Even Before Summer, Big 3 Nets’ Evening News Viewership Is Under 20 Million

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NBCABCCBSchartGraphic.jpgThe Big 3 networks' evening newscasts probably turned in their worst ratings week since TVs became a household staple during the week of May 18.

Last week (at NewsBusters; at BizzyBlog), based on the ratings for the week of May 11, I noted that the shows' combined audience had plunged a stunning 25% from their late January post-inauguration peak to a level barely above the 20 million mark.

At the time, I thought that we wouldn't see a sub-20 million week until sometine during the summer.

Well, it's not summer yet, and they're below a combined 20 million already. What's more, the results are even worse in the coveted 25-54 demographic.

Here's a comparison of the week of May 18 to both the previous week and the same week a year ago (Source: Media Bistro - May 18, 2009; May 11, 2009; May 19, 2008):

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Big3NetsRatings051908vPWandPY

The excuse that last week was down only because of the upcoming Memorial Day weekend doesn't fly. Last year's drop from May 12 to May 19 (not charted above) was only 480,000 (230,000 in the 25-54 demo). This year's May 11 to May 18 drop of 830,000 (460,000 for 25-54) was much higher off of smaller base.

The trend within a trend, at least year over year, is that NBC's Nightly News with Brian Williams and ABC's World News Tonight with Charles Gibson have been losing viewers, while Katie Couric's CBS Evening News appears to have bottomed out. Brian and Charlie are coming down to Katie's level at a surprisingly fast clip. NBC has lost 30% of its lead over CBS; ABC's lead has dropped by over 40%.

Media Bistro, the source of the data, seems oddly ignorant of the precipitous downward slide, nonchalantly telling its readers only that "All three networks were declined week-to-week in both categories," and that "Year-to-year, the only program to gain viewers is the CBS Evening News with Katie Couric." That's light treatment indeed of year-over-year 9.4% and 12.4% drops at NBC and ABC, respectively, as well as 18%-plus drops at the two networks in the 25-54 demo.

Networks execs nevertheless surely know that their former crown jewels are fading, and quickly. Perhaps it will occur to one or more of them that viewers are tiring of their years of insufferable bias, or of their more recent almost all-Obama, all-the-time obsession. Nah -- If they haven't figured it out by now, they likely never will.

Cross-posted at BizzyBlog.com.

—Tom Blumer is president of a training and development company in Mason, Ohio, and is a contributing editor to NewsBusters


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Busy

Watching Oprah and outside painting everything "white".

 

same color of Obama's resume when he ran for office.

Produce a good product and

Produce a good product and your customer base increases.

You say the customer base of the irrelevant media is shrinking?

→ Better mousetrap

Can't wait to see all those great ideas Obama will apply to the automakers

 

And just wait til he gets control of the 'alphabet' networks!

If we think they've been biased the past couple of years, 'the one' will soon show us how the big boys do it ;-)

This comment comes from a proud Tea Party attendee, otherwise known as a RWRE!!   It is no dishonor to be in a minority in the cause of liberty and virtue ~ Sam Adams

 

 

Well he has got to be

In control of mslsd and cnn, they could be bigger cheer leaders

 

 My Gov. thinks I am dangerous, so be careful

"Television is a freak show" Bernie Goldberg

LOL.. heck CC...the dems

LOL.. heck CC...the dems have had control of the Big Three forever.

Now if it gets to Bail-Out time with O/Soros....that wiill make Chavez grin a mile wide...along with Russia, China etc.

Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea. ~Andrew Breitbart

We keep waiting for the gallant rescuer to come to the aid

of the Boston Globe...member of the NYT family and John Kerry's #1 cheerleader.  He keeps saying somehow the government has to come through for them...RIGHT!

This comment comes from a proud Tea Party attendee, otherwise known as a RWRE!!   It is no dishonor to be in a minority in the cause of liberty and virtue ~ Sam Adams

 

 

They will give up everything

They will give up everything to prove they are correct.

