Glenn Beck: ratings failure?
My Two Sense looks at Glenn Beck’s numbers and sees failure…
What does this all mean? Glenn Beck’s ratings are extremely low. The “Glenn Beck experiment” that Headline News started over a year ago has failed. A year ago, Glenn Beck was heralded as some sort of new talk show host that would revolutionize cable news. Instead, he is another in a long line of right wing radio talk show hosts who has failed in television.
In fact, Glenn Beck’s numbers for this week were LOWER then a year ago when he was just starting. A year’s worth of programming, advertising, and everything else that CNN and Headline News has done to push Glenn Beck has not made a bit of difference.
I’m not convinced. The numbers are all over the place. Sometimes they’re up, sometimes they’re down…way down. The thing is Beck is part of a HLN prime that has been nipping at MSNBC’s heels recently. In fact HLN was going through a streak of beating MSNBC in the prime time Demo just a few weeks ago.
UPDATE: I take it back. I was wrong. I went back through the ratings for the past six weeks and I had thought HLN had beaten MSNBC more often than it really had. I counted roughly six times when HLN edged out MSNBC in the Demo. Not enough to accurately characterize this as “nipping at MSNBC’s heels”. And that’s reflected in the May numbers…
May 2007 Primetime P25-54
MSNBC - 179,000
CNN - 197,000
HLN - 132,000
MSNBC is closer to CNN than it is to HLN.
I’m assuming this particular writer does NOT like Glenn very much…
Comment by Anonymous — May 30, 2007 @ 12:28 pm
Considering there are links on the writer’s website to boycotting Glenn Beck, a petition to fire Glenn Beck, and a link to this clown’s interview on Air America, your assumption is correct Anon.
I wonder if there’s any links on his website to Air America’s ratings (or lack thereof).
Comment by bigred — May 30, 2007 @ 12:50 pm
no, i dont like glenn beck. i dont pretend to be “fair and balanced”. i hate glenn beck as a matter of fact. however his ratings speak for themselves. in your own ratings books, at 7pm glenn beck has “scratched” on both monday and friday.
at 7pm hes way behind fox news and cnn, a REPEAT of hardball beats him almost every night. at 9pm, hes way way behind both fox news and cnn, and scarbourough country beats him just about every night.
and to answer number #2, no i dont keep track of air america ratings. air america is RADIO. im talking about TELEVISION. see the difference?
Comment by Chris (My Two Sense) — May 30, 2007 @ 1:01 pm
and all respect to spud, you are looking at headline prime all together. nancy grace’s numbers are far higher then glenn beck’s numbers.
Comment by Chris (My Two Sense) — May 30, 2007 @ 1:04 pm
Isn’t it amusing to see writers tout Keith Olbermann as a “ratings success” but Glen Beck as a ratings “failure”? I never really believed that the press was liberally biased until the last couple of years when I began to notice how much press that people like Olbermann got and how little press people with good or far better ratings only get negative press or none at all.
Comment by Alison — May 30, 2007 @ 2:15 pm
They need a fighting conservative to pump up those numbers. Why not somebody like Laura Ingraham, Mike Gallagher, or Neal Boortz? They are all formidable commentators.
The only prolem I see is all three have their own radio broadcasts, which would be in conflict with that Glenn Beck slot. Plus, the three of them often appear on FNC’s programs.
Comment by RGL — May 30, 2007 @ 2:39 pm
I strap myself into my seat whenever I know I am going to hear Glenn Beck’s truths. Great stuff!
Get over it, Achorn. Stop your whining and crying.
Comment by Cella — May 30, 2007 @ 3:20 pm
“right wing radio talk show hosts”
I wonder if this writer identifies left wing hosts as such. Probably not.
Comment by PF — May 30, 2007 @ 3:40 pm
This guy is hilarious. He openly admits he hates Glenn Beck, so we know his opinion is worthless. Secondly, he cites MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND ratings as proof that the show is a failure.
