ABC’s ratings drop after much-criticized debate.
Last week, after ABC News’s much-criticized Democratic debate, Washington Post TV critic Tom Shales declared that “the clear loser is ABC.” The ratings for last week’s evening newscasts are now in, and it appears that Shales was correct: “NBC beat ABC by over 600,000 viewers last week — an unusually wide margin for the dueling newscasts.” Huffington Post’s Rachel Sklar notes that “one reason for that wider-than-usual gap” is that “on Friday, NBC beat ABC by 1.1 million viewers — a practically unheard of margin for an otherwise random Friday night.” Here are the numbers:
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To be fair, NBC’s new show ” to catch a super delegate” has changed the game a little.
April 22nd, 2008 at 6:56 pmCongratulations, Katie Couric.
April 22nd, 2008 at 6:59 pmABC could begin to redeem itself by playing 20 questions with John McCain:
April 22nd, 2008 at 7:09 pm- “10 Debate Questions John McCain Will Never Be Asked.”
- “10 More Questions John McCain Will Never Be Asked.”
Apparently 49% of the voters think that Obama has unfairly criticized Hilary Clinton. I wonder what percentage of those people are certifiably insane?
April 22nd, 2008 at 7:09 pmABC,
How’s it feel suckin’ on mouse turds? Are those Mickey or Minnie mouse turds? Do they taste like little boys in the RePugniScum bathroom? Are you happy supporting boy touching RePugniScums?
BTW, you suck!!
–dixie blood
April 22nd, 2008 at 7:12 pmABC: the same network that brought you Rush limpballs “Path to 9-11″. Karma,baby, KARMA!
April 22nd, 2008 at 7:19 pmAB Who?
April 22nd, 2008 at 7:34 pmIf the primary continues to drag on, It’d be a good idea to poll Obama and Clinton voters and see if the debate caused them to change their opinion or their viewing of ABC.
April 22nd, 2008 at 7:35 pmTHEIR POCKETBOOKS ARE THE ONLY LANGUAGE THEY UNDERSTAND
BOYCOTT ABC, BOYCOTT CNN AND BOYCOTT EVERY OTHER MEDIA OUTLET THAT DOESN’T TELL THE TRUTH.
ORGANIZE…LET’S GET A LIST OF ADVERTISERS…..EMAIL THEM.
PSSSSSSST….DO SOMETHING.
April 22nd, 2008 at 7:38 pmMemo to ABC: Payback is a you know what.
April 22nd, 2008 at 7:39 pm2020@abc.com, wnn@abcnews.com, support@abcnews.go.com, abc.news.magazines@abc.com, thisweek@abc.com, mimi.gurbst@abc.com, muriel.pearson@abc.com, netaudr@abc.com, robert.a.iger@disney.com, jonathan.hogan@abc.com, erin.felentzer@abc.com, george.mitchell@dlapiper.com, john.bryson@edisonintl.com, john.chen@sybase.com, jestrin@packetdesign.com, monica.lozano@laopinion.com, alex.wallau@disney.com, albert.cheng@disney.com, karen.hobson@disney.com, george.bodenheimer@disney.com, nicole.nichols@disney.com, aime.wolfe@disney.com, stu.schutzman@abc.com, Amy.Astley@abc.com, newsradio@abc.com, peter.salinger@abc.com, cristi.d.landes@abc.com, wayne.fisk@abc.com, jeffrey.t.fitzgerald@abc.com, heidi.b.oringer@abc.com, jonathan.m.newman@abc.com, joyce.a.alcantara@abc.com, james.f.kane@abc.com, andrew.l.kalb@abc.com
April 22nd, 2008 at 7:43 pmMy household is one of those who abandoned ABC news and its owners in all ways I could, to back up my letters to officials and program directors.
April 22nd, 2008 at 7:50 pmCharlie/George are now seen for who they really are. Look for the advertisers to look else where and drop ABC. CBS made the mistake of hiring a White House cheerleader and has made history as the lowest ratings in history. I know Bob is laughing as he was kicked out for political reasons. Now to get more viewers Brian Williams should keep his reporting fair/balanced and use his words to protect his views. I loved it when he said the White House reported just to let the viewers know it wasn’t his News reporting.
April 22nd, 2008 at 7:59 pmLet’s see if this is actually serves as a warning to the MSM news show producers to get their act together.
-AF
April 22nd, 2008 at 8:17 pmAndrew Sullivan Is A Fraud
And the editor of Wall Street Journal just resigned because FOX is turning it into a sleaze mag. Good luck with all that.
