Live + Same Day Cable News Daily Ratings for September 9 2008
P2+ Total Day
FNC – 1,463,000 viewers
CNN – 806,000 viewers
MSNBC – 493,000 viewers
CNBC – 217,000 viewers
HLN – 383,000 viewers
P2+ Prime Time
FNC – 3,402,000 viewers
CNN –1,565,000 viewers
MSNBC-1,275,000 viewers
CNBC –a scratch w/109,000 viewers
HLN – 860,000 viewers
25-54 Total Day
FNC – 395,000 viewers
CNN –270,000 viewers
MSNBC – 185,000 viewers
CNBC –63,000 viewers
HLN- 176,000 viewers
25-54 Prime Time
FNC –815,000 viewers
CNN –460,000 viewers
MSNBC –502,000 viewers
CNBC –a scratch w/ 48,000 viewers
HLN – 378,000 viewers
35-64 Total Day
FNC –702,000 viewers
CNN – 386,000 viewers
MSNBC – 255,000 viewers
CNBC – 109,000 viewers
HLN – 214,000 viewers
35-64 Prime Time
FNC – 1,482,000 viewers
CNN –682,000 viewers
MSNBC –640,000 viewers
CNBC –65,000 viewers
HLN –498,000 viewers
Morning programs (6:00AM-9:00AM) P2+ (25-54) (35-64)
FOX & Friends –1,088,000 viewers (366,000) (690,000)
American Morning-525,000 viewers (186,000) (275,000)
Morning Joe- 404,000 viewers (151,000) (223,000)
Squawk Box- 183,000 viewers (52,000) (112,000)
Morning Express w/ Meade- 309,000 viewers (156,000) (202,000)
6PM – P2+ (25-54) (35-64)
Special Report with Brit Hume – 2,079,000 viewers (472,000) (930,000)
Situation Room-1,079,000 viewers (384,000) (523,000)
Race/White House W/D Gregory- 569,000 viewers (201,000) (274,000)
Mad Money–239,000 viewers (97,000) (151,000)
Prime News- 253,000 viewers (102,000) (155,000)
7PM – P2+ (25-54) (35-64)
Fox Report w/ Shepard Smith – 2,078,000 viewers (512,000) (988,000)
Lou Dobbs–850,000 viewers (224,000) (370,000)
Hardball w. Chris Matthews–927,000 viewers (293,000) (442,000)
Kudlow & Company—164,000 viewers (64,000) (97,000)
Glenn Beck – 458,000 viewers (167,000) (229,000)
8PM – P2+ (25-54) (35-64)
The O’Reilly Factor- 4,303,000 viewers (1,010,000) (1,936,000)
CNN Election Center- 992,000 viewers (268,000) (397,000)
Countdown w. Keith Olbermann– 1,598,000 viewers (555,000) (831,000)
On the Money–173,000 viewers (64,000) (108,000)
Nancy Grace –1,212,000 viewers (536,000) (697,000)
9 PM – P2+ (25-54) (35-64)
Hannity & Colmes–3,217,000 viewers (778,000) (1,368,000)
Larry King Live—2,005,000 viewers (564,000) (862,000)
Rachel Maddow Show–1,381,000 viewers (548,000) (667,000)
Business of Innovation—a scratch w/56,000 viewers (a scratch w/27,000) (a scratch w/33,000)
Glenn Beck- 724,000 viewers (270,000) (383,000)
10 PM P2+ (25-54) (35-64)
On the Record w/ Greta—2,686,000 viewers (658,000) (1,141,000)
Anderson Cooper 360–1,698,000 viewers (549,000) (788,000)
Countdown w. Keith Olbermann –847,000 viewers (403,000) (424,000)
Big Idea w/ Donny Deutsch—a scratch w/98,000 viewers (53,000) (54,000)
Nancy Grace –688,000 viewers (345,000) (432,000)
11 PM P2+ (25-54) (35-64)
The O’Reilly Factor- 1,721,000 viewers (582,000) (881,000)
Anderson Cooper 360—1,093,000 viewers (467,000) (642,000)
MSNBC Investigates–337,000 viewers (155,000) (125,000)
Mad Money—148,000 viewers (69,000) (83,000)
Showbiz Tonight– 454,000 viewers (217,000) (250,000)
P2+ = viewers over the age of 2
(25-54) = Adults 25-54 viewing
(35-64) = Adults 35-64 viewing
Prime Time = 8-11pm
LIVE+SD: The number that watched a program either while it was broadcast OR watched via DVR on the same day [through 3AM the next day] the program was broadcast.
