Cable News Was Biggest Convention Winner

Every cable news channel sees drop-off for first time in 12 years

(NEWSER) - CNN, MSNBC, and Fox News all lost viewers last year for the first time in at least 12 years, a study finds. A Pew journalism group found a combined 13.7% drop in viewership, the largest decline of any news sector, and all three networks fell for the first time since the group began keeping track. Broadcast news, meanwhile, continued its decline with a 3.4% drop in 2010, the Hollywood Reporter notes. More»

Opening in White House press room ignites speculation

(NEWSER) - Fox News and Bloomberg have already called dibs on the front-row seat in the White House briefing room held for decades by Helen Thomas, but will either one get it? The White House Correspondents Association will make the call, and Thomas, who retired in disgrace today , isn't talking. Pretty much everyone else with even a passing interest is, though. "For Fox to inherit her seat would be a pretty dispiriting coda to the whole affair," Greg Sargent writes for the Plum Line blog . More»

Insiders pitch plans, from bringing back Crossfire to pulling an MSNBC

(NEWSER) - With CNN’s primetime viewership off 40% since last year, Michael Calderone at Politico undertakes a survey of news insiders to see what can be done for the “most trusted name in news.”

• Resurrect Crossfire: CNN could give people the outspoken MSNBC- and Fox-style opinions they appear to want, but the right vs. left format would keep the network itself neutral. "We were No. 1," says a former contributor, even with Lou Dobbs as a lead-in.

CNN ranks second, as Americans favor outlets they agree with

(USER SUBMITTED) - Americans consider Fox the most trusted name in news broadcasting, a poll released yesterday found. Some 49% of the 1151 registered voters surveyed by PPP said they trusted the network's news coverage, 10% ahead of CNN. Fox also recorded the lowest level of distrust, 37%. The major networks fared the worst in the trust stakes: NBC (paired with MSNBC in the survey) ranked highest at 35%, while CBS and ABC both came in at 31%, Politico reports. More»

So You Think You Can Dance kicks speech

(NEWSER) - The Fox Broadcast Network won't carry President Obama's congressional address on health-care reform Wednesday, and will instead run So You Think You Can Dance, reports Broadcasting & Cable. The Fox News cable channel will carry the address. The Fox network also skipped Obama's July 22 speech. ABC, CBS, NBC, MSNBC and PBS will all carry the president's 8 pm speech. More»