May Ratings Mayhem! Fox News Tops; MSNBC Beats CNN; Cooper, Olbermann Down; HLN Way Up

Nielsen's May 2009 ratings are in, with Fox News again leading the cable news race by wide margins.

Fox News Wins Ratings Race (Again)
Fox News retained its #1 spot, averaging more total viewers in Monday-Sunday primetime (1.959 million, up 24% over May 2008) than CNN (767,000, down 22%) and MSNBC (756,000, up 10%) combined. HLN came in 4th with 535,000 total viewers, up a staggering 41% over May 2008. In weekday primetime, Fox News averaged 2.292 million total viewers, again more than MSNBC (891,000) and CNN (842,000) combined. HLN came in 4th with 618,000 total viewers.

In the Monday-Sunday prime demo (A25-54), Fox News took first with an average of 463,000 viewers (up 30% over May 2008), again more than MSNBC (250,000, down 9%) and CNN (194,000, down 37%) combined. HLN came in 4th with 192,000, again up a staggering 40% over May 2008. In the weekday prime demo, however, HLN (219,000 viewers) bested big sister network CNN (216,000 viewers) for the third place crown, while Fox News averaged 561,000 viewers and MSNBC averaged 270,000 viewers.

MSNBC Beats CNN (Again)
May was the third month in a row that MSNBC beat CNN in the weekday prime demo and the second in three months beating CNN in total viewers in weekday primetime, solidifying its standing as the #2 network in weekday primetime. Additionally, "The Rachel Maddow Show" was up 60% in total viewers over the 9PM timeslot a year ago (895,000 in May 2009 vs. 560,000 in May 2008 for Dan Abrams' "Verdict"), and up 14% in A25-54, where it beat "Larry King Live" at 9PM for the 7th time in 8 months.

Programs
Fox News claimed 9 of the top 10 programs in weekday primetime, with the "O'Reilly Factor" (2.989 million total viewers, 702,000 A25-54) leading the pack for the 102nd consecutive month. "Hannity" (2.165 million total viewers, 551,000 A25-54), "Glenn Beck" (1.962 million total viewers, 472,000 A25-54), "On the Record with Greta van Susteren" (1.814 million total viewers, 452,000 A25-54), and "Special Report with Bret Baier" (1.784 million total viewers, 392,000 A25-54) rounded out the top 5. MSNBC's "Countdown with Keith Olbermann" was the only non-Fox News show to crack the top 10, coming in at #10 with 1.094 million total viewers and 323,000 A25-54.

Olbermann, Cooper Shed Viewers Year-to-Year
May 2009 was the first month since September 2006 that Keith Olbermann's "Countdown" declined against the previous year in the A25-54 demo. In May 2009, Olbermann averaged 323,000 A25-54 viewers, down 21% from his primaries-fueled May 2008 average of 408,000 (though up considerably from May 2007's average of 200,000). Olbermann has been a ratings juggernaut for several years on MSNBC, with his last year-over-year monthly decline coming in September 2006 (compared against September 2005's numbers, which were inflated due to Hurricane Katrina coverage).

Meanwhile, Anderson Cooper -- whose ratings woes CNN staffers told Politico were the "most troubling" of all -- averaged 798,000 total viewers, down 24% from May 2008 (1.051 million). In the A25-54 demo, "Anderson Cooper 360" fell 34%, from 339,000 in May 2008 to 223,000 in May 2009.

HLN Through The Roof
HLN ratings are booming, with the network up 41% in Monday-Sunday primetime total viewers, 40% in Monday-Sunday primetime demo, 11% in total day total viewers, and 19% in total day demo. In weekday primetime, HLN is up 43% in total viewers (619,000 in May 2009 vs 434,000 in May 2008) and 40% in the A25-54 demo (220,000 in May 2009 vs 157,000 in May 2008). Nancy Grace posted the best May performance in the network's 27-year history at 8PM in both total viewers (873,000) and the A25-54 demo (304,000).

