BTRTN: No News Is Not Good News... Liberals are Tuning Out

[reggieandlee]

Born To Run The Numbers on the fact that cable television ratings -- particularly for CNN and MSNBC -- have fallen so dramatically in the past year. Is it all just that Trump is gone?

http://www.borntorunthenumbers.com/2021/10/btrtn-no-news-is-not-good-news-liberals.html

Excerpts: "On September 28, 2021, Forbes reported on third quarter Nielsen ratings for the three major Cable News Networks (Fox, CNN, and MSNBC) and found that “all three networks were down year-over-year, with Fox News dropping 32% in prime—the smallest decline overall, compared to MSNBC (down 40%) and CNN (down 46%).” That means CNN has essentially lost half its audience in a year… a year, need I remind you, that we all spent way too much time locked indoors...
"Sure, you say – one year ago, we were locked in an election that would determine the fate of democracy, the American economy was on shaky ground, and the President of the United States tested positive for COVID 19. Of course we were glued to the news! Well, here’s cause for concern. There's a strong argument that we should be a helluva lot more worried about the safety of our democracy now than on January 6. Then, our system of government was threatened but the pillars held. Now, it is under an even broader, more insidious, and more orchestrated assault… from voter suppression legislation, to the Republican institutionalization of 'The Big Lie,' to the ever increasing momentum for Trump to run again in 2024. Now, we should be ever more focused on what is happening...
"So, the explanation is easy, right? Trump left, and he took all the television ratings with him. There’s certainly truth to this view, but it does not explain why the erosion in the two left-leaning cable news channels is far more pronounced than Fox..."

[secondwind]

1. I read once that Fox is aired everywhere, including nursing homes, etc. 24/7

[Walleye]

2. They are trying to wear us down with nonsense. We're only human, we're tired

[snowybirdie]

3. As for me

Listening to how all the Democratic bills are negotiated and hearing anti-Biden b.s. is why I'm not watching as much. Also the Afghanistan hand wringing was a turn off. We have better things to do.

[lagomorph777]

15. Pretty much the same here.

[luvs2sing]

4. These two liberals are not watching cable news..

but we are definitely not tuning out. And after the way they handled the Afghanistan withdrawal, it’s going to be a long time before we tune cable news in again. But if they think we’re not paying attention, they’re very wrong.

[chia]

5. Not mentioned:cable news is dying. People cut the cord, they don't want to pay for pricey bundles,

they get their news from the internet or select only particular shows to watch on their streaming devices. I haven't watched cable news for years, other than small snippets from them that make news here or being particularly noteworthy. Anecdotally, I don't know a single person younger than me who has cable. The elder demographic who grew up on network and cable will eventually pass away and their children aren't continuing the cable tradition.

[PortTack]

6. Perfect summation!

Could care less about any channel, even msnbc when they have ppl on that bash our president or other Dems! This liberal is having none of it. Clean up you act and I might tune in.

[chia]

14. Thanks, and I agree. I might like Rachel, for example, but I'm not willing to sit through a night of

MSNBC and a raft of commercials to get to her. I'll listen to her podcast if I want to, or an excerpt posted to DU, for example. I'm angry at all corporate media for their bothsidesism, their unwillingness to call Trump's lies by what they were/are and for normalizing the far right for clicks and views.

[Raven123]

7. The media was sucker Trumped.

They convinced themselves that the perpetual crisis mode of running the presidency set by Trump is normal. When it disappeared following Biden’s inauguration, they panicked and created crises of their own (Afghanistan, Manchin and Sinema, Dems in disarray……). Instead of reporting news and investigation - worthy issues of importance, they prefer emotionally extreme and stress-inducing stories. What’s to watch?

[Paladin]

11. +1000. I've been to funerals more upbeat than MSNBC, these days.

You'd never know we won in 2020, on any given night. If we don't act like winners, we deserve what we get.

[BillyBobBrilliant]

9. I stopped because

I sensed a dash to the right for CNN, and MSNBC (mornings, not night shows).

[tirebiter]

10. The trifecta of baseball, football and basketball is the reality

Everything else is on hold.

[reggieandlee]

17. Good point, but...

I think your point is spot on for right now, but the erosion is cable news ratings has been happening for months!

[Crowman2009]

12. Because I only use cable for TCM, PBS, or hockey.

Last thing I need is to watch a bunch of elites and out of touch anchors piss and moan all day.

[Sibelius Fan]

13. This is nonsense. I have cut my viewing of TV news at least 90%

since the election. I check DU to see what’s up politically. My TV viewing time is better spent watching things like the baseball playoffs and movies.

I have no doubt that many liberals are doing the same at this point in time.

[Phoenix61]

16. Serves them right. Maybe the never ending

bashing of a president who won the popular vote and the electoral college wasn’t such a smart move after all.

[SharonAnn]

18. I'm exhausted after years of drama with TFG and the 2020 Election.

I just want those we elected to do their job the best they can given the obnoxious GOP. There's little I can do right now to change anything and I just need to rest.