Fox News Ratings Undamaged By White House War

Many critics of the Obama administration's ongoing war against Fox News have cautioned that, if anything, calling out the network will only increase its ratings. News Corp COO Chase Carey echoed those sentiments Wednesday, telling a media summit that the White House's comments have been "PR and marketing we couldn't have bought."

The ratings seem to backup those claims.

For the week of October 12-18, amid MLB playoffs and "Monday Night Football" on ESPN, Fox News was the #4 cable network in primetime, averaging 2,098,000 total viewers — placing it behind only ESPN (3,767,000), TBS (2,994,000) and USA (2,868,000). This is down only slightly from the previous week, when it averaged 2,118,000 total viewers. Nick at Nite (1,748,000) rounded out the top five.

In total day, Fox News averaged1,255,000 total viewers, up from 1,194,000 the week before and enough to rank as the #6 network in cable for the week. This may have been a result of the "Balloon Boy" coverage, which Fox News — anchored by Shep Smith — won by a wide margin.

MSNBC ranked #27 in primetime with 696,000 total viewers, while CNN came in at #28 with 674,000. In total day, CNN ranked #25 with 511,000 total viewers, while MSNBC did not place in the top 30.

See the rankings below:

Cable Time Period Rank - Week of 10-12-09 _Live+SD_ -

Comments

[kathy001]

But, of course, Faux News's ratings haven't suffered. The people who watch Faux are happy with that kind of dreck - they live for it. I look for a good laugh and a good story when I watch TV. Faux viewers look for hatred and fear and they get it all in one place.

[bwenston42]

Spot on !!

[Typo-Knig]

Isn't war a rather string term for whats going on? The WH pointed out that faux is a joke . theyre not batteling just stating a a fact. sue fox is winning in the ratings but they're doing it by cheating and lying. and just how many of those viewers are just tuning in to watch the train wreck and play the acorn drinking game?

[usamade]

Does anyone else out there think that if MSNBC was on cable's basic lineup, it would be beating FOX by astronomical numbers? When MSNBC moved to a higher more expensive tier on the cable package, I think they lost a lot of viewers who couldn't afford to upgrade.

[kathy001]

Maybe. But I also think that the people who would be inclined to watch MSNBC are doing something other than sitting in front of the TV. I don't watch very much MSNBC for that very reason.

[daultman463]

No

[gabberwok]

Controversy feeds Fox News. It was made popular by Lewinsky, and now it's thriving off of irrational Obama hatred.

[daultman463]

Naw,just the pretty girls on fox news,thats it.

[littlepuffycloud]

Of course not..the majority of focks viewers hate President Obama and don't want to watch anything that doesn't go along with their own hate and bigotry. They like to hear people they hate referred to as pinheads and nothing could change that.

[SimianNation]

Let's us forget the fact for a moment that Fox is not a news organisation, but a conservative opinion media pipeline.

It is disingenuous for any true media outlet to even entertain the notion that the White House has "attacked" Fox. If anything, it was a defensive maneuver on the part of the White House, an attempt to bring to light the constant and consistent attacks upon the White House, which it has suffered from since day one.

From the very beginning, not even to mention the murmurings about the "danger" of electing Obama which were all over the air before the November elections, Fox's attacks have ranged from innuendos that Obama might not have been born in this country, to that he is a racist who wants to snuff your grandmother with death panels, after he takes away her medicare and give it to illegal immigrants that illegally voted for him through ACORN.

Again, if anything at all, this is nothing but a completely legitimate defense against the lies, slander, and consciously and targeted dishonest fabrications, that Fox has been shown to employ as its "news" communication structure.

I hope to god that MY president completely rejects ANY interaction with Fox, and if ANY of the other true news organisations wish to boycott in defense of Fox, I have one thing to say. If you sleep with dogs, don't be surprised when you get flees.

[kathy001]

I completely agree. In addition, I think it was a responsible move by the White House to point out that the American people are being lied to and manipulated by Faux News.

[SimianNation]

Of course! I am sure that neither you nor I would stand still without action if someone kept hitting us. We would, even with having turned the other cheek, said enough is enough. I have wanted them to do suck an move for a good period of time.

There is no enemies list. It is calling out Fox for what they are...Faux newz. There is no White House enemies list...it is just Fox, and like the standard reaction to anything that posses a threat to the fabricated reality that Fox creates, they cry and (like the GOP in general) claim victim, and whine and cry for justice.

[SimianNation]

Fanned a similar brain!

[Brezzydee]

Not a problem. Remember the Whitehouse don't do anything without a exit strategy. They got everyone talking and looking at Fox to see what lies they are telling right? They have other networks checking to see just what they are broadcasting right? Even the lie they told yesterday is coming back to bite them in the behind.

Fox saying that all the networks stood with them, when in reality the dumb reporter did not even put his networks name on the interview list. And the Whitehouse did not have anything to do with it.
Now how much of a fool do they all look now, even the other networks that covered the lie.
So a no win situation for Fox. They will be scrutinized by the other networks even more now to report real news. And if Fox don't, then the other networks will distance themselves from them.