Comments

[jacob123]

they should re-name msnbe to ONN (obama news network

[Kaves]

That would explain why I have to look at Glenn Becks vapid head seemingly everywhere I go.

What is wrong with people.

[BOin08]

Why does Fox News contiue to brow beats MSNBC in every rating category, market and demographic? Is is becasue they have more accurate information? Better reporters? Better sources? Or just plain better human beings over there? At least MSNBC has the fake Edward R Marrow in the clown suit -Mr Olbermann

[aloha43]

The reality is....

Fox gets all of the republicans....and ALL of the other channels split all of the other viewers. There are a lot more viewers split between the others.

That is the only reason Fox is on the top.

[samuelberg]

The reality is...

MSNBC is a fledgling network that is propped up by multinational corporation GE (ya know, the same guys that have sold equipment to Mullah-controlled Iran even in light of the sanctions imposed upon the theocracy). Their bias was critically questioned by the GE shareholders (not including the ambush by fox news) who were unhappy with its lack of objectivity.

Jeff Immelt was constantly booed every time he tried to defend MSNBC. This was not an isolated fox news ambush incident. It involved every shareholder that went to the mic during the meeting. ALL were hyper critical of its bias and is now considered the shame of the NBC news division.

[PNOGUY]

If you would take just a wee moment to think through this sad, simplistic excuse, you would realize it makes no sense at all.

Do you recall the glee around here when the news came out that only 21% or so of Americans call themselves Repubs? So you are saying that this 1/5 of US adults out-watch the other 4/5 put together when it comes to cable news?

You're also acknowledging the fact that MSNBC and CNN are "Democrat channels," which is what the Repubs have been saying all along.

[LeftCoastLarry]

I catch KO and Rachael online - not very typical for an old f*rt but probably very typical for the younger demographic. Do those numbers count? If not, we see numbers that don't reflect reality.
Just wondering.

[soos soo]

Since Fox is one of the channels that is provided FREE when you sign up for cable in many rural areas, the audience numbers will surely be skewered..­.especiall­y down South although it is that way in PA too. If you wish to get CNN or MSNBC you must pay additional $$$. Go to any Bojangles, Dairy Queen, McD's in the rural areas and FOX plays all day... Sadly if you ask for HLN, you get a blank stare! Think FOX knows providing it at no additional cost will eventually develop a witless brainless viewer with this point of view = Conservative and Republican.

[aloha43]

Great point....I hadn't thought of that.

[LeftCoastLarry]

FOX was blasted across the tee vee at the health club where I work out. Unil, that is, enough of us complained that we shouldn't be involuntarily exposed to mindless propaganda. One or two, fine. I don't believe in censorship, but they were way out of proportion to anything reasonable.

[samuelberg]

LOL. MSNBC is a joke of a network. Half of the time they don't broadcast original material. They show hours upon hours of prison fights, to catch a child predator and Jeffrey Dahmer documentaries. Every city I have visited for business has offered MSNBC free, along with CNN, CNNHN & Fox. In fact the bank near my home has it blaring on all their overhead TV's. The problem with MSNBC is you never know what is considered factual or just entertainment. Oldermann (ya know, the old dude dating a girly half his age) spews out info with no factual substantiation. He has been proven false on many accusations in the past and his "holier than thou" attitude is a turnoff for many people.

[mad tn dem]

one other thought, if MSNBC replaced gregory, matthews, and banned buchanan, I have a feeling alot of folks would return to the fold. Oh, almost forgot the absolutely disgusting gop bobblehead now out on the book trail....s­carborough is the worst of the worst. If he had his way, the disadvantaged, the sick, the ones down on their luck, losing jobs and homes, should just crawl off and die. One can only hope that his charmed life hits a bump in the road...soon.

[mad tn dem]

I am not sure how they come up with the numbers on viewers per show...but I do have a thought on Fox's numbers. I am a liberal tn dem, and adore ed, keith and rachel. The veracity of their reporting/­commentary I trust more so than any other news channel. But I also take a nausea pill and catch an oreilly on occasion, just to know what the right wing crazies are saying and doing. I think it's a fair assumption I am not alone in this, it's almost like a channel chocked full of nutcases, liars, circus performers, etc...so I don't believe the high numbers truly reflect serious viewers looking for honest views/news...

