Hot on Facebook

Guy Buys $123 Safe on eBay, Finds $26,000 Inside Seller tries to get half the cash back, fails »

Fox's Fortunes Fall With GOP's

Ratings are aching, talking heads are losing access and CNN has more than caught up

By Jonas Oransky, Newser Staff

Posted Jan 31, 2008 6:06 PM CST

(Newser) – Fox News soared eight years ago by hitching its star to Republicans in general and George W. Bush in particular; now that the president’s in decline and its one-sided approach is no mystery, the channel has hit the skids. Democrats' refusal to debate on Fox damaged its reputation—and the station’s been embarrassingly unable to get candidate access, Salon's Eric Boehlert writes.

The demise of Fox favorite Rudy Giuliani sapped energy among the anchors, who have visible distaste for the other Republicans. The ratings have gone bust as well, with CNN scoring 250,000 more viewers on New Hampshire primary night (compared to Fox’s 200,000-viewer advantage for the same contest in 2004) and drawing nearly even as South Carolina GOP results came in.

[Images (4)]

[Videos (1)]

Bill O'Reilly Sign Copies Of "Who's Looking Out For You ?" (Getty Images)

Radio Talk Host Sean Hannity Live in Los Angeles (Getty Images)

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Roger Ailes of FOX News, left, and Tom Johnson of CNN talk before the start of Congressional hearings into TV election coverage in Washington, D.C., February 14, 2001. The heads of (KRT Photos)

Fox News Chairman and CEO Roger Ailes visits the studio of Fox Business Morning during its debut on Monday, Oct. 15, 2007 in New York. Two years in the making, Fox Business Network will challenge General... (Associated Press)

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

America's Mayor (mediamatters4america (YouTube))

View larger videos >>

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next »

To report an error on this story, notify our editors.

More Newser Stories

Does Rudy Get Boost From Fox Buddy?

Giuliani, close to Fox News honcho Roger Ailes, gets more air time than others

(NEWSER) - Rudy Giuliani and Roger Ailes, the president of Fox News, have been close friends for almost 20 years. That friendship may be paying off for Giuliani in his presidential run, as the former mayor enjoys more Fox time than any of his competitors, the New York Times notes. Giuliani has been on Fox 25% more than Mitt Romney and almost twice as much as John McCain this year, the Times reports. More»

Coulter Disses Canada, Defends 'Jokes'

Ann makes the rounds with Bill O'Reilly, Joy Behar

(NEWSER) - Ann Coulter has made no secret of her displeasure after a recent appearance at the University of Ottowa was canceled , and she defended herself on a mini media circuit last night. She told Bill O’Reilly she finds it “funny that a lot of my most hateful speech are things I never said. Or they’re jokes—that’s what it usually is,” and went on to recount one of those jokes: “If all Muslims would boycott airlines, we could dispense with airport security altogether.” More»

Fox Has Top 13 Cable News Shows

In January overall, Fox was third most watched cable channel

(NEWSER) - "Fair and balanced" might be cause for lively debate, but Fox News' status as the top dog in cable news isn't—the network scored the top 13 programs in total viewership and the key 25-54 demographic through January. Bill O’Reilly’s show tops the rankings, with Sean Hanitty and Glenn Beck behind him. In the entire cable spectrum, last month found Fox third in viewers, behind USA and ESPN, Mediabistro reports. Its competitors fell far behind: CNN's spot was 24, and MSNBC’s 29. More»

Dobbs: CNN Didn't Want Obama Criticism

'What is immutable is that I'm staying in the public arena'

(NEWSER) - Lou Dobbs guarantees "100%" that he'll be staying in "the public arena" now that he's finished with CNN, he told Fox's Bill O'Reilly last night, but he demurred on whether that means a run for a New Jersey Senate seat. President Obama "isn't the devil," Dobbs said in response to a question from O'Reilly, but he noted that the change in administration did mark the start of his downfall at CNN. More»

Lou Dobbs Leaves CNN

Longtime anchor announces move on tonight's show

(NEWSER) - Anchor Lou Dobbs is leaving CNN, he announced during tonight’s show—his last after 27 years at the channel. Dobbs, whose contract wasn’t up until 2011, has made waves with his anti-immigration views and his questioning of President Obama’s citizenship; he didn’t shed much light on his next move, saying he was “considering a number of options and directions.” More»

NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS

What is Newser?

Face it: there's too much news. At Newser, we choose the most thought-provoking and entertaining stories from hundreds of US and international sources and reduce them to a headline, picture, and two paragraphs. And we do it 24/7—you can come back morning, noon, night (and in between) for something new that matters. Read less, know more.

Learn more »

Partnering with: Slate

View Newser on the mobile website

Fox's Fortunes Fall With GOP's