The only people who normally watch Fox is Conservatives, or people who voted for John McCain, which is less than 1% of America. It take a worped mind to sit through some of that crap on that channel. And a lot of cable companies don't even carry MSNBC on their networks, if they did, their ratings would be off the hook. That is why Fox get more people watching there is no competition.
The Whitehouse got this.

[mat3]

If only 1% watch (which I believe), then why does the WH bother at all?

[Typo-Knig]

the only reason this is even a story is because faux has news in its name. i am starting the typo-knig news and am fully prepared to bytch and moan when im not taken seriously.

[S E Martin]

Murdoch turns all of his media into tabloids; we shouldn't be surprised by the content of Fox News.

It will only get worse.

They'll probably high 5 more people like Beck and get rid of the very few decent folks who do still work there.

[Typo-Knig]

they might high 5 them but i better not see a fist bump

[S E Martin]

It should have said "hire". Fingers on the wrong keys I guess. Dang I hate it when I have typos. Thanks for the catch, Typo Knig (King?)

[IDIOTA]

The WH did not think this through. They seem to be in a quasi appeasement mode, giving the Left some red meat because the real meat -- a robust public option and financial reform that protects consumers -- is not coming. Inviting Rachel and Keith to the WH, if that really happened, is an attempt to deflate the rhetoric via dazzling influential voices on the Left.

But, by attacking Fox, the WH has informed many more Americans than who watch Fox that Fox is flawed. Fox's viewership might increase as people watch out of curiosity, bu they'll see what most people here see and reject it.

[Ifticar2]

The WH is not thinking many thing through these days. Obama's delay in backing up his Afghanistan commander is just one of the many ways the WH is not thinking things threw these days.

[S E Martin]

Give me a break. The opposite of what you wrote is true, and you contradict yourself in one sentence. The very reason he's delaying is BECAUSE he's thinking it through, you knob.

We finally have a thoughtful, careful, intelligent President and you warmongers just can't stand it.

Generals don't make policy. They follow the orders they are given. Do you understand the U.S. government and its structure and functions?

[CarbonCreditSeller]

Oh I forgot; this attention of Obama, Rahm, and Alex Rod, make me forget about all the unemployment and the do nothing stuff with insurance.

[CarbonCreditSeller]

Obama should pass a law that saying anything against what he wants to do is illegal. That would stop the White House Fox war - Obama should let Alan Grayson decide who gets to talk on the news.

[Ifticar2]

Good idea. Maybe Obama will learn to do this from the book given to him by Hugo Chavez.

[imsosure]

Can you believe it another story about, Fox? Wow, this is so interesting. This is the sort of real news I need to know.

[Ifticar2]

Yes, you do need to know this story. You need to understand the America does not agree with the antics of your President.

[S E Martin]

Another conservative living in bizzarro world where 20% actually means 80%.

[littlepuffycloud]

"antics'? that's funny considering HisChimpiness' tap-dancing routine while waiting for McPow to show up so he could be served hot dogs after 'winning' the candidacy for the goopers.

[ottabox]

The headline for this may be a little premature. The dialogue has just begun and it won't be long before a long list of examples of Fox "News" suspect activities are documented. The WH would not have picked this fight if they thought they would loose. It's f-ing brilliant.

[Ifticar2]

Just like Obama would not have gone to Copenhagen if he did not think Chicago would not be picked. Just like he would not have gone out on a limb to support Deeds in Virginia.

[S E Martin]

Those weren't "fights", they were showing support. Your analogies are nonsense, like everything else you've posted on this thread this morning.

Folks, we have our conservative talking point bulletin for the day, and its name is Ifticar2!!

[SimianNation]

Forget the fact that Fox is not a news organisation, but a conservative opinion media pipeline.

It is disingenuous for any true media outlet to give even entertain the notion that the White House has "attack" Fox. If anything, it was a defensive maneuver on the part of the White House, to attempt to bring to light the constant and consistent attacks upon the White House, which it has suffered from since day one.

From the very beginning, not even to mention the murmurings about the "danger" of electing Obama which were all over the air before the November elections, Fox's attacks have ranged from innuendos that Obama might not have been born in this country, to that he is a racist who wants to snuff your grandmother with death panels, after he takes away her medicare and give it to illegal immigrants that illegally voted for him through ACORN.

Again, if anything at all, this is nothing but a completely legitimate defense against the lies, slander, and consciously and targeted dishonest fabrications, that Fox has been shown to employ as its "news" communication structure.

I hope to god that MY president completely rejects ANY interaction with Fox, and if ANY of the other true news organisations wish to boycott in defense of Fox, I have one thing to say. If you sleep with dogs, don't be surprised when you get flees.

[Dogger]

The headline demonstrates why today's media has the wrong perspective.

The issue isn't ratings; live wrestling (the Sports equivalent to Fox News) gets good ratings.

The issue is credibility. Fox is to journalism as live wrestling is to professional athletics. Your TV sports program doesn't report on the fixed matches in wrestling, but its news counterpart reports the garbage spread by Fox as though it's real.

Obama should continue his policy towards Fox until its credibilty is gone.

[kathy001]

Very well said.