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Nielsen: Fox News ratings up almost 10% since WH declared war

by Albert Milliron | October 26, 2009 at 07:04 pm

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Since the White House 'war on Fox' began two weeks ago, Fox News ratings are up nine percent. Pundits from the left and the right advised the White House that an attack on a news organization would only backfire. It appears the pundits were right.

This week, when Fox was excluded from the interview schedule, the other networks protested. The reason may be out of honor for the first amendment or self preservation as the same treatment could be afforded them if they don't hold the Obama policy line.

It’s a nine-percent bump in the two weeks since Anita Dunn’s whine heard ’round the world — in terms of overall audience. Among the coveted 25-54 demographic? A 14-percent bump. Good work, Barry. People keep telling me that this PR offensive by the White House benefits both sides but I don’t see how that’s true. If the goal is to contain Fox by framing the stories it breaks — Van Jones, ACORN, etc — as somehow illegitimate, then every tenth of a point that Fox’s ratings go up undermines that goal.

Nielsen: Fox News ratings up 9% since White House declared war White House War Boosts FOX

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Karl Gotthardt - albertacowpoke

at 02:22 on October 27th, 2009

O.Reilly.s Factor is only trumped by Katie.

That makes FOX the most influential news agency in the US.

Not a good organization to pick a fight with.

Hugh Askew

at 02:58 on October 27th, 2009

Any idea on Limbaugh's ratings since the lies against him?

nanute

at 03:09 on October 27th, 2009

HA,

Surely, you jest? Did you see the story about Rush running with the fake story about Obama's undergad thesis? And for a completely different take on the FOX being excluded from the presser see this link.

WH: We're Happy To Exclude Fox, But Didn't Yesterday With Feinberg Interview | TPMDC

Albert Milliron

at 09:36 on October 27th, 2009

That story has been discredited as appealing to the country who doesn't understand the difference between using a Pool Camera by one network and being left off a list on purpose. read Chuck Todd and others who are members of the WH Press pool and the story is much different then presented in this story. The twitter posts by the WH pool is very telling and one should take a look at the members who tweeted individually about the issue. TPM is a center left website and is WH freindly. I do read them every day, however.

Karl Gotthardt - albertacowpoke

at 03:33 on October 27th, 2009

Great take by TPM nanute. Why is that I am skeptical when Anita Dunn is involved. Major Garrett also reported on this story on FOX. I doubt very much that the White House would not have challenged him if he told a fip about what happened that day.

The White House also has an opportunity to go on FOX and set the record straight. If this is true, why don't they?

In fact any of the White House staff is free to go on FOX and challenge any of the criticism of the Obama Administration. Singling out FOX got the debate off health care, the economy and Afghanistan, that is my take.

nanute

at 04:21 on October 27th, 2009

You might be right. The big news today is that the Senate will include a Public Option with an Opt Out provision for states that don't want to be included. We'll see how that plays out.

Hugh Askew

at 06:56 on October 27th, 2009

Also be interesting to see what happens when the diverse state governments decide to opt out of Obmama care entirely.

Albert Milliron

at 09:38 on October 27th, 2009

The op-out provision is a farce. The states that op-out will receive little or no support from the WH. Citizens will still pay tax for the plan. Bottom line is the provision is in there to think that op-out means what it say a complete op-out.