DOBBS PLUMMETS IN RATINGS

Opinion polling data clearly shows a public ready for immigration reform. But for those who don't believe those polls, a much more interesting one may be the polling of television viewers - the ratings. And they are telling a very interesting story. Lou Dobbs - the public face of the anti-immigrants - is getting CREAMED in the ratings and is no longer the CNN darling who could say the most ridiculous things on the air and get away with them because he delivered the numbers. From Walter Shapiro:

Another symbol of softening attitudes may be found in – of all things – television ratings. A few years ago, CNN’s bumptious Lou Dobbs was riding high as he fed fears that illegal workers were devastating the economy, breeding disease (he actually ballyhooed a bogus leprosy statistic) and claimed that immigration legislation represented a stealth plan to impose a North American super state. But the New York Observer reported this week that Dobbs’s ratings were down by 29 percent on CNN and dropping fast on Headline News (HLN). As Felix Gillette wrote in the Observer, referring to the prized 25- to 54-year-old viewing audience, "He finished in fourth place in the demographic at different time slots (7 p.m. and 9 p.m.) on two different networks (CNN and HLN) on the same night!"

Lou Dobbs never spoke for most Americans. But he had a large enough following of anti-immigrant extremists that they were able to deliver real ratings. Now even the diehard anti-immigrants are dropping off in numbers and are moving on.

Comments

[Jim]

"Lou Dobbs will not be let go that easily because he is a good friend of Turner."

Ted Turner long been ousted from CNN

[AD]

Except for Wolf Blitzer who is a big poker face and reads every news with the same diction, every one on CNN is on the Obama side of every thing for a long long time.

Whether it be their news casters or their analysts, they keep singing praises.

Lou Dobbs will not be let go that easily because he is a good friend of Turner.

Roland martin, This dude does not let any one talk. I feel like taping him up. God! Campbell was out on maternity leave and CNN gave that slot to RM?? Crazy creeps at CNN. Oh well! they let Paula Zahn go. Didn't they?

[keisha]

wonderful! dobbs down down

[Legal and no longer waiting]

"It's the liberals driving the ratings - Schultz, Maddow, Olbermann and Matthews."

I really wish this was true. They do bring more new blood, but the big gains are among those who follow Beck's crazy eyes.

"The real growth among the news networks continues to be posted by Fox, which completed the best 6-month period in its history. For the second quarter, Fox News Channel was up 50 per cent from the previous year. Mr. O’Reilly was up 31 per cent. Glenn Beck, though not in prime time, improved his time period by 110 per cent."
http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/06/30/msnbc-beat-cnn-on-weeknights-in-second-quarter-fox-still-on-top/

[Legal and no longer waiting]

Fox gained a lot more than MSNBC, in percentage, and in total. Based on the number below, MSNBC gained 177K and Fox 500K.

"Top-rated Fox News drew an average of 2.4 million viewers in prime time between Jan. 26 and Feb. 22, a spike of 28%, according to Nielsen Media Research data. CNN held onto second place with 1.2 million viewers but dropped 30% from last February, while MSNBC posted an average of 949,000 viewers, up 23%."

[gg]

May be he is busy running for President :)

[Another voice]

Good news I hope they fire Dobbs soon, he seems to be a bad business for CNN...time to go!!!

[Greg Siskind]

It's the liberals driving the ratings - Schultz, Maddow, Olbermann and Matthews.

[George Chell]

"George - The article is not saying the bill will pass by Labor Day - just that it will be introduced. That's what I've been hearing behind the scenes for a while, but this is the first public statement of that goal."

Agreed after reading the details. However, there is a good chance that there could be a mark-up by the sub-committee. CIR will not pass without a guest worker program though. It will not get past the House. As far as reducing illegals, may be! However, I am highly skeptical. A tough and small in size law and order state could not stop illegal immigration, the US is unlikely to stop it, may be slow it down!

[George Chell]

"Actually, I think MSNBC is the real winner over the last year. They are doing quite well from what I understand."

Pat Buchanan has been running of his mouth there..however, he does not have a separate show like Lou Dobbs does at the CNN.

[Greg Siskind]

Actually, I think MSNBC is the real winner over the last year. They are doing quite well from what I understand.

[Legal and no longer waiting]

And who's ratings in the time slot are up? Faux News, I would presume. I would not expect Lou's sympathizers to go far from the well.

[Greg Siskind]

George - The article is not saying the bill will pass by Labor Day - just that it will be introduced. That's what I've been hearing behind the scenes for a while, but this is the first public statement of that goal.

[Greg Siskind]

Thanks for the link. Just bumped this up to a post.

[George Chell]

It is indeed a sad day that instead of countering Dobbs, and racists at FAIR, CIS etc., as well as the US Congress, economists abdicate their responsibility and waste resources by focusing on issues not relevant to the real economy such as the marriage market, instead of focusing on issues such as the impact of skilled immigrants on foreign direct investment...

http://economix.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/06/19/modeling-interracial-love/?hp

I say this as a trained economist, it is not just sad, it is outright disgraceful!

[George Chell]

"I think he is just talking about the Senate."

At best mark-up by the Senate sub-committee..and if they get rid of Section 214(b) for most foreign students, it will indeed be a big achievement