CNN Beats MSNBC In July, Fox News Still On Top

CNN had its best July ever this month, and reclaimed second place in the cable news ratings, topping MSNBC.

CNN, which may have been aided by its in-depth coverage of Michael Jackson's death, outperformed MSNBC in total primetime viewership with 1.284 million average viewers to 868,000 for MSNBC, a 48% margin. CNN also drew more viewers (430,000) in the key adults 25-54 demographic than MSNBC (274,000).

CNN also performed well outside of primetime, beating MSNBC by 82% in total day viewers (724,000 vs. 397,000).

A number of CNN's flagship shows, including "Larry King Live", "Anderson Cooper 360", "Campbell Brown" and "The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer" outperformed their numbers from July 2008.

HLN also had its best July ever in terms of both total viewers and the key demographic. It beat MSNBC for total day viewership (147,000 to 144,000) and grew 48% in total primetime viewers over last year.

HLN programs like "Nancy Grace" "Morning Express with Robin Meade" and "Prime News" all showed double-digit growth over last year.

However, the big winner, as usual, was Fox News, which continued to dominate ratings. The network beat MSNBC and CNN combined with 2.071 million total viewers, and had nine of the top ten cable news shows. Fox also grew by 70% in the 25-54 demographic in primetime over last year.

Comments

[reevee]

Too many vacations on MNSBC.

Keith has been gone for weeks.

[sarahwaters]

I couldn't agree with you more. Looking at MSNBC every day there is somebody substituting for somebody, most annoying.

[NewArtz]

Fox News is still on top? Then it wasn't my imagination, they are raping America.

[gingataisen]

It's not rape if it's consensual.

[grf67]

Who cares. They have each turned to crap commentary instead of news. T

[Macus]

Don't be alarmed folks. The fact is that CNN and MSNBC cater to the same audience and as such have to share viewership. Faux News is the only right wing network, and without competition it is the go to place for all right wing sympathizers.

[BabblingBrooks]

Fox News still on top. Hmmm, yes, I'd say so, with 10 of the top ten shows!

One would think the other cable news shows would start to catch on, but no, they have to persist in their biased left format. Which doesn't generally sell. Ask Al Franken....

[andken]

Fox News wins not because of it´s conservative views, but because it´s tabloidnesque. It´s the same reason that Brian Williams -hardly a conservative- beats Katie Couric every night. And since Fox News is aimed at seniors - the only people that watches news TV the whole day - they have a good advantage.

Not that I dislike Fox News, but it´s stupid to think that ratings means quality or anything like that.

[shockmagog]

"One would think the other cable news shows would start to catch on, but no, they have to persist in their biased left format. Which doesn't generally sell. Ask Al Franken...."

And he will tell you that the right wing corporations own most of the radio stations. Guess who they pack the airwaves with (you know, the very same airwaves that we are supposed to own)? In spite of this, Franken's show was a success. Typical wingnut: just repeats what he hears from right wing talk radio.

You are so delusional you fail to see that CNN has been trying to BE like Fox "News." As a result, we end up with the likes of Lou Dobbs and Wolf Blitzer. Enjoy!

MSNBC has a few shows on weeknights that try to be slightly left of center. THAT'S IT.

More "liberal media is taking over, but liberal media can't make a buck" contradictory nonsense from another wingnut.

[vjthedj]

I bet that if they polled the average viewer that watches Fox news versus NBC, CNN, that majority do not use the internet as the source of news. Every newspaper in U.S. is going bankrupt due to News you can get for free on the internet. You can also verify that it is real news, instead of believing what the networks say.

[BabblingBrooks]

You make some sense! How did you happen to post here?

[mimigrammy]

I liken watching Fox News to watching Mad TV.

[TwoCentsIn]

FOX beats all the other cable news shows because they show

1. Attractive females
2. Exposed flesh (Ann Coulter's femoral arteries)
3. Vampire wigs
4. Beauty pageant rejects (Gretchen Carlson--Fox'n Fun)
5. Bulky high school jocks who keep it simple and get it wrong everytime
i.e., Sean Inanity, Bill O'Really? Glenn Blecch!

Come on MSNBC and CNN! We've been doing it the hard way!
Keep the content and add usherettes!

[BabblingBrooks]

You are wrong. I've checked on occasion, and the ladies on the other networks are not dogs! You are insulting them!

Fox wins because it is, believe it or not, more fair and balanced. It tries to present both sides equally. Chris Wallace is about as middle-road as one could get, though one suspects he is a teensy liberal personally. Shepard Smith leans left. Hannity is conservative. O'Reilly is a pragmatic populist, meaning he can be wrong or right several different ways. Greta is a personal liberal but tries for fairness, mostly succeeds.