[lorenzo48]

I know a bunch of their viewers, they tend to be very religious, some of them are pretty smart people, they started watching a couple years back, after 9-11 and enjoy not having to think for themselves, being preached at and get very little information other than Fix news propaganda so they are basically hardcore republicans. The corruption and massive destruction of our economy, (also helped along enormously by the democrats in congress covering for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac until they blew up} phony wars for profit and all the other disasters and hipocricy of the republican party do not exist in their minds only that Obama is a socialist and all the other talking points garbage served up by Fix so their view of politics is limited and ignorant and trying to have an intelligent fact based conversation with them is next to impossible. I use to occasionally tune in to see what the reich wing propagandists are up to but now I have completely stopped because I don't want to help Murdoch's disgusting fascist agenda at all

[Gizmo1125]

I like Morning Joe. I was watching Olbermann and Maddow, but I got bored and started watching Oreilly. I now have to watch Oreilly every night. I love his show, especially Dennis Miller. Olbermann & Maddow got to where they talked about the same ole thing night after night. It was good listening to him bashing Bush when he was in office, but now he is not in office and it got tiresome. I mean I haven't seen him since he boarded the plane on Jan. 20th. But the real kicker was all that torture business. Night after night Olbermann & Maddow goes on & on about terrorists being tortured. It is like listening to a broken record. I began to feel like I was being tortured just listening to it. I mean 3 terrorists were tortured. Boo Hoo......... Move on......... I know its illegal.......... Boo Hoo........ 3 terrorists were tortured.......... Who cares.....­.......... I believe if they keep going on with that same ole broken record they are going to end up losing more viewers. I believe the majority of people could care less about 3 terrorists being tortured. Boo Hoo.......­..........­..........­....

[aaronr2000]

“I generally don’t,” Obama replied. “Mainly because I don’t find most of the cable chatter very persuasive. I’ve used this analogy before, it feels like WWF wrestling. Everybody’s got their role to play. I know a lot of these guys. And if Pat Buchanan is having a conversation with Chris Matthews or talking to Keith Olbermann, everybody’s got their set pieces and, so, I don’t feel as if I’m learning anything from the debate.” - Obama

Am I the only one who found this a bit offensive? I love Obama, think he's a great president and will vote for him again. But when I heard him say this I felt like my intelligence was insulted, you know, the way we feel that consumers of WWE who thinks it's real need to get a life. Truth be told, I find Olbermann/Maddow to be very informative, their fact checking to be priceless, but I am able to detect their personal biases from objective analysis.

If Olbermann/­Maddow/Mat­thews heard this I know it had to sting a little, but the way I see it I sent Obama to Washington to be the president (and he's doing a darn good job of it) not to give me my opinion. Am I reading too much into this?

[FGDinVA]

Yeah, it stung a bit. But I guess when you are the subject of everyone's debate, it can be tedious to listen to and may seem a little trivial. I don't know really. I'm sure plenty of people on his staff watch MSNBC and would let him know of anything interesting.

[wilsonveteran]

Everyone calls fox bias but the newspapers, MSNBC, and NBC have always been bias. Fox does give the straight news and it does have right leaning commentators such as O'Riley, Hannity, and Beck. MSNBC and NBC only give the liberal side on everything. As you can see by the ratings which people prefer. Stop the crying and change your format.

[teeniechino]

Spoken like a true Fox'r. You're kidding; right? How do you explain Nancy Grace and her sensationalism? The cattle mentality at work. Who is the "everyone" you refer to? Fox and Friends? Straight news? Fox doesn't do anything straight. 2 million viewers out of the entire population hardly is a trend. Limpblow claims 20 mil, a small percentage of the population.

Whatever, Dude.

[ParacelsusTheophrastus]

There was a scientific study done and while most news outlets gave Clinton more positive stories than they gave Bush only FOX News was clearly biased. But those at FOX have created addicts who can' t and won't watch anything else. They are heroin news.