And in case you hadn’t noticed, FOX and CNN are number one in almost EVERY time slot. So what if he trails them? So does almost every other show in cable.
Chris, your “two sense” are worth “two cents”, which BTW is the phrase your looking for.
Comment by bigred — May 30, 2007 @ 3:57 pm
i find it interesting that all of you attack me instead of discussing the facts. also, it wasnt just last week. look at these numbers from the first week in may : http://achorn.blogspot.com/2007/05/detailed-examination-of-glenn-becks-low.html
also : bigred - its called a play on words. look it up.
cella - um, im not whining and crying. im showing the fact that glenn beck has low ratings. i insert my opinion, which I am certainly entitled to.
Comment by Chris (My Two Sense) — May 30, 2007 @ 4:04 pm
I like Glenn Beck. Watch him every night. Hope HLN keeps him on.
Comment by Barb — May 30, 2007 @ 4:17 pm
#6 your post makes no sense. Glenn Beck’s ratings are poor - even when you add the numbers from both showings together they only rival Tucker and Hardball and are way behind anything else. So what does this have to do with Olbermann?
The right-wingers (who dominate this site by about 10:1 ratio) who always bash Olbermann because of his poor ratings are now here defending Glenn Beck who gets inferior numbers? The hypocrisy is astounding.
Comment by Mr A — May 30, 2007 @ 4:17 pm
sorry, i meant post #5
Comment by Mr A — May 30, 2007 @ 4:18 pm
Um, Chris, what words are you playing on? Your two sense makes zero sense.
And why do you hate Glenn Beck so much?
It’s called having a life. Look it up.
Comment by bigred — May 30, 2007 @ 4:19 pm
its a play on the phrase “my two cents”. duh.
and why do i hate glenn beck so much? because I dont like people who call barack obama “very white”. i dont like people who accuse a muslim congressman of being a terrorist. i dont like people who say that muslims who dont shoot the “bad” muslims in the head will end up behind razor wire.
thats why i hate glenn beck.
oh, and I do have a life, and its a rather fun one. thanks for your concern though.
Comment by Chris (My Two Sense) — May 30, 2007 @ 4:27 pm
I blame our fearless leader Spud for giving credence to this opinion. How can “no apostrophe Chris” possibly slam Beck’s ratings while overlooking the ratings crisis at Air America? And let’s have some long-term data - as noted above, one day (on a holiday weekend, no less) does not make a trend.
And so what if Beck rates low at each of those timeslots - his numbers added together (for all three showings) are usually quite competitive.
So let’s see the data; total numbers of Beck’s audience vs. those of his MSNBC heroes, per night. Then we’ll know whether Glenn’s in trouble or not.
Comment by Missy — May 30, 2007 @ 5:16 pm
Alison, please point to me the last time KO did 300,000 viewers. Please find it for me. Glenn Beck is always around that number, sometimes a little higher, sometimes lower.
Comment by Randy — May 30, 2007 @ 5:17 pm
I blame our fearless leader Spud for giving credence to this opinion
Fearless leader? I think you should demand a recount for that election. Get the Supreme Court involved. Better yet, get Al Gore involved…
Comment by Spud — May 30, 2007 @ 5:34 pm
Why is it when a conservative talk show host has low ratings, Republican’s need to justify it by saying like ‘well, look at Air America’s ratings’?? So his ratings aren’t that great. He basically has a ‘new’ show still to develop. I think it will do just fine, especially in this blood-gurgling Republican climate. Personally I can’t stand him, though!
Comment by Peoplepeople — May 30, 2007 @ 5:57 pm
a few things.
1. adding his three airings together is not the way ratings are calculated.
2. air america’s ratings are meaningless. They are a failed organization, I freely admit that.
3. about “no apostrophe Chris”.. I didn’t know I was taking a grammar test.
4. My opinion is just as relevant as anyone elses. Don’t blame Spud for it, it is a legit story, even if you take out opinion. Glenn Beck’s ratings are low, lower then one year ago when he had months of buildup.