How soon...

before the networks come looking for a bailout? Except, of course, for NBC, because they already get government funding through GE.

 

President Obama is nothing more than a lying empty suit; a Hollywood style special effects smoke and mirrors show that has shown itself to be a total fraud.  

WAKE UP AMERICA! SAVE OUR CONSTITUTION! 

Bailing out the Big Three

No, not those 'three', but rather ABC, CBS and NBC.

Obama's plan will be to fold the three networks into one - PBS. This will give their leftist slanted 'news' additional cover under the guise of  being a 'public' broadcast.

Of course, we will need a 'czar' to oversee this consortium. We could call the posiition:

Minister of Public Enlightenment.

"I ask, Sir, what is the militia? It is the whole people. To disarm the people is the best and most effectual way to enslave them."
George Mason

Relating two stories

Relating two stories here:

The Big 3 networks' evening newscasts probably turned in their worst ratings week since TVs became a household staple during the week of May 18.

And this one:

Tom Brokaw... The former anchor will travel U.S. Highway 50 from coast to coast to report on people struggling in this economy.

Hey Tom. Start at your old network's news room

“I'm with you on a free press. It's the newspapers I can't stand.” Tom Stoppard, Night and Day, 1978

Always nice to read good news! : )

I agree with those who say that they will not stop pumping out their bilge until the final plug is pulled on them.

So would you say

So are you saying people are being exposed to less liberal bias these days?

I didn't leave the Republican party, they kicked me out.

I think...

...people are exposing 'themselves' to alternative views instead of being spoon-fed tripe. Free will and free thinking are very powerful things. I don't need the big three to tell me what I think or how I feel. I'll make those decisions on my own.

Now Now Katie said her main mission when taking on the

evening news was to EXPLAIN to her (dumb) viewers what she had just told them!  You know, those of us who drag our knuckles along the highways of life!  And we don't bathe, either ;-)

This comment comes from a proud Tea Party attendee, otherwise known as a RWRE!!   It is no dishonor to be in a minority in the cause of liberty and virtue ~ Sam Adams

For Some Reality...

This is how commercial ratings are structured, for advertising results. They stack network against network, and separate the cable ratings. For our political purposes we need to look at this differently, for example like this:

  • Special Report w/Bret Baier            2,037,000 (from January)
  • NBC Nightly News                          7,340,000
  • CBS Nightly News                           6,870,000
  • ABC Nightly News                          5,400,000

Let's talk apples to apples. Nevermind CNN and MSNBC, they are becoming insignificant. (BOR had 3,387,000) So don't think we are coming anywhere close to winning the news battle. The enemy is not CNN and MSNBC, the enemy is the old networks and we are far behind them.

Cable?

How much of that can be attributed to people who do not have cable tv?

Re Cable

I'd like to know. But whatever the reason, the point is that we have much to do to get to the rest of the country, and when we wonder who on Earth would have voted for the Bamster, it's this comparison to look at, not Fox News vs CNN.

I'm with ya slick.  

I'm with ya slick.

 

Okay, let's look at Fox

Comparison is tough, of course, but Fox from 5 p.m. until midnight got 14.1 million viewers on May 26. Of course, there's a lot of overlap, but if you net it down it's probably at least 6 million unique viewers. If so, it would be in between Katie and the other two.

It's not that a cable news

It's not that a cable news channel hasn't caught up with the news on the broadcast networks yet, but it's that broadcast network news are on the way down towards cable channel levels. It's pretty remarkable when you consider the monopoly the networks once had.

The "Mainstream" Media: By liberals. For liberals.

I agree, this is not the

I agree, this is not the time to high-five ourselves.  The facts are that this is just the tip of the iceberg.  If you consider the radio "news" that these same networks pump out daily, NPR, the myriad of newspapers, an education system made up largely of leftist, and various pressure groups (ACORN, as an example) and leftists think tanks (People for the American Way, as an example), you are looking at a combined propaganda apparatus that reaches 50-60+ million Americans daily. 