[Swift2]

Fox isn't just biased, it was founded to be the propaganda organ of the Republican Party. They heated up the atmosphere so much that the normal, corporate news world -- what I'm sure you'd call "liberal" -- has apparently made them decide to be the counter-FOX. Anybody think that GE is a left-wing organization like Murdoch is right wing? No, they've seen the way to ratings nirvana: to give opinion for the left and the center, just like Fox gives opinion for the right. It's apparently working. The reasons why they've hit back that way is simple: in the last election, much more of the demographic that advertisers want voted for Obama. Fox has prospered with the right wing, and now it's going to die with them.

By the way, 2,000,000 ratings are GOOD? In what man's army? CNN used to have 20,000,000 and up.

[Wingsweaver]

It's not necessarily that fox news is biased that is the problem. It's that they try soooo hard to make people believe the opposite. It comes off sad and obvious. When they tried to claim that their "FNC Tax Day Tea Parties" coverage was no different then their coverage of any other protest I thought I'd die laughing. The only Fox News program I'll watch is Shepard Smith.

I don't put much stock into ratings either, at least not as a measurement of quality. Call me jealous if you will, but I believe ratings are for advertisers. If they were an accurate barometer of what people are thinking we'd have a different president.

[myworld]

What u smoking dude? Walk towards the light.......

[RedHurricane24]

Okay, if this is the case, how do you explain this?

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3036677/#31073471

So, people 18-24 don't count regarding ratings??

[Yarrr]

Ratings don't factor in internet viewers. A lot of younger people probably watch MSNBC programs online. By contrast stodgy old republicans watch Fox News on the television.

[dxz]

It also does not factor in the fact that most viewers of the terrestrial; channels: ABC, CBS, NBC etc are liberals. Fox is monopolizing the ratings because they unashamedly feed their voracious base with raw red meat of inaccurate, quasi-xenophobic hyperboles. Most mainstream liberals have other things to do than feast on politics, at least until the next election cycle..

[ThierryGhi]

Right. They keep talking to the same number of ignorant, uneducated right wingers, they keep steering the same shrinking pot. Their audience may be less than 20% of the US population, but it still means +- 60 million people.

[trunk65]

My 88 year old father has Fox on all day. As he sits in his easy chair, he goes in and out of sleep, and often wakes up in the middle of a story. He is hard core, old school GOP, and I am sure that he agrees with a lot of the garbage they spew. It is, interesting however, that Fox would count him in their ratings. The set is always on, but my dear old man probably recognizes about 10% of what they broadcast. It is also interesting that the one of the few times he hits the remote is when Glen Beck comes on. In his words, "This guy is nuts."

[FGDinVA]

"It is also interesting that the one of the few times he hits the remote is when Glen Beck comes on. In his words, "This guy is nuts.""

LMAO! Good on your dad.

[StevieRae]

Let's keep these numbers in perspective.

2.989 million total viewers, 702,000 A25-54 for the O"Reilly Factor.

The cable universal is minuscule: Census 2000 A25-54 = 94,571,000

The election is over, cable has become irrelevant for news. Who wants to listen to the captain of the Titanic pontificate daily on the the better way out of these storms???

[ChiEg]

Don't watch Fox news...

But sorry, I just don't trust John King & his wife Dana Bash...

John thrives on holding Obama's feet to the fire, but is too petrified to ask Cheney any real little less hard-hitting questions...(his "keeping them honest" spiel starts and ends with President Obama)-

Between him & Dana, the Republicans really never have to get out bed...they've pretty much got their talking points covered each day!

Could it possibly be all those bbq's at Sedona?!

[KickerBoard]

Yes, you're right - I'd add Blitzer and everyone on his silly Situation Room (with the exception of Cafferty)

[nkadzi]

ChiEg, you hit the nail on the head; why John King was given an hour of political interviews and news makes me wonder. what was CNN thinking?

[Wingsweaver]

Probably all that money they spent on that "magic wall".