Sorry, "Faux".... errrrr, "Fox", but sooner or later you're going to go "SPLAT"

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Fox News down in ratings, still way up on competitors
By Joel Connelly, January 3, 2014

The Fox News Channel continued to dominate Cable TV’s political “talking heads” wars during 2013.  The Republican-slanted Fox saw its ratings fall, but drew more viewers each day than the combined total of its competitors MSNBC and CNN.

The Fox audience averaged 1.1 million viewers in prime time and 1.76 million per day.  The numbers represent a decline of 5 percent in prime time and 14 percent overall.

And Fox’s audience is older if not geriatric.  It averaged just 222,000 prime time viewers in the 25-54 age group, and 294,000 during the day — drops of 10 percent and 30 percent respectively.

The numbers are likely reason why Fox News boos Roger Ailes elevated lawyer-pundit Megyn Kelly to a prime time slot formerly occupied by anti-Obama ranter Sean Hannity.  Kelly set off a mini-controversy last month when she declared on-air:

“For all you kids watching at home, Santa just is white . . . I mean, Jesus was a white man, too.  He was a historical figure, that’s a verifiable fact, as is Santa.  I just want the kids watching to know that.”

If Fox’s audience fell, it can justifiably say, “Look at the other guys.”

MSNBC ran second in prime time with 640,000 viewers, but slipped to 394,000 during the day.  CNN ran third in prime time with 568,000 viewers, but was second in daytime with 413,000 on average.

MSNBC did draw an average 203,000 25-54 year-olds during prime time, but just 131,000 each day.  CNN trailed with younger viewers.

MCNBC experienced such a year that its loose cannon ex-pundit Keith Olbermann wondered aloud whether “any adults” were in charge at the liberal network.  A new host, actor Alex Baldwin, was bounced after making homophobic remarks to photographers.  Host Martin Mashir was forced out after directing a scatological insult at Sara Palin.

In the past week, MSNBC rising start Melissa Harris-Perry has had to apologize after directing ridicule at Mitt Romney’s adopted African-American grandson Kieran. Fox has booked Romney on Sunday to talk about the controversy.

The great hope at MSNBC?  It’s 26-year-old wunderkind Ronan Farrow, a Rhodes Scholar, Yale Law grad and product of the messy relationship between director Woody Allen and actress Mia Farrow.

The ratings at Cable TV usually fall after an election year.  Fox has spent the year pumping questionable Benghazi stories, and lately questioning the New York Times investigative report on the consulate killings.  MSNBC is defending a President who had a subpar year.  CNN is trying to get on course after its latest management shakeup.
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