For more information see Numbers 101.
Scratch = when a show’s audience fails to meet minimum Nielsen reporting levels. For more information go here.
Nielsen TV Ratings Data: ©2008 The Nielsen Company. All Rights Reserved.
Rachel Maddow did well on her second night. Her numbers may very well increase if
she does a good job of employing positive spirited balanced debates on the issues (unlike Olbermann). I would really like to see what she can do against Hannity & Colmes (same time slot). Hannity has become increasingly intolerant and rude to his guests with opposing views. Rachel may be able to capitalize on Hannity’s achilles heal and develope a following where Olbermann failed.
good point, and I hope it happens, however history has show us nice debate does not do too well in ratings against zoo style shouting matches that we see on hannity and O’Reily shows. I know it’s sad but but true!
Yes, Fred. You typically tend to get more “civilized” debates whenever the only guests you book are ones that agree with the host’s position. God knows that O’Reilly gets worked up and yells – no news there. Olbermann won’t get any genuine disagreement from his guests so instead, while maintaining the mentality of “yelling gets BillO ratings, maybe I should try it too”, he has to resort to yelling at the camera during his Special Comments
Really. I want my commentators to have a brain, not be robots like Oldermann and Matthews. It is clear you disagree with Hannity politically, so of course your would see him as rude. Sorry all the liberals have is Alan Colmes. Sounds like what you’re really mad at is that your guy doesn’t match up. I know I’ll keep watching. I like the debate and the way guests are challenged. None of these shows should be seen as softballing it with their guests. That’s tired and weak. That’s what makes this country great is that when we disagree we feel free to say something about it.
I know why cable likes yelling. More on that below. Consider this, though. When Meet the Press rounded up its 4 party strategists (Mike Murphy, Bob Schrum, Mary Matalin and James Carville) they are much more civilized and actually take it in turns to speak. And your ears aren’t bleeding by the end of the show. AMAZING!
But cable has made 2 discoveries in recent years. The first is that being partisan gets you ratings (radio has known that for decades). The second is that screaming works. Always along partisan terms (Bill rips liberals, Olbermann rips Republicans).
Plus, its easier and cheaper to fill the airwaves with screaming than it is to do news. (thats another discovery cable made; the networks too. International news is EXPENSIVE!) Frankly, I don’t know how much longer channels like Al Jazeera English, BBC World News and CNN International are going to last actually doing news. Doesn’t matter either way to me. Can you get it in America? Nope!
Chris I think you have a legit point about media picking sides. I really think that journalists may have let us all down in some ways. Although I will say that I feel that MSNBC has gone too far with it. Just an opinion. I feel that They have no conservatives on their programs and FNC at least tries to, with Colmes with Hannity. I find it better when you at least get two sides. From what I can tell from you, you seem to think the same way. Hannity by himself wouldn’t work, and I consider myself a conservative, I like to hear the other argument, and Colmes does a great job at presenting it. I like being able to hear his response to Hannity because he is capable of making some good legit points, just like you are very capable of from what I have read. I think the reason FNC dominates is because you at least get to hear both sides, unlike MSNBC, which has no other opinion but liberal. I have not checked out rachel maddows show but I tend to doubt that she truly presents both sides as much as FNC. I am also not saying FNC doesn’t lean to the right a little bit, but its not nearly as obvious as MSNBC with Olbermann and Matthews and the thrill up his leg. AT least with the internet, we can voice our opinion and hear both sides, with the exception of the bloggers simply out to destroy those who think different than them….
