CBS This Morning Laughs at Fox News Mockery, But Guess Who Loses to Fox in Some Cities?

May 18th, 2012 9:12 PM

Matthew Balan noted earlier today that CBS This Morning loved Jay Leno’s joke that Chris Matthews offered so many wrong answers on “Jeopardy!” he was offered a job at Fox News.” We're not so sure Charlie Rose should be laughing it up at Fox when not only is CBS's perpetually low-rated morning show getting thumped by ABC and NBC, but is even getting spanked by a cable morning show -- on Fox.

TV By The Numbers reports reported that Nielsen’s latest numbers that came out just yesterday noted that for 18 weeks straight, “Fox & Friends” has been beating CBS This Morning in total viewers in five of the Top 20 markets around the country. Not only have these same market leads sustained for all 18 weeks, since CBS re-launched this new program,  but FOX & Friends is now also beating what CBS in the key advertising demo (25-54) in Chicago, Dallas, Phoenix, Atlanta and Detroit. But CBS is still boasting to advertisers.

According to TV Newser, CBS chief Les Moonves insisted at the network's "upfront" presentation to advertisers at Carnegie Hall that the current show is "the best broadcast we have ever had in the morning." By the numbers, that wouldn't be much of a boast. The new show continues to draw ratings below "The Early Show" it replaced when compared to the same period a year ago.

In his introductory speech, Moonves said, “At CBS News there is a true renaissance going on under the leadership of [CBS News chairman] Jeff Fager and [CBS news president] David Rhodes, and we are thrilled with the results." CBS entertainment president Nina Tassler added, “It is a distinctive broadcast that is getting our day off to its best start in decades.”

No wonder TV writers seem to have a permanent cynical smirk in the tone of their copy.