Comment by Chris (My Two Sense) — May 30, 2007 @ 6:14 pm
Chris, the point about the three showings of Glenn Beck is that in spite of how stupid you think we conservatives are, we only need to watch his program ONCE per evening. He and Nancy Grace, I believe, have the only two programs that are shown more than once in prime time. So it makes sense to add up their numbers.
Now let’s see that ratings data I asked about!
Comment by Missy — May 30, 2007 @ 6:33 pm
i dont have his numbers at midnight, but lets add his 7pm and 9pm numbers just for argument’s sake :
lets take wednesday, may 23rd, 2007..
Beck’s total is 314,000 viewers and 108,000 in the demographic. Olbermann had 623,000 viewers and 157,000 in the demographic. Hardball at 7pm had 453,000 viewers and 120,000 in the demographic. Scarbourough Country had 365,000 viewers and 109,000 in the demographic.
as you can see, even adding Beck’s 2 showings together he still is behind all 3 of the msnbc shows I listed. And, if you add Beck’s 3 showings, certainly you would add the olbermann repeat at midnight, the hardball numbers at both 5 and 7, and the scarborough repeat at 3am. (I don’t know the numbers for those).
Sorry Missy, your argument doesnt hold water. Beck’s numbers are still low no matter how many different ways you want to count it.
Comment by Chris (My Two Sense) — May 30, 2007 @ 6:40 pm
Chris, while you discuss Beck’s 9 p.m. program, YOU FORGOT TO ADD IN THOSE NUMBERS!!!
I don’t know where your data came from, but mine came right from this very site. And here it is, for May 23, the date you chose to study:
Beck at 7 p.m. 302,000 total/ 141,000 demo
9 p.m. 231,000 total/87,000 demo
Total Beck - prime time = 533,000 total/228,000 demo. These numbers clearly beat Olberman, Scarborough and Matthews in the demographic and easily beat Scarborough and Matthews in total prime time viewers.
So leave our guy alone, OK?
Comment by Missy — May 30, 2007 @ 6:49 pm
haha Missy this is hilarious - you think it’s OK to bash Olbermann about his ratings but when it comes to your ‘hero’ Beck you scrabble around to add together 3 SHOWINGS in order to make him look vaguely competitive. An absolute joke. It’s fair to compare 3 Beck showings to one Olbermann showing and say he ‘beat’ him?
Comment by Mr A — May 30, 2007 @ 7:17 pm
So missy, nice to see you spinning to the best of your ability. So lets say I go and add the two showings together, you would see that Olbermann still has 100,000 more viewers even with only one showing. You also fail to add together Matthews two shows which air at 5PM and 7PM. Dont you think you are people just a tad bit disengenious?
Comment by Randy — May 30, 2007 @ 7:29 pm
Mr A, Olberman is not a big deal to me, as you should know by now. And why are you only defending him, when we are also comparing Glenn with Matthews and Scarborough?
And PLEASE read the conversation between Chris and myself before butting in. If you had done so, you’d see the context in which we were discussing this issue, and why I added the TWO PRIME TIME showings (and not the midnight showing) together.
Now go back and review our conversation so you can make an informed contribution to the discussion.
Comment by Missy — May 30, 2007 @ 7:33 pm
Well that isnt entirely fair now is it Missy? When KO was being repeated at 10PM for that one week, he easily beat both of Beck’s shows combined.
On March 28, 2007
Beck’s total was 659,000 viewers (279,000)
Olbermann’s total was 1,040,000 viewers (351,000 viewers).
Is that good enough for you Missy?
How bout the day before with the two shows combined
Beck: 487,000 viewers (152,000)
Olbermann: 927,000 viewers (353,000)
How bout the day before that?
Beck: 612,000 viewers (218,000)
Olbermann: 1,073,000 viewers (393,000)
How many ways can I prove you wrong?