Um, Hannity DOES have his own show. A little thing called Hannity’s America. Maddow just started out, but on her first show she did have Pat Beuchannan on her show day one in his own segment. I know that doesn’t balance her, but its a token (like Colmes). BTW, do a word count on Hannity and Colmes to see who talks much more. Its a shock! Maddow doesn’t appear to use the same team of analysts as Olbermann, so there could be more variation on her show. Time will tell
The reason I think FNC dominates is that the right loves an echo chamber. Conservative radio has very high ratings, and you can’t tell me that people like Rush have any sort of balance, except to shoot people down. And as far as a ‘little’ conservative…have you SEEN some of the stuff they have said back during the Clinton administration VS now? Flip-flopping. The Daily Show did a nice story about it a little while ago.
And one last thought on ‘not obvious.’ Guess which network started the American flag pins? FNC! I don’t want a jingoistic news organization. I want a truly fair one!
I have a question for those who might know. I happen to flip by Obermann last night and he was ripping O’Rielly (shock shock) about TV Ratings for the Democratic Convention. He said MSNBC beat Fox in the Ratings.
Is he seeing numbers somewhere else? Or is he just flat out lieing?
MSNBC definitely beat Fox in some of the age demographic groups on some nights of the Democratic convention, but I’m not sure if they beat them for total viewers on any night or for any particular show, but it’s possible.
You can check out all the data here, just go back to the convention week.
http://tvbythenumbers.com/category/ratings/top-news/cable-news
Regardless of what Olbermann said, the advertisers are fully informed.
Thanks Bill…It doesn’t look like anyone beat O’ Rielly during that time, which is surprising to me..
I look at total viewer more then I should I guess…Maybe because I’m 52…
One other comment…(and I know you don’t want to get political) I watched a little of Obermann last night and I continue to not understand how MSNBC lets him go on. If I didn’t know better the show is paid for by the Democratic Party. Last night’s special comment on 9/11 was disgraceful. I thought it was ironic that MSNBC was the only station this morning that did a minute by minute replay of their 9/11 coverage. I will be interested to see how that did in the ratings.
I think K.O. is mostly motivated by a personal ax to grind (as in once fired by) against FOX. I also think the nearly constant angry tone of K.O.’s analysis and special comments turns more viewers away than it attracts. However, for all the argument of who is doing better in the ratings, keep in mind that roughly twice as many people are watching WWE wrestling as Bill O. and K.O. combined. God bless America! I find it interesting that FOX gets accused of “fixing” the news when it was CBS that got caught promoting a false document as evidence agasinst the President, which casued their decades-long flagship anchorman to be asked to retire early and a senior produce was fired. Lastly, it is the liberals who have cornered the market on repeating a lie long enough to the point is becomes percieved as true. (e.g. Swift-boaters claims against Kerry were 95% TRUE, and back in 2000 Gore DID lose Florida.)
Rachel Maddow was disgusting during the Dem primaries….”Hillary should just quit and go home”…She wont last long. Not much of stretch: man-thing, far-left liberal, with no mind of her own. I’m gay, and trust me, not all gays think she is anything worth watching.
I watch Fox and CNN. What I can’t understand is why would there be more viewers for Shep Smith and his mostly fluff pieces over Lou Dobbs…who is at least trying to take on the status quo? I guess the truth is: most people can’t handle reality. So they go for the fluff.
Shep falls into “soft news” whereas Lou is a commentator. But seriously, do the Dobbs producers have some sort of contest going on how many obscure immigration and FDA news stories they put out?
fox news at the top ……this is show how much the american r extreame and conservative people and have that ANTWORLD view .so ask why 9/11 happends .