April 22nd, 2008 at 8:20 pmHeh ABC,
How about getting real journalists on instead of political pundits?
ABC is now one of three I don’t watch. I prefer informed newscasters to propaganda. thank you
April 22nd, 2008 at 8:24 pmThere’s only one thing for the bosses up there at ABC to do.
Fire Stephanapoulos.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHA.
Great news, thanks.
April 22nd, 2008 at 8:37 pmPerhaps we can coin a new word:
Propagangsters?
April 22nd, 2008 at 8:37 pmThat’s right. You ask a hard, fair, and legit question that would possibly make the saint Obama look bad and you will pay for it.
April 22nd, 2008 at 8:41 pmAbc screwed up when they went with gotcha questions. Non-FOX watchers want some real debate with real issues, not inane questions about flag lapel pins.
April 22nd, 2008 at 8:42 pmWhat hard fair and legit question was asked VV?
April 22nd, 2008 at 8:43 pmSay VV does GOD approve of war?
April 22nd, 2008 at 8:44 pmBut I bet propaganda from Olbermann is your cup of tea.
April 22nd, 2008 at 8:44 pmI wouldn’t know. You should ask someone of faith.
April 22nd, 2008 at 8:46 pmI asked you a question V V.
Does GOD approve of war?
April 22nd, 2008 at 8:47 pmI wouldn’t know. You should ask someone of faith.
Gotcha. heh.
What I saw was a religious test by people that werent really religious.
April 22nd, 2008 at 8:47 pmVaVacum: Jon Stewart said it best: ” The economy is the #1 issue in America…so you asked about it…SIXTEENTH!
April 22nd, 2008 at 9:04 pmNext inane talking point from rush-bo???
George, Charlie, we tuned in to watch a debate not some bs that has nothing to do with anything. If I wanted to waste 40 minutes it wouldn’t have been to listen to you two idiots ask stupid question. That’s why we already don’t watch Fox New, idiots.
April 22nd, 2008 at 9:26 pmWhen I actually watch any of the three network newscasts it is to see what they DO NOT COVER. But I will not be even sampling ABC for their stupidity anytime in the future. Not that anyone has asked what I watch or listen to. Hope this trend continues. And I hope somebody actually figures out that we aren’t all idiots out here in what used to be called the USA.
April 22nd, 2008 at 9:56 pmIt is very rare that I watch ANYTHING AT ALL on any of the big three networks and when I do its typically not for the news. More often than not when I watch TV its something on Discovery, History, or the Science channel. For news its typically either a local 24-hour news channel or CNN Headline News, sometimes Fox News Channel, sometimes radio. I get most of my news off of the internet. Thats pretty much during the week. Weekends I’m more likely to watch a NASCAR race or a movie of some sort. With a handle like mine you should be able to guess what kind. Long live George Romero!
April 22nd, 2008 at 11:02 pmI’m glad to see the viewing audience sent an important message to all the Executives at ABC. We are outraged and are not going to take it anymore. They had an important responsibility in covering that debate and made a mockery of it. It insulted not only the candidates but all of us who watched.
Charlie and George proved they are not journalist. Very serious issues needed to be discussed and debated. Instead we were subjected to Gotcha questions and Flag Pins. Wearing a flag pin or having a bumper sticker on your car (I Support the Troops) doesn’t make you patroitic.
What Charlie and George did was disgraceful and no better than watching one of those reality shows. Incite and inflame the audience. They have reduced themselves to tabloid journalism.
April 23rd, 2008 at 1:57 amI’ve always gotten up on Sunday mornings to watch George Stephanopolous’s Hair, and attempted to do so again last Sunday when he had McCain on. Turned it off, couldn’t watch it.
Now I’ll have another free hour in the morning to do things more productive as I will never watch that drivel again. George Will and Cokie Roberts are but mini-echo chambers of the ever-lastingly compromised right, and George went from what I thought was an honest broker to nothing more than a shill for the same Star Chamber.
The first question out of Obama’s mouth should have been, “Mr. Stephanopolous, you used to work for the Clinton administration. Can you tell me why you are here?”
April 23rd, 2008 at 8:27 amI really don’t understand why everyone is making such a big stink about Stephanawfululus… no, that’s not right… uh, Stephanopulopulopou… no, that not it… Anyhow, I don’t understand the controversy at all. I mean I didn’t watch the debate but I can remember watching some of the other shows he was on. He was Big Bird’s imaginary friend on Sesame Street, right? No, wait, that was Mr. Snuffelupagus. Never mind…
April 23rd, 2008 at 8:23 pm