A quick look at the ratings for Tuesday night's State of the Union address remind us who stands where in the Cable Game pecking order.
First, Anthony Crupi of Media Week reported, right up front in his lede:
"Fox News Channel on Tuesday night averaged 4.56 million total viewers and 1.41 million adults 25-54 with its coverage of President Bush’s State of the Union Address, nearly doubling the delivery of rival CNN."
Second, Anne Becker of Broadcasting & Cable detailed how "CNN took second in total viewers with 2.12 million, while MSNBC took third with 1.63 million. MSNBC, however, took second in news' target 25-54 demo with 751,000 viewers to CNN's 668,000." Fox, of course, was first in the "demo."
Third, the AP points out something interesting: Bush's "SOU" actually outdrew "American Idol" in the ratings.
As The Cable Game has pointed out before, the news is the ultimate reality show. "Idol" is fun, but if you want true drama, you're still better off watching cable news: That's where you see not only the news of the world, but also the dynamic of live television. The only thing that's not much of a drama is the ratings. As these data remind us yet again, when it comes to FNC and CNN and MSNBC, it's not much of a contest.
Other than, of course, the desperate struggle for second place.
