Cable News Main Source For 2012 Presidential Campaign Viewers

More people are turning to cable news for information about the 2012 presidential campaign than other forms of media, according to Pew Research Center's News Interest Index.

The quadrennial study, which was released on Tuesday, demonstrated how cable news has steadily maintained its audience for the past twelve years. Thirty-six percent of respondents said they "regularly learn about the campaign" from cable news networks. During previous campaign years, most respondents regularly learned about presidential races from local television news. Local telelvision news fell 40 percent from the last presidential campaign.

The study also surveyed participants' cable news preferences based on political party affiliation. Cable news is a main source for campaign coverage for 45 percent of Republican respondents. Fox News is the likely destination for 36 percent of Republicans.

Slightly more Republicans turn to cable news as a main source for campaign coverage than Democrats. Of the Democrats surveyed, 41 percent turn to cable news as a main source. They are also more likely to watch CNN than MSNBC. According to the study, 26 percent of Democrat respondents are likely to rely on CNN for campaign coverage, and 17 percent are more likely to rely on MSNBC.

Overall, the study found that the 2012 presidential race is generating less interest among Democrats and young people under the age of 30 than in 2008.

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Comments

[sorrytobeakansan]

10:02 AM on 02/08/2012

That is the number of people who get their news on TV. I wonder if that whole internet thing will catch on? Maybe I'll use the Google.

[rosiebag]

08:56 AM on 02/08/2012

Even Oberman won't watch MSNBC.

[rosiebag]

08:50 AM on 02/08/2012

Maybe the FBI can find out why Billos reruns beat Maddow.

[therealone]

01:30 PM on 02/08/2012

Same reason Spongebob Squarepants reruns beat Billo.

More children watch it.

Don't need the FBI for that. :)

[mlshea1983]

08:48 AM on 02/08/2012

Wow, maybe the reason young folks and Democrats are less interested in the election this time around could possibly be because cable news is dominated by the REPUBLICAN primary! Ya think? Maybe the writer could have elaborated on that important piece of info....YA THINK?

[Doug Compagner]

10:36 AM on 02/08/2012

I think they are less interested because of Obama's failed track record.

[mlshea1983]

10:58 AM on 02/08/2012

And what are his failures? Please include facts and not groundless rhetoric like "He ruined the economy."

[DavidWalker]

01:04 PM on 02/08/2012

Yes, do tell, don't keep us all breathlessly waiting for you to get the memo from Fox.

[Sandy972]

08:15 AM on 02/08/2012

Hey, I still love Keith Olberman and it ows you how stupid the viewers are by still watching those clowns on Fox!

[TMF42]

07:23 AM on 02/08/2012

Fox News is the network of
- Optimism, because poll numbers mean nothing as long as they aren't in favor of their own opinion
- Hope, because they know already that the current president is the worst and it can only get better
- Togetherness, because they bring people together with the power of mutual fears
- Laughter, with stories like the Muppets socialist agenda, how can you not laugh

[stape45]

08:13 AM on 02/08/2012

- AND the least-informed viewers. Let's keep this thing in perspective, shall we?

[rosiebag]

08:52 AM on 02/08/2012

The network of viewers.

[clearthinker2008]

06:43 AM on 02/08/2012

Opinion shows are not to be confused with NEWS shows. NEWS shows are "just the facts".

[whylieandbs]

08:55 AM on 02/08/2012

Truly a clearthinker.

[commoncents mi]

04:55 AM on 02/08/2012

It would appear everyone on FoxNews, except for their janitors, posted higher than Maddow. But, in a couple of months they will probable have her spot! I'm impressed!

[demimckingwoodtx]

06:35 AM on 02/08/2012

It shows that America has a lot of zombies!

[whylieandbs]

08:56 AM on 02/08/2012

Yea there are, and they are all liberals that can't stand to know the truth so them zombie out.

