August numbers…
The August numbers are out. FOX had the largest primetime viewing month yet in 2005 and it was the 44th consecutive month that FOX beat CNN across the board. FOX’s gap over CNN continued to widen. It’s now up to 23% in Total Day and up to 57% in Primetime since Dec of 2004. FOX was up accross the board except in the daytime demo where it had a three percent drop from the same period last year. CNN wss down across the board from the same period last year. HLN was up across the board. MSNBC was down from the same time last year across the board. CNBC was down in daytime and primetime but up in their respective demos.
(number breakdown is as follows: Aug 05\Aug 04\percent change)
Total Day
FOX 998,000\879,000\+14%
CNN 432,000\488,000\ -11%
HLN 245,000\198,000\+24%
MSNBC 220,000\303,000\-27%
CNBC 132,000\187,000\ -29%
Total Day P25-54
FOX 297,000\305,000\-3%
CNN 143,000\155,000\-8%
HLN 100,000\78,000\+28%
MSNBC 89,000\118,000\-25%
CNBC 41,000\90,000\-54%
Primetime
FOX 2,093,000\1,583,000\+32%
CNN 748,000\918,000\-19%
HLN 449,000\207,000\+117%
MSNBC 349,000\447,000\-22%
CNBC 144,000\132,000\+9%
Primetime P25-54
FOX 541,000\482,000\+12%
CNN 236,000\260,000\-9%
HLN 160,000\76,000\+111%
MSNBC 145,000\147,000\-1%
CNBC 74,000\65,000\+14%
Gap measurment (courtesy of FOX News’ press release)
(number breakdown is as follows: Dec 2004-present\Last Year in viewers\percent change. To figure out the GAP you subtract the bottom number from the top number and the gap betwen those two numbers in the third line is reflected in the percentage number at the end)
Total Day
FOX 886,000\835,000\+6%
CNN 436,000\469,000\-8%
GAP 450,000\366,000\23%
Primetime
FOX 1,678,000\1,422,000\+17%
CNN 744,000\827,000\-11%
GAP 934,000\595,000\57%
FOX’s press release documented some of CNN’s losses…
In addition, CNN’s much hyped The Situation Room suffered double-digit losses under Klein’s direction with 466,000 viewers, down 14% vs. August 2004. Other August losers under Klein’s management: American Morning with 429,000 viewers (down 8%), Paula Zahn Now with 596,000 viewers (down 16%), Larry King Live with 1,020,000 viewers (down 27%), and NewsNight with Aaron Brown with 678,000 viewers (down 36%).
Mark my word, with fnc being so fixated in keeping tabs on CNN, they will eventually become lax and become unaware of what they are doing and the titanic will sink.
Comment by AA — August 30, 2005 @ 11:01 pm
I don’t think so. Remember what Klein said? We don’t want “fans” we want to be your friend”. People are fans of the personalities, regardless of the news. Until CNN does a “360″, they will continue to alienate viewers.
Comment by Terance — August 31, 2005 @ 8:39 am
CNN didn’t have many friends in August, huh? From the morning show to the situation room to primetime shows, it was all a friend-free zone.
Comment by anonymous — August 31, 2005 @ 9:52 am
I think the only thing fox is fixated on at this point is beating the traditional broadcast networks and becoming the number one television channel. Period.
Comment by JMW — August 31, 2005 @ 10:00 am
JMW - You’re so right. Fox looks ahead in everything they do and they set the pace for everyone else. CNN is so far behind them at this point. The only thing ahead of them at this point is the broadcast networks…I’d be nervous if I were them ‘cause the fox is on the run.
Comment by anonymous — August 31, 2005 @ 12:29 pm