David Gregory's "Meet The Press" Ratings Hit New Low — The Sunday Morning Horse Race Is On

If the Sunday morning TV throne is empty, then the race for the crown is on.

NBC's "Meet the Press" suffered its lowest ratings since David Gregory became moderator last week, dipping below the 3 million viewer mark for the first time since August 19, 2007*.

"Meet" averaged 2.97 million total viewers for the May 10 broadcast, which featured Afghanistan's President Hamid Karzai, Pakistan's President Asif Ali Zardari, Steve Coll and Andrea Mitchell.

Meanwhile, CBS' "Face the Nation," which featured an interview with former Vice President Dick Cheney, averaged 2.74 million total viewers, and ABC's "This Week," which featured interviews with National Security Adviser Jim Jones and Senator John McCain, averaged 2.62 million total viewers (its lowest delivery since August 17, 2008). "Fox News Sunday" with Chris Wallace averaged 1.32 million total viewers.

Compared to this same week last year, "Meet the Press" is down 28% in total viewers, while "Face the Nation" is up 17%, "This Week" is up 4%, and "Fox News Sunday" is up 14%. And compared to the May 3 show, "Face the Nation" has slashed its viewing gap with "Meet" by 69% (230,000 viewers compared to 740,000 viewers), while "This Week" has cut its viewing gap with "Meet" by 38% (350,000 viewers compared to 560,000 viewers)

In the Adults 25-54 demographic, all four shows were down compared to the same week last year, with "Meet the Press" averaging 1 million viewers (-35%), "This Week" averaging 800,000 viewers (-16%), "Face the Nation" averaging 760,000 viewers (-6%), and "Fox News Sunday" averaging 454,000 viewers (-4%).

Last month, Wallace told the Washington Post's Howard Kurtz that "the throne is empty" (in regards to Tim Russert's successor as the Sunday morning TV king). The LA Times that same day focused on Stephanopoulos as the main threat to NBC's ratings dominance. Last week, the LA Times wrote that "Meet the Press" may soon lose the top spot in the Sunday morning ratings.

*"Meet the Press" did average 2.17 million total viewers on June 8, 2008, but it was only at 86% coverage then and thus is not a fair comparison.

Comments

[LeCanadien]

I've watched this joker maybe 3 times since he took over. Boring.

[Shammie2000]

Chuck T is ReThug light, Gregory is ReThug regular, both ReThug's however.

[Bystander]

Who can possibly be surprised???

[McSpikeV]

I agree with the other posters. I quit watching MTP as soon as I heard
this guy was to be the host. When I first heard Chuck Todd was being
looked at I was interested, when it turned out to be Gregory (yawn) I
didn't even bother. Find another host NBC, is Moyers available?

[jazabelz]

I don't care for Chuck Todd either -- smart mouth and asks some of the dumbest questions at press conferences!

[politicali]

Chuckie is too green! No insight whatsoever, this only comes with either intelligence (Rachael and Keith) or both intelligence and experience (Lawrence O'Donnel). Wake up NBC honchos!

[RealistDem]

I think its pretty obvious Chuck Todds forte was the primary-election. But hes no washington reporter.

[huntunseasun]

David Gregory's "Meet The Press" Ratings Hit New Low: Because he is a shill. He offers nothing to any discussion.

[neocon666]

Even during the presidential primaries, I thought watching David Gregory was almost as engaging as watching paint dry.

[phender]

Gregory and John King of CNN seem to think the way to market share is pilfering the FOX viewership with their 'right-wing" tilt. John King and Gregory's questions about Obama always seem to come back to his being the "FIRST" African-American. They are letting their friendships with McCain and Cheney go to their bias questions.

[claudiam]

You said it well. claudiatucsonaz

[Patri]

When will NBC accept that the low ratings are because they chose David Gregory to host. Gregory will never get me to watch Meet the Press (or any other show you have him host) no matter who his guest(s) may be. Get rid of Gregory, bring in someone like Lawrence O'Donnell who will not let any guest simply recite talking points. Rather, O'Donnell has and will relentlessly probe conservatives and liberals alike.

David Gregory = low ratings. NBC, are you listening ?

[chaselv413]

I've stopped watching MTP months ago when Gregory took over. Horrible show. Softball questions, no followup. Just terrible. Andrea Mitchell wouldn't be any better. I can't even watch her show at 10am.

[lachihuahua]

I have been a faithful watcher of MTP for the past 10 years. It was part of a Sunday morning family tradition and when I moved out on my own, I continued it. Tim Russert was a horrible loss and I don't think he can ever be replaced.

I really liked Gregory as Chief White House Correspondent. I think in his new role on MTP, he is not as effective. I realize part of my issue is related to that fact that I simply loved Tim, but Gregory seems to be wearing a suit that is just way too big for him. (nn)

[CaroleW1306]

I remember when the title of the show was accurate. There was a moderator but most of the questions came from actual prominent members of the press. The guest was in fact holding a press conference. When TR took over it became Meet the Host. Go back to the original format. It would be great!.

[scorpioleidy]

NBC: please give Brian Williams a chance - he's good ... and pretty easy on the eyes, too!

[Wozzeck]

Brian Williams is memorable for gushing about Dubya's vast knowledge of geography while covering one of the presidential debates. He also was completely outclassed when he tried to sucker punch Ahmadinejad with Holocaust questions.

[rockinroll]

Get Ted Koppel!

[neocon666]

He would be perfect.

[Wozzeck]

He was such a voice of reasoned skepticism about Iraq-not! Put these enablers out to pasture.

[shaboopus]

David Gregory is over his head. He's trying to be TR but it's not working. What about Andrea Mitchell?

[noudidnt]

No No NO no no no no no no
no no no no no no no no no
no no no no no no no no no
no no no no no no no no no

[Wozzeck]

All these suggestions for replacements for Gregory are similar to arguing about who gets the best deck chair. on the Titanic. Corporate media will chose someone that will further their corporate world view. Period.