Comments on: Cable Audiences Grow As Broadcast Shrinks

By: Nick C

Nick C — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 18:50:13 +0000

One big reason for this is that cable networks can go for NICHE shows that broadcast networks really can’t afford to do. So those NICHE loving viewers can watch a show aimed at them vs watch the regular broadcast networks. These numbers are good for the cable network but would be horrible for the broadcast network.

Look at this place’s favorite show: MOONLIGHT. If that show had debuted on SCI FI, it may still be around. Now it’s gone, and the reruns on SCI FI aren’t likely to bring it back (like their fans dream).

By: Danillo S.

Danillo S. — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 11:20:08 +0000

Hello.

I can see from the numbers that Spike did very good. But I have a question: can you tell me if the new TUF(The Ultimate Fighter) season has anything to do with it? Or do you have any info about TUF’s numbers?

Thanks in advance.

By: FunCo

FunCo — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 23:22:24 +0000

Fox will buy MSNBC by the end of 2009. They will pick it up for penny’s.

By: Bill Gorman

Bill Gorman — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 18:38:43 +0000

Blazermaniac, what you write may be correct, but note that the numbers above are for Jan-early Nov. from 2 seasons, not short term trends.

By: Blazermaniac

Blazermaniac — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 06:15:42 +0000

It should come as no surprise that FNC is getting an increase of viewers, even though the election has been over for more than a week. Many people have grown tired of MSNBC and the rheteric. FNC continues to do a good job with the news and are not the biased news organization that MSNBC and their parent company are. Greta’s ratings are helped because the other shows run at the time are re-runs.

By: Bill Gorman

Bill Gorman — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 17:58:35 +0000

clutz, Comedy Central is probably pretty close to the prime-time top 25 on a season to date basis, it occasionally appears in our weekly top 25 list towards the bottom.

By: Bill Gorman

Bill Gorman — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 17:54:44 +0000

Outlander, CNN ratings have gone up, that’s why they were in the 2008 top 25 list, but not the 2007 top 25 list, so I couldn’t include them in the main table, note the text under the table. I changed it to bold to bring it to folks attention.

I know from other sources that MSNBC ratings have gone up as well, but since they were not in the top 25 in either year, I don’t have any numbers for them for this post.

By: clutz12001

clutz12001 — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 17:42:45 +0000

I tend to agree with Outlande. If the Fox news gains are solely election-driven, then CNN and MSNBC would have comparable ratings gains, as a percentage.

I’m actually surprised to see Discovery Network is down 8.1% versus last year. Discovery is my favorite cable channel!

I’m also surprised to see that Comedy Central is missing from the list. I would have guessed it to be a top 25 cable net.

By: Robert Seidman

Robert Seidman — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 17:35:01 +0000

Outlander: I think the reason you don’t see MSNBC is that it wasn’t among the network data Bill could calculate for (it wasn’t in the top 25). It certainly seems to have experienced similar year over year growth. CNN doesn’t surprise me — it’s not as focused on talking heads designed to whip people into a frenzy. It’s just where they turn for the results and big events, not day to day.

By: Outlander

Outlander — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 17:27:04 +0000

Robert:

If Fox News’ gains are entirely explained by the election, why haven’t MSNBC and CNN’s ratings gone up in similar number?

I mean, good heavens, it’s been over a week since the election and Greta Van Susteren pulled almost 3.5 million viewers (and almost 1 million in the 18-49 demo) last night. Greta! The woman who spent 2 years trying to track down Natalie Holloway’s killer!

By: Bill Gorman

Bill Gorman — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 17:04:45 +0000

Zach, yes, and TruTV was not in the 2008 list, I will edit the copy to clarify.

By: Zach

Zach — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 17:02:43 +0000

Is that CourtTV (2007) versus TruTV (2008)?

By: Robert Seidman

Robert Seidman — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 16:47:12 +0000

Cable is up, and a lot of the nets are happy, but FNC’s gains were election driven, and TBS’ a function of having the Red Sox this year vs. the Rockies/Diamondbacks last year. Disney’s change can probably be explained by High School Musical 3 airing at the box office rather than on Disney Channel like the first two.