Fox tries to REPORT the news accurately and analyze it intelligently and fairly. It wouldn't be hard to duplicate this, but the other networks don't want to!

Obama COULD explain his health plan, but he doesn't WANT TO! It would cost him support if the citizens found out more about it.

[Melissa]

MSNBC needs to get all new anchors and new material. I watched them all day last week and every single show including the doctor (how did she get a show?) had a story on Sarah Palin and Michael Jackson. That cable station is lame. CNN had all the coverage you never wanted on Michael Jackson and it continues today!

[shockmagog]

Viewers are less likely to fact check Fox's false information when they are dazzled by Newscorp's cadre of "shiny objects."

Like playing peek-a-boo with a toddler, Fox News' propaganda tricks work every time with Republicans.

[mdlw]

Hey, MSNBC, let me help. Here's a scoop for you...do it for the troops. Check out the videos at the site below.

http://palindeception.blogspot.com/2009/07/for-your-viewing-pleasure.html

[colah]

How does FOX lead in viewers?

Their demographic actually watches cable TV for their news. The educated left is using the web to find information instead of being fed information.

[BabblingBrooks]

Oh yeah! The left thinks Jon Stewart is a newscaster!

[DickClark]

You have the Jackson death.......the cable availability situation.....and Oberman was on vacation for a week.......and you wonder why the ratings were down.......????

[CarmanK]

I can't stomach watching Fox and if anyone uses them as a reference in a conversation, I laugh or turn them off. I started watching the Ed Show and like it a lot. I watch Keith and Rachel, but have a hard time with hardball. Don't like all the yelling that goes on. MSNBC is the place I go for commentary and controversy. I like Katie Couric on CBS at 7PM. She has come a long way. Although, I have to admit I like Anerson Cooper, Wolf Blitzer and Jack Cafferty.

[BabblingBrooks]

I can't stomach watching Fox and if anyone uses them as a reference in a conversation, I laugh or turn them off. --so you are a close-minded jerk? What are you saying?

[swift goat pet for truth]

I watch Keith and Rachel and Chris. The rest of the day is not too exciting.

Used to watch more, mostly 'cause of Tamron.

[luckyt]

Keith, Rachel, and Ed rock--Chris is a Blue Dog Conservative Rat.

[BabblingBrooks]

I think, toward the end, Lenin thought Karl Marx was a conservative, too.

[VikingQuest]

CNN + MSNBC doesn't even eqaul Fox?

Crazy.

"The network beat MSNBC and CNN combined with 2.071 million total viewers, and had nine of the top ten cable news shows. Fox also grew by 70% in the 25-54 demographic in primetime over last year."

[swift goat pet for truth]

The circulation of the Economist and Newsweek does not equal that of the National Enquirer.

What is your point.

Trashy fake stories ALWAYS outsells in-depth political analysis and factual information.

[VikingQuest]

MSNBC & Fox News are the same exact stations from anyone not holding a bias . . .

[siasina]

LOL did you just say "in-depth political analysis and factual information"? good god lol, you need help if you think the news CNN & MSNBC is real news; the same goes for majority of Fox too actually.

Mainstream media is a joke!

[NPRLuvr]

MSNBC is not available in as many markets as CNN and FOX which are both available from any area of the country. That said, the fact that they could pose a challenge to CNN at all is remarkable. Only started offering HD last month. I live in Dallas area and can't get MSNBC HD yet.

[Pleneras]

GOP Plot?: Comcast Pulls MSNBC From Standard Cable in Boston Area.
http://monkeyinmymind.com/2008/08/05/gop-plot-comcast-pulls-msnbc-from-standard-cable-in-boston-area/

(Throw in Georgia and other areas. Them Romney staffers set it all up)

This is Shawn Feddeman from Comcast in Boston and I wanted to address your posting about some recent channel changes we have made locally.

As you mention, Comcast did in fact move MSNBC and several other channels (what other channels?) to our digital lineup this week. This is not a more expensive tier of service, but it does require a digital cable box (which is more expensive). Most of our customers in the area aren’t impacted by these moves because they already have digital cable service. However, for the analog customers who want to continue watching MSNBC and the other channels, we are offering them a free cable box for a year (after which you will have to pay for it, proving that it is more expensive).

REPSONSE!

First of all, Shawn Feddeman is not correct about this tier not being more expensive. Many people have standard cable; digital cable costs about $40 more per month. In addition, many people (like me) also get standard cable paid for with our condo fees. In order to upgrade to digital I would have to buy my own service, an additional cost on top of my condo fees.

[hotwire]

And I'll bet you spend $200.00 bucks a month on Beer and Starbucks, yet you whine and cry about having to spend $40.00 on digital. MSNBC sucks anyway, so don't worry about it.