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ABC, Fox Bring In Big Ratings on Election Night

1 year ago
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ABC's election-night coverage brought in the most viewers among broadcast networks, but it was cable's Fox News that had the biggest numbers overall.

Nielsen Co. data released Thursday showed an average of 6.8 million viewers tuned in for ABC's telecast, according to TV By The Numbers. The coverage, anchored by Diane Sawyer and George Stephanopoulos, ran from 9:30 p.m. to 10:55 p.m. ET and got a boost from its lead-in, the mega-hit "Dancing With the Stars."

NBC's coverage, anchored by Brian Williams, came a close second, with 6.362 million total viewers from 9-10:54 p.m. ET. CBS News averaged 5.9 million viewers for its 10 p.m. ET election show.

Over on cable, Fox News ran away with the ratings, drawing an average of nearly 7 million viewers between 8 p.m. and 11 p.m. ET, The Wall Street Journal reported.

Nielsen offers separate ratings for broadcast and cable.

Filed Under: 2010 Elections

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13 Comments

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ajcook111

FOX NEWS should drop the 'Fair and Balanced', as everyone knows this is not true. They are clearly the republican news station.

November 05 2010 at 4:01 PM Report abuse -1 rate up rate down Reply
sysaphus71

Liberals and democrats agree......they hate Fox they try to tear down, as our liberal friends like to call it " faux news" but alas the once silent majority is no longer silent or as uninformed as our self described uber intelligent leftist media and their myrmidons believed. It is difficult to describe your version of reality when you are the only one in it.

November 05 2010 at 7:11 AM Report abuse +7 rate up rate down Reply
tidavis58

I am of the belief that the liberal media, @ ABC, NBC, MSNBC and CBS are a huge reason why the vast majority of conservative hardworking, taxpaying Americans are so politically angry these days and ultimately they have found a home at Fox. The aforementioned networks literally talk down to conservative minded people and act like we are stupid. Folks will only tolerate things like this only so long.

November 04 2010 at 9:53 PM Report abuse +15 rate up rate down Reply
ettu

As a consistent Fox News addict, I spent most of my time watching MSNBC on election night. I really had to listen to how the opinionators on that cable program would define the results. I listened to Maddow this evening, and am truly amazed at how superficial her take is on various issues. Tonight, Rachel said that the Republicans are about to vastly increase the national debt by pushing the extension of the GWB tax cuts to everyone. My question: How do you increase the national debt when you do not spend a single dime? What will cause the debt to increase would be the fact the Libs/Progs/Dems spent the money they thought would be coming in when the tax cuts expired. Anytime you spend money you don't have in hand, you increase your debt. This is how it is spun on MSNBC.

November 04 2010 at 9:49 PM Report abuse +11 rate up rate down Reply
retfla2

Of Course FOX had the highest number of viewers. You can fool people some of the time, but when you really want the truth you turn to FOX. They report- we decide and guess what the average American is not as dumb as some think!

November 04 2010 at 8:13 PM Report abuse +19 rate up rate down Reply
Kenneth

People getting interested in what is happening in government. More people voted in this midterm then before and more people actually got interested in watching the results. This should also serve as notice to those that got elected and including those that were not on the ballot that the people will be watching and questioning their every move. Anyone that does not work up to the peoples expectations can find another job just like in the private sector.

November 04 2010 at 6:52 PM Report abuse +14 rate up rate down Reply
jeansse

Fox is the only network that will give both sides of the Story. There are some commentators that do have a preference but they at least give everyone a chance to voice their opinion without firing them are belittling them. Where the other networks only shell out their own propaganda and demean anyone who differs opinion.

November 04 2010 at 6:09 PM Report abuse +34 rate up rate down Reply
2 replies to jeansse's comment
smitty

Are you kidding? Wake up sir, but I understand that I'm just beating my head against a wall though. Congradulations Fox on getting republicans. in the house of representives, hurray for wall street.

November 04 2010 at 7:01 PM Report abuse -25 rate up rate down Reply
tistolaugh

Smitty I am an Independent who supported Clintin, did not support Bush, and supported then Senator Clinton for President. However, put your bias aside for a week and watch FOX and you will see that while they have a right and sometimes a far right slant, they indeed do present both sides and leave it to you to research and decide. On the other hand Chris Matthews, Keith Olbermann, Rachel Maddows are interested in one view, their own ultra-liberal hyperpartisan voices and nothing else. It's why their ratings are so consistently low.

November 05 2010 at 12:32 AM Report abuse +4 rate up rate down Reply
dc walker

Fox is cable, ABC, NBC and CBS are not. How many more people would have watched Fox if they didn't have to pay for cable/satellite??

November 04 2010 at 5:50 PM Report abuse +20 rate up rate down Reply
garry402

What was MSNBC's ratings?

November 04 2010 at 4:56 PM Report abuse +29 rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to garry402's comment
jnaylor284

Most likely too low to mention.

November 04 2010 at 8:14 PM Report abuse +16 rate up rate down Reply

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