Because there are way too many variables at work, it's impossible to draw a cause and effect conclusion for the rise in Fox News ratings since the White House called them out as being "a wing of the Republican party", but rise they have.
Fox News' total day adults 25-54 demo ratings and average viewership are up 14% and 9% respectively during the two weeks of "war" vs. the previous two weeks of "peace". At least for Fox News, this "war" isn't "hell".
11/3 Edit: The comparisons in the chart are for a 14 day period prior to the "war" and a 12 day period after the "war". Using a 14 day period after the "war" began shows increases of 2% for average viewership (P2+) and 7% for demo adults 25-54).
11/4 Edit: A chart with the 14 day to 14 day comparison, created by reader Stuart, is below (above the originally posted chart).
You can see our daily cable news ratings here.
Nielsen TV Ratings: ©2009 The Nielsen Company. All Rights Reserved.
Wow Bill, you are on top of everything, myself, I really enjoy all the numbers posting our way.
Keep it up WH, you are doing FOX NEWS a favor by attacking them, if your going to go to war, you better know what you are in for.
The white houses hidden agenda is NOT hidden on Fox…..all the other networks and newspapers not only keep it hidden but are actively promoting and pushing the “hidden” socialism. Maybe these new viewers will be enlightened as to what is actually going on in USA. So, thanks WH, maybe you inadvertantly helped end your attempted takeover of america, our freedoms, and constitution. Keep it up!
Fair and balanced. I like that, yes Beck and Hannity are right wing, but the other guys and gals (blondes) are pretty balanced.
B. Obama is a puppet to the International bankers and the Builderburg Group who has infiltrated the Federal Reserve that is not 100% ran by the United States Federal government as it should be. These scum bags are purposely driving up the national debt to destroy the US economy on purpose. Brand Obama says one thing to the Sheople and B. Obama does the opposite over and over again., which explains why the unemployment rate and debt keeps rising. Obama is not stupid, he’s doing all of this on purpose. Visit Alex Jones internet radio show to learn more!
Well what do you expect. Dumb move on the WH. History has shown that you don’t go after a news organization.
Of course, we’ll have to wait a little longer to see if the new viewers will stick around
I wish I had cable so I could watch too.
it just goes to show you the mentality of who is watching Television. The average boob in this country thrives on all their negative hate. Fox news preaches how the Republican party and those who agree with their lies are the true Americans. True Americans stand behind their president and show a little faith in the changes that need to be made. You certainly didnt see FOX trashing the Bush White House the whole while he was F@cking up this country.
True Americans think for themselves and don’t have emotional attachment to the White House, Congress, or any news organization. See all sides of the debate, and make up your mind. Fox has excellent hard news, and its opinion primetime is quite provocative, but so is MSNBC. If you’re too dense to tell the difference between opinion and hard news, do us all a favor and stay home in Nov.
the WH is stupid. When you go start a “war” with a network. People who don’t really care will tune into see what its all about.
I’m not all too surprise. Obama and Company are still trying to blame republicans for obstruction when no bipartisanship is needed. Democrats have the majority in both the House and Senate. Every republican can piss and moan all they want and the Democrats can shove whatever they want through.
Too bad they can’t even convince their own members to fall in line. But don’t worry its the Republicans fault that Democrats oppose some items in a bill.
Isn’t it strange?
How many times have we heard the exact same keyphrase in a story that starts at the NYT, finds it’s way to reporters everywhere, and no one bats an eye.
One channel doesn’t follow that chain, and IT is the wrong one. It’s the evil player. It “must be wrong”.
What a bunch of crap. And now, thinking he’d gain any yardage attacking it…opens the door into his face.
Wow, guys, what an empty suit we got, this time. And 535 deadly divas, too.
Eh the White House just waged war on Fox News so that Fox News would spend time talking about that rather than this Healthcare Junk bill they are trying to ram down our throats.
Most of the time I think it is sad what is happening to the USA but sometimes I wonder if we are just too stupid to save ourselves. The only country in the world who is free and we vote to take our freedoms away…so stupid
Just for future reference, Glenn Beck was on CNN when Bush was President and he wasn’t too happy with him either.
As for viewers, it’s all about choice. As long as the choices are still out there for all of us we will have the negative attitude about one or the other. The NBC, ABC, CBS battle has been around for as long as they have existed. As will the Fox News, MSNBC, CNN battle for viewers.
Wait…FOX news isn’t a wing of the Republican Party?
Honestly, as a member of the Republican Party (but politically an independent), I’m glad FOX news isn’t “officially” a wing of the party because a lot of the time they make Republicans look like idiots. And quite frankly, there are a lot of Republican politicians out there right now who don’t need any “help” in that department.
Despite my personal feelings toward the network, I do think the White House should leave them alone. They’re not admitting that MSNBC is a “wing of the Democratic Party”, so why should they be allowed to criticize FOX for being a “wing of the Republican Party”?
What we should be worrying about is finding (or developing) a channel that might actually report the news in a rational, logical, NEUTRAL manner. Unfortunately, the only one that seems to be doing that right now is C-SPAN.
If we’re going to get ‘politically correct’ with Fox News we could call them the arm of the Libertarian Party too
When Shep is on his 2 hours it’s Democrat
Oh Fox, a dangerous news network that inspires fear, racism, and hatred.
Fox ratings rise? Who cares, it’s only watched by the nations ignorant and believers in fantasy and the Easter Bunny. So there is a small minority of more ignorant among us than we thought, that’s not news. If you want sober, intelligent, and balanced news, watch the News Hour on PBS.
Obama can not control the publics choice for news. The Glee club only has a few members.
Wow Liberals and left-wingers in denial J. Russell can you explain the to the Country why 40%of AMERICANS ARE CONSERVATIVE ACCORDING TO THE GALLUP POLL.
ALSO GOP CANDIDATES ARE GAINING TRACTION IN VIRGINIA AND NEW JERESEY GUBERNATORIAL RACES.
I GUESS ALL the Obamabots are finally smelling the coffee. HUM MSNBC KEITH OLBERAMNN AND RACHAEL MADDOW ARE SUPPOSED TO BE THE “FAIR AND BALANCE” CREW.
Meanwhile, CNN falls to third in the ratings, Nancy Grace beats Keith Olbermann last Friday, and the Rachel Maddow show posts its worst month ever. Tell the truth and people will watch. It’s that simple.
Here’s an irony. The White House actually changed my mind on Fox News (and not in a way that helps them). I’ve never really watched Fox News because, as over dramatic as it sounds, their use of on-screen graphics literally hurts my eyes.
But once this all came up I started tuning in just out of curiosity and found the newscasters to be…for lack of a better term…fair and balanced. I’d always thought of Fox as a commentary network and assumed the programming was all in the vein of Hannity and O’Reily.
So they actually raised my opinion of Fox News (still won’t watch though, the graphics are just as bad as they ever were)