Comment by Randy — May 30, 2007 @ 8:20 pm
Let’s count the ways I can prove you wrong Missy. Remember that week that Olbermann actually had two shows in prime time? Because of course that is the only fair way to measure this, which you choose to ignore.
On May 26, 2007
Beck: 612,000 viewers (218,000)
Olbermann: 1,073,000 viewers (393,000)
On this day, KO beat Beck with just one of his two shows compared to Beck’s two in both viewers and the demo
On May 27, 2007
Beck: 484,000 viewers (152,000)
Olbermann: 927,000 viewers (353,000)
Same as the day before, KO beat Beck in both categories, only needing one of his two shows
May 28, 2007
Beck: 659,000 viewers (279,000)
Olbermann: 1,040,000 viewers (351,000)
March 30, 2007
Beck: 687,000 viewers (249,000)
Olbermann: 1,037,000 viewers (316,000)
That enough proof for ya?
Comment by Randy — May 30, 2007 @ 8:30 pm
Didnt mean to post it twice Spud, the second post should is the better one
Comment by Randy — May 30, 2007 @ 8:31 pm
Comment by Missy — May 30, 2007 @ 6:49 pm
sorry missy, as usual you are wrong. you are looking at tuesday’s numbers, that were posted here on wednesday. im looking at wednesday’s numbers, posted here on thursday.
just face it, glenn beck’s ratings are low. theres no denying that fact.
Comment by Chris (My Two Sense) — May 30, 2007 @ 8:39 pm
What is wrong with you people? I am NOT the one who brought Olberman into this discussion; admittedly, his numbers are higher than are Beck’s two prime time programs combined.
But Chris is the one who opened this discussion, stating that Beck’s ratings are extremely low, implying he needs to be put out to pasture. Yet his ratings exceed those of Scarborough and Matthews! Why isn’t he writing that THEY be fired?????
And Randy, what is wrong with you, extracting the very few times that Olberman has broken 1 million viewers? You cite them as if it’s common practice. NO WAY, and you know it.
I hope you two are not involved in statistics in your day jobs, because you’re both really into distortion.
Comment by Missy — May 30, 2007 @ 8:52 pm
Comment by Missy — May 30, 2007 @ 8:52 pm
beck’s ratings arent the reason I want him fired. Its because he is a hateful, racist, fearmongering, evil man who spews hate and whatever else every night.
his ratings should be the reason that cnn/headline news wants him fired. thats what i’m saying.
Comment by Chris (My Two Sense) — May 30, 2007 @ 8:56 pm
Missy, I am showing you the what happened the only week that KO had a repeat shown during primetime. You are making this unfair comparison from Beck to KO when KO doesnt have a second showing in primetime. So I showed you what happens when he does, and I am being unfair.
Comment by Randy — May 30, 2007 @ 9:10 pm
Chris: Although I am on the other side of the political fence from you, I agree with your assessment. After a year on HLN, Beck has not set the world on fire and there are no indications that he ever will. If Headline News can find a better replacement, Beck should be canned.
But the fact that you “hate” Glenn Beck is very disturbing.
There are plenty of folks in public life that I don’t particularly like, but I refuse to hate anybody, especially people who I don’t know personally.
Comment by Ira — May 30, 2007 @ 10:15 pm
to compare the ratings on CNN:HLN to MSNBC, CNN or Fox News is kinda like comparing the AAA Sacramento Rivercats to there Parent organization the Oakland As. HLN is 80% of the time the Weather Channel of News, if a show on the Farm League HLN actually beats one on the Big League Cable channels you don’t ask how good is this show, you ask What the heck is wrong the Big League show.
Comment by kela — June 25, 2007 @ 10:35 pm
GB is a shill for the oil companies. GB is payed by big oil to spout “his viewpoint” and provided with “experts” to contradict what the scientist are telling us. I eagerly await the day when GB is off the air.
Comment by Anon — July 25, 2008 @ 2:50 pm