October Numbers: MSNBC’s gains…
The Hollywood Reporter’s Paul J. Gough writes about MSNBC’s ratings gains (via TVNewser)
MSNBC is in the best competitive position in total day since April 2003 in the opening weeks of the war in Iraq. Abrams said the strength was almost completely across the board — praising Joe Scarborough, Chris Matthews and Don Imus as well as Olbermann — but he said he was also cautious.
“This is a really good sign for MSNBC on the whole. I think that we’ve found a voice to some degree,” Abrams said. “We still have a ways to go. One month does not make ratings success, but this is certainly the right direction.”
I guess the “elephant in the room” is that they’ve all elevated the Bush-bashing to new levels. Too bad, but that’s apparently what it takes for them to succeed.
It will be interesting to see whether they can sustain those levels after the election.
Comment by Missy — November 1, 2006 @ 3:45 pm
Missy, I doubt it although they may be able to continue with the anti-Republican agenda if Kerry keeps running his mouth. In or out of context doesn’t matter, the point is Kerry should know better after a failed presidential election. He knows the game.
So the Republicans may retain at least the Senate and maybe even the House if they get very lucky. I’m sure Abrams, Olbermann and company are praying for that to happen, although they still have Bush for two more years.
Comment by Buck — November 1, 2006 @ 4:22 pm
Missy: Although I don’t really aggree, IF MSNBC has become a “Bush bashing network”, then good, we need one! It might be different if we didn’t already have a Bush praising network named Fox News.
Comment by Mike — November 1, 2006 @ 5:37 pm
The point is that we don’t need either a Bush-bashing network or a Bush-praising network. What we need is straight-down-the-middle journalists who will deliver news in an unbiased manner. THAT is what is wrong with the media in this country and to be more specific, it is what is wrong with both Fox & MSNBC.
Comment by Alison — November 1, 2006 @ 6:53 pm
There has never been a non-biased media, Alison. It took FNC to bring that to light for many of us. They were the first to call it what it is, and then try to balance it out. There are a few straight shooters who try their best to go straight-down-the-middle, but even they sway at times (re: Wolf Blitzer this past week with Lynn Cheney).
Comment by erljr — November 1, 2006 @ 7:56 pm
Missy: Absolutely correct.
Too bad that Tucker Carlson and Joe Scarborough have abandoned their core beliefs in search of maybe an 0.1 increase in the Nielsons.
Comment by Ira — November 1, 2006 @ 8:29 pm
Franky, I find myself watching MSNBC less and less, and this week, not at all, who wants to watch total election coverage a week before the election? Who’s idiot idea was that? I just no longer like their line up, I hate Tucker Carleson, and they shove him down our throats, like Obermann, but he is on at such a poor time, and Matthews has gotten SO predictable on his questions (is Hillary going to run for Prez) that I quit watching him a long time ago. No longer a reason to tune in…back to CNN where I enjoy Lou Dobbs (one of the best) and have even started to enjoy the “Situation Room” altho I think it is on for too long during the day.
Comment by Vicki — November 3, 2006 @ 5:41 am