If we don't become "community organizers" for the election of 2010, most of the damage that has already been done and that which is planned will have been carried out by this socialist president and the leftist in congress.  

 

People know

BS no matter who is shoveling it.

No matter what ZERO says, as long as the unemplyment rate continues to climb ... 16,000 job losses a day, not going to be pretty.

I know it's a different media,

...but doesn't Rush Limbaugh garner a larger audience daily than the 'big three'?  Combined???

Rush's and the evening news's numbers ....

.... are about a dead heat, if you believe Rush's 20 million. Since Obama brought him so much new attention, he's probably well above that.

I can think of no good

I can think of no good reason to watch these three major networks.  Except for ABC News Now back in the '90s (which was entertaining-for a while anyway), they all say the same thing, in the tank, gloom and doom in Iraq, etc.

Somewhere along the line many folks must have been smart enough to realize they spin a lot of stuff and simply ignore the rest.

One of the 34% who thinks George W. Bush was a great President. One of the 61% who wants to bring back the stock and pillory (yep...approval for Congress now at 39%...do you believe that!?).

Why does Katie Couric still have a job?

Can we all agree that the Katie Couric experiment was a failure?

Answer

Yes.

"I ask, Sir, what is the militia? It is the whole people. To disarm the people is the best and most effectual way to enslave them."
George Mason

Ditto! Doubling down on

Ditto!

Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea. ~Andrew Breitbart

Well who knows..maybe

Well who knows..maybe because of the world crisis people don't have enough money to pay their cable bill. My TV have always been a household item and honestly I cannot live without it. And this is an addiction I had even before I started my Fort Lauderdale remodeling project

 

SPAM ALERT!

 

 

"Reason and persuasion are the only practical instruments against error.  To make way for these, free inquiry must be indulged" - Thomas Jefferson

FeyFan -- AGREED!!!

I agree.... out with the spammers!

But seriously, I think I've earned my NB stripes to occasionally faux-spam for fun, as when I first came on years ago (and I mean that literally, now... wow) one or two here took me to task. (Had an indirect link in my signature back then. :p)

But I do agree about the above poster. Out of nowhere, she appears and goes right to linking to her site.

We need the spam expert to weigh in.... :)

 

Shy

You crack me up, Dude.

I've already notified the heat.

 

"Reason and persuasion are the only practical instruments against error.  To make way for these, free inquiry must be indulged" - Thomas Jefferson

FeyFan

johanna10's profile shows about 19 weeks... and I believe she (he?) did post before and didn't link to anything, so maybe this is a one-time thing and we'll monitor her/him.

Heck, when I shoot one email about my music to friends, even THEY tease me and call it "spam"....

 

MrShy

Whoever it is has posted spams twice tonight.  I think they were sleeper spammers.

I've watched your video.  Your music is nothing to complain about, so I don't know what's up with your "friends".  ;)

 

"Reason and persuasion are the only practical instruments against error.  To make way for these, free inquiry must be indulged" - Thomas Jefferson

I'm not linking any more pix

I'm not linking any more pix 'cause now I'm scared... :-0

Sir Spamalot Keyser

Spam of your, um, flavor, is to be encouraged.

Your photoshops are most amusing and topical, so keep them coming!

Cheers!

 

I hope he fails, too.

 

 

Ok J

:-) That's good news 'cause I've got a few just waiting for the right thread...

Guys,

It's all over. 

 "Access Denied", if you know what I mean. 

"If the man, with the power, can't keep it under control...some heads are gonna roll." -Judas Priest

~"Talk to the hand, troll"

Beeyootiful.

Kossacks hate me. And yes, it does feel good.

ooooh, let my cat

tell him

http://cheezburger.com/View.aspx?aid=1458470144

The way to stop discrimination on the basis of race is to stop discriminating on the basis of race.” -- Chief Justice John Roberts 

ROFL.

ROFL.

LOL, Bruce

(I learned a new one on the Gator Boards).