[mlshea1983]

08:50 AM on 02/08/2012

CNN/HLN/MSNBC/ and NPR all split moderate viewers with Fox getting every Conservative. This also doesn't take into account liberal leaning comedy news shows like The Daily Show, which beat O'Reilly and Hannity, the most viewed news shows.

[somearelost]

09:09 AM on 02/08/2012

A liberal comparing a news show to a comedy show....priceless

[iconico62]

04:00 AM on 02/08/2012

Fox has elevated 10th rate opinions into news and playgound banter of kids dressed alike as news analysis. I take their news as seriously as I take my cat's meow to mean its is 50 degrees outside.

[LVNVprog]

01:48 AM on 02/08/2012

Fox is Number One among Republican Right Wingers - Too Bad they are the Least informed of any demographic. They are also the least educated. Congratulations FOX on being able to attain the least educated viewer demographic - A real Marketing Bonanza. While the other 900 Channels at least attempt to offer their viewers some in-depth understanding of real issues, And while some are biased, they at least offer something you never find at FOX - The Truth!

[jerzygurl]

05:04 AM on 02/08/2012

How many saltines were you awarded Polly for repeating the liberal squawk?

[mlshea1983]

08:52 AM on 02/08/2012

Do you Teapublicans have anything other witty(sic) comments to counter an arguement?

[themiddleistheproblem]

12:08 PM on 02/08/2012

Hey Snookie. Missed ya.

[hawnislesolar]

01:48 AM on 02/08/2012

I would like the reporters and media to ask ALL the questions,,,,, not just the ones the Candidates and obama agree to answer,,,,, ALL the questions,, and the Media and Parties to stop shunning questions, like climate change etc.

[Stretchumall]

12:08 AM on 02/08/2012

If I wanted to be lied to I'd be married!

[iam7545 r]

10:36 PM on 02/07/2012

LMAO - these stats are amazing - SO more people watch Red Eye @ 3am than watch Morning Joe? That is incredible. Joe probably thinks he is a star or something too

[iam7545 r]

10:21 PM on 02/07/2012

OMG - I had no eye dear that more people watch every daytime FOX show than watch Rachel @ Prime Time. She must be embarrassed by that

[demimckingwoodtx]

06:37 AM on 02/08/2012

She shouldn't be, these are the people that don't have jobs and a lot of time on there hands!

[iam7545 r]

07:07 PM on 02/08/2012

OH - I thought the Republicans were all 1% people - I am so confused

[themiddleistheproblem]

12:10 PM on 02/08/2012

Liberals don't watch TV all day long. The only time a conservative leaves his/her trailer is to adjust the rabbit ears and to collect their welfare checks.

[iam7545 r]

07:13 PM on 02/08/2012

OMG - I thought conservatives were all 1% 'ers and were against welfare. confusing ehhh

[Ashanti]

10:08 PM on 02/07/2012

Actually, I stopped watching all of the cable news networks almost a year ago. I tune in now and then just to see what the spin is on a given issue, but I'm not nearly as addicted as I used to be.

But I did listen to PBS news tonight, and I was struck by the comments of the Republican commentator. I believe his name was Ed Stuart.

The conversation was about the recent unemployment numbers and its impact on the impending election. Mr. Stuart said that what bothered him most was the Republicans' response to these numbers. He went on to say that the formula that was used to yield the low unemployment numbers is the same formula that was used to yield the high unemployment numbers. Therefore, for the Republicans to now pretend that the formula they embraced when the numbers were high, is somehow flawed or corrupted because the numbers are now low, really made the Republicans look bad, in his opinion.

He said that the last thing he wanted was for President Obama to be re-elected. But if unemployment is going down as the numbers indicate, then he applauds the President, not because he supports him, but because he supports America.

To finally hear a Republican put America first, even if it meant saying something positive about the President, was more refreshing to me than I can say! I've never heard or seen this man before, but I don't think I'll forget him!