MSNBC’s Primetime Trounces Fox News Since Election Day: Maddow And O’Donnell Soar

[babylonsister]

http://www.newscorpse.com/ncWP/?p=8478

MSNBC’s Primetime Trounces Fox News Since Election Day: Maddow And O’Donnell Soar
Posted by Mark on November 19, 2012 at 5:36 pm.


Fox News is continuing to show weakness in its primetime schedule in the wake of President Obama’s reelection. In the eight days since election day MSNBC’s average audience for the key 25-54 year old demographic drew about 8% more viewers than Fox. {Source: TVNewser, weekday Nielsen ratings from 11/7-11/16}



Particularly impressive were the results of the two powerhouse programs on the MSNBC lineup: Rachel Maddow and Lawrence O’Donnell. Maddow won seven of the eight days against her Fox competition, Sean Hannity. For the 8-day run Maddow beat Hannity by 18% and her 544k average was second to only Bill O’Reilly in all of cable news. O’Donnell won all eight days against Fox’s Greta Van Susteren. His margin of victory over Van Susteren was 17% for the eight days.

This can no longer be considered a temporary blip on the ratings scales. With two weeks having elapsed, the MSNBC programs are showing steady strength against competition that was once thought insurmountable. Only Bill O’Reilly is holding his top position for Fox in primetime. This may indicate that Sean Hannity is wearing thin with viewers who are likely disappointed with his overly confident (and harebrained) assurances that all the polls were wrong and that Mitt Romney would emerge victorious.

Hannity is perhaps the most stridently partisan host on the Fox News network and frequently augments his analysis with that of the pundit world’s most notorious nutcase, Dick Morris. As for Van Susteren, she never had the cult-like following of her Fox comrades, but she has been closely associated with her good friend (and client of her husband), Sarah Palin. That association may also have become a drag on the ratings of her show. Hannity has been with Fox since its launch and is still a top-rated radio talker. Van Susteren, on the other hand, had better start to show some improvement or her time slot will go to daytimer Megyn Kelly, a Roger Ailes favorite whose contract is expiring next year and likely wants to move to primetime.

MSNBC has an opportunity here to expand on the progress they have made in the past two weeks. They need a stronger lead-in to the primetime block. Ed Schultz has been doing OK, but he has not kept up with his colleagues. It might be a good idea to move both Maddow and O’Donnell up one hour, find an edgy, provocative host(s) for the 10pm slot (Harry Shearer & Co.?), and give Schultz the Hardball rerun at 7pm (Harderball?). But one thing is for sure, Fox will not be sitting this out. If MSNBC doesn’t build on their momentum, Fox will dial up the heat and retake the lead they’ve had for the past decade. Hopefully MSNBC recognizes the short window they have to make these gains permanent and jump through it.

[peacebird]

1. Is there any chance that faux viewers eyes were opened by how wrong faux news assertions were proven

on election day? Any chance that the bubble has broken and now their viewers are looking outside for better news sources?

[JustAnotherGen]

2. I've thought

That Maddow should have had the 8 PM slot for some time now . . .

[annabanana]

3. The lead will just keep getting bigger.

FOX and their whole dumb propaganda team have been aiming at the lowest of low hanging fruit forever. They underestimate the greater population of the US and are incapable of appealing to any but the most stubbornly myopic.

[onecent]

4. This is nice to see. Maybe FAUX news will hopefully feel the heat more and more every day.

And hopefully people WILL WAKE UP.

[grantcart]

5. I am guessing that the overkill on Benghazi has worn thin.

Expect to see a new outrage in 3...2...1

[TheBlackAdder]

6. I Watched Sharpton, Matthews, Schultz, Maddow and changed channels when Ezra Kline filled in.

Ezra Kline is fine at guest spots, but he is a complete bore when it comes to filling in for a host.

[Berlum]

7. Hannity (R) is such a whiney whip

Kinda glorious to see him getting his overpaid, greazy-hair Chickenhawk Republican aSS kicked so thoroughly by Rachel and the good TV-watching citizens of These United States of America..

[Doremus]

8. I know 2 faithful repuke viewers who no longer watch Faux.

Extrapolate that number and Faux potentially lost many thousands of formerly faithful viewers by stabbing them in the backs this election season.

I think Faux screwed the pooch this time. Let's hope they do it again and again and again.

[nc4bo]

9. Wow, I'm surprised about The Ed Show, I really enjoy his show, especially with workers' rights

unions, education and a few other topics. He's hard hitting, honest and has a great populous message.

I'd hate to see MSNBC push Ed out.

In fact, I look forward to ENTIRE the progressive line-up "Forward".

Why does Tweety repeat 2x during the primetime "progressive" slot? Never understood that and would like to see him either come on at 5 or 7 - drop one of those.

[TheBlackAdder]

11. x2 n/t

[forestpath]

13. +1. Ed is my favorite.

[flamingdem]

15. I think there is a campaign to push Ed out of sight BECAUSE he is for workers

and is effective. Fuck the number of viewers, Ed fires up working people and that scares the powers that be.

Did you see the New York Times article that floated the same idea?

I don't think it's an accident.

[SoCalDem]

17. MSNBC is CORPORATE..corporate never likes it when "workers' rights" are made an issue

Ed may get short-sheeted

[Aerows]

10. I openly snicker at people watching Fox

Why bother watching the "news" at all if so much of it isn't true?

A lot of people, even those on the right, are waking up to the fact that what they want to hear isn't reality.

[tosh]

18. Me too, LOL,

and I find it hilarious (as in ROFLMAO) that so many have DENIED watching that crap though they obviously did!

[Ganja Ninja]

12. They need to start getting cable companies to include them ...

in their first tier programming package. A lot of people can't afford more than that.

[flamingdem]

14. No. BS. Don't push Ed to a timeslot that's too late for working people

This is the second article I've read trying to destroy Ed.

[liberal from boston]

16. MSNBC PRIME TIME

Great News!!! The prime time programs are so successful from Chris, Rev. Al, Ed, Rachel & Lawrence O'Donnell is the perfect program for 10PM.. All the prime time lineup are enjoying unbelievable ratings so why would MSNBC even consider a change???

[william cail]

19. MSNBC

If MSNBC decides to do away with Ed I will stop watching MSNBC. Current TV primetime lineup is filled with an Obama basher, a failed New York govenor, and a slightly watchable former govenor.

The only show I watch on Current is Stephane Miller. Bill Press is too much of a inside the beltway hack. He used to be good. Now just a hack. Continuing to have hack guests from WSJ, Politico, ect.