...../facepalm

I hope he fails, too.

 

 

hey J

did you hear about this?

http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2009/05oct_lcrossvg.htm?list871942

i may have to get up to see 4:30 am pdt

The way to stop discrimination on the basis of race is to stop discriminating on the basis of race.” -- Chief Justice John Roberts 

Thanks, B.

I use NASA TV for the launches all the time, and it might be on at a more reasonable hour here.

Appreciate it.

I hope he fails, too.

 

 

botg, One of the guys

botg,

One of the guys working on that project is a faculty member in my department. We are having a panel discussion the day before (with maybe some press in attendance) and then inviting folks and students to attend a viewing (via live remote) of the event the next morning.

 

hydro & botg

Very cool... and botg, thanks!! And got your other post, as well :)

 

thats cool hydro, and J

it's at 7:30 in Florida, it's not fair we need an investigation

The way to stop discrimination on the basis of race is to stop discriminating on the basis of race.” -- Chief Justice John Roberts 

No can do, bogt

Democrats in charge.

I hope he fails, too.

 

 

thats the whole point J

we need to redistribute the sleep since it's just not fair and the democrats need everything to be fair

The way to stop discrimination on the basis of race is to stop discriminating on the basis of race.” -- Chief Justice John Roberts 

Oh, now I get what you

Oh, now I get what you meant.

It's late - I'm out of it.

Hmmm Hydro

Too many beers?

Cuz I knew what he meant.

I hope he fails, too.

 

 

Blonde, I wish. It's

Blonde,

I wish.

It's about an hour past bedtime and I'm getting drowsy on milk and cookies.

I guess you take your carbs

where you can get them.

Good to see you back here, hDM.

Beer or no beer.

I hope he fails, too.

 

 

Blonde, Yesterday was

Blonde,

Yesterday was beer night. I don't have any classes on Tuesdays so my Mondays are like mini-Fridays.

Sweet

Well, except for the Tuesday part.

I hope he fails, too.

 

 

botg, Investigation?

botg,

Investigation?

yes hydro

it's not fair that NASA does this at 7:30am for peeps in Florida but 4:30am for us in CA!!!  i demand an investigation into the unfair practice

The way to stop discrimination on the basis of race is to stop discriminating on the basis of race.” -- Chief Justice John Roberts 

botg, Yea - believe me -

botg,

Yea - believe me - trying to get into work by 7am this Friday will pretty much bite.

oh i know hydro

i start at 6:30 and have an hour and 45 minute drive tomorrow

The way to stop discrimination on the basis of race is to stop discriminating on the basis of race.” -- Chief Justice John Roberts 

Yea I live in the best place on the planet to view it...

It will be 1:30 am here, I may drive up on the Haleakala Crater to view it, Lots of clouds lately...

Oh I saw the Swift Satellite, whack Tempel 1.. That was cool...Funny thing is that I wanted to watch it on the internet, well about 3 minutes before it hit, the internet died.... I ran to my deck and looked at Jupiter,right next to the planet a bright flash occured...

Nasa times lots of  (man made) events for Hawaii,we have a cluster of telescopes here...

State controlled health care is Tort Reform.

~A SIX-toed paw, no less

Kossacks hate me. And yes, it does feel good.

~Thanks, Bruce

I only just got away from lolcats the other day and now I'm sucked back in.

I ever tell you about the time my then-three year old tried to tell the dog to sit..and it kept coming out slightly wrong? She was so sweetly oblivious..

Kossacks hate me. And yes, it does feel good.

my next door neighbor

had that same accent talking to his dog :)

my favs are posted under kata at the other joint

The way to stop discrimination on the basis of race is to stop discriminating on the basis of race.” -- Chief Justice John Roberts 

BK, LOL-I don't think you are going to get "the hook"

...for linking to your photshops.

They are just too good.  :-)

-Dave

FeyFan

Thanks!! :) My friends are just cynical and jaded, and love to bust my chops... I know, some friends. :p