers is the same now as losing money - when it should be telling them more of us don't believe they serve our interests.
Bob Schieffer's Opening Statement for Debate!!!
October 14, 2008 - 23:14 ET by TheSterPROVE ME WRONG!!!
Bob Schieffer, CBS News. Good evening, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to the third and final Presidential debate here at Hofstra. My name is Bob Schieffer and I'm your moderator for tonight.
You know, once in a while it is my pleasure, and my privilege, to welcome here at Hofstra, some of the truly great politicians of our time. And tonight we have one such politician. Ladies and gentlemen, someone whom I've always personally admired, perhaps more deeply, more strongly, more abjectly than ever before.
A man, well, more than a man, a god, a great god, whose personality is so totally and utterly wonderful my feeble words of welcome sound wretchedly and pathetically inadequate. Someone whose boots I would gladly lick clean until holes wore through my tongue, a man who is so totally and utterly wonderful, that I would rather be sealed in a pit of my own filth, than dare tread on the same stage with him. Ladies and gentlemen, the incomparably superior human being, Barack Obama!!!
So, shall we get started...ummm...who let this old guy on the stage...SECURITY!!!
...well...that's what's he's thinking!!!
Ster.
LMAO!!!!
October 14, 2008 - 23:27 ET by mizflame98You forgot the last part:
Backstage: He can't come.
Shieffer: Nevermind, he's not all he's cracked up to be.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NdgScGIhETg
“Anybody gone into Whole Foods lately and see what they charge for arugula? I mean, they’re charging a lot of money for this stuff.”
B.H. Obama
Miz!!! How did Monty Python copy me so fast!!
October 14, 2008 - 23:43 ET by TheSterLOL!!
Took me a while to edit it the right way...
Did it fit in todays politics??
Ster.
Perfectly.
October 15, 2008 - 09:13 ET by mizflame98I can imagine Schieffer rubbing himself and rolling on the floor as he's introducing "The One". LMAO!
“Anybody gone into Whole Foods lately and see what they charge for arugula? I mean, they’re charging a lot of money for this stuff.”
B.H. Obama
Prove me wrong.....
October 14, 2008 - 23:27 ET by CANCON1cancon1- I will be watching from Canada. I will be looking at the images as they scream across the screen. The day that this fraud is elected and they hand out candies in Gaza, praising devine intervention, the streets of Paris fill with exuberate students that are lazy ass snots not willing to take a chance with mother government saying , "you will be alright my son", the streets of Africa and Dictators pontificating the birth of a new era from the UN. That is when the America people, looking up from hamburger Grills. metal stamping plants and farmers fields accross the nation, realize how damn stupid they really have been. I wish you well.
Cancon...So the Conservatives staying in power?
October 14, 2008 - 23:40 ET by TheSterThe only thing trying to keep Liberals in power in Canada and Europe is the Liberal Press!! It's not quite working out now is it???
Cancon..We need you to chime in more often with news from the Great White North!!!
Soooo...Take OFF Eh??
HAHAHAHA!!
Ster.
I will try- Yes the good guys took it again.
October 14, 2008 - 23:50 ET by CANCON1cancon1
Our crazy way of actaully calling and having a full election in 5 Weeks is something our American family should look at . I ,mean, really this is disturbing at 2 years. Most marriages last less time. I feel like I could find Cindy Mcains stockings in the morning. From the Great white north, which when you live in Toronto is actually parallel to Northern California..... I do not beleive a single poll I see. They had the Liberals actaully possibly winning this election, 2 days ago. They lost, bad. Trust your Mom and Dad, not a guy who get paid by ad buys.
I will try- Yes the good guys took it again.
October 14, 2008 - 23:50 ET by CANCON1cancon1
Our crazy way of actaully calling and having a full election in 5 Weeks is something our American family should look at . I ,mean, really this is disturbing at 2 years. Most marriages last less time. I feel like I could find Cindy Mcains stockings in the morning. From the Great white north, which when you live in Toronto is actually parallel to Northern California..... I do not beleive a single poll I see. They had the Liberals actaully possibly winning this election, 2 days ago. They lost, bad. Trust your Mom and Dad, not a guy who get paid by ad buys.
Jesse Jackson
October 15, 2008 - 02:54 ET by usinkoreaDid you catch Jesse Jackson talking about how Israel was going to finally get what's coming to it vis a vis a US policy shift once The One is elected???
Things are looking up.
October 14, 2008 - 23:31 ET by moovovaI'm a happy guy.
I am a happy Guy
October 14, 2008 - 23:36 ET by CANCON1cancon1
And you should be. I saw Greta Van Sustren on Fox Tonight, with GHWB and Clinton. Like father and son. GHWB says" We are going through our cycle as per usual, so calm and perfect in pitch. Clinton says, he has already reached out GWB about coming onboard in January. These guys are trench pro's, know the deal and at the end of the day, America, will be just fine. A little worse for wear, but still a glorious symbol to the world.
PS, for anyone out there...
October 14, 2008 - 23:39 ET by CANCON1cancon1 . For all of his faults. Clinton, loves America, heart and soul. The BHO, I really, am for the first time thinking you may elect someone (Other than Carter and Wilson) that may not.
It Couldn't Happen To A Nicer Bunch Of People!
October 14, 2008 - 23:52 ET by Asian ConSad thing is, these guys are in denial. No, not the river in Egypt. They refuse to believe that it's their own behavior that's causing this drop in ratings. Whenever someone calls them out on this, like Giuliani did to Harry Smith their answer is, "Bias? What Bias?". They live in their own little bubble and let's face it, ignorance is bliss. It's gratifying to know that these guys average lower ratings than the Home Shopping Network and QVC. At least you're getting what you payed for on those networks.
"What do Barack Obama and Osama bin Laden have in common? They both have friends who bombed the Pentagon." - Rush Limbaugh
This tells me that the
October 15, 2008 - 08:00 ET by rimskyThis tells me that the internet is having a huge affect on the electorate, because with viewership of the big three in the toilet, stories and opinions can only be coming from two other main sources - print media and/or the internet, and we know that the print media is in worse shape than the big three. And I'll bet that the split amongst blogs and websites in terms of ideology is at least even and perhaps more to the right than any poll is going to reveal. Especially the controlled polls that we hear about all the time. This is very interesting, and it points out the critical importance, IMO, of keeping the internet unfettered by government control, especially control by, say, the UN!
do the math...
October 15, 2008 - 08:47 ET by vrwc13Speaking of the big 3...
http://www.cbsnews.com/htdocs/pdf/oct08b-politics.pdf
CBS/NYT poll has obama with a 14 point lead?
...but wait look at the botom of page 20!
Total respondants = 1070
Registered = 972
Democrat = 371
Republican = 295
Independent = 306
I sorry, but this is bogus, not only do the dems outnumber the republicans but the "independents" outnumber them too?
...me thinks I smell a rat.
v
"If you can't win fairly, cheat" - any dem politician
Who needs the networks when you've got Fox and NB?
October 15, 2008 - 09:21 ET by Mary Louise TurnerThe old broadcast networks are whining about their vanishing audiences. Boo-hoo! Who needs you network clowns when we've got Fox, NB and alternative media sources?
We're tired of your adulation for the most liberal candidate ever presented by a major party; we're fed up with your "Grand Inquisition" of anyone who dares challenge him. I hope Mr. McCain wins so we can watch you have a total meltdown - and get great satisfaction out of it.
Flawed
October 15, 2008 - 14:51 ET by OhmingThe study rates news shows. News reporting involves jounalism. There is no journalism at ABC, CBS or NBC. There is however opionated oration of half-truths, biased random interviews, ommision of worthy stories. They show basic feel good stories that prop up the left view point, thats not journalism, thats your basic "eight grade teacher preaching to a captivated, mesmorized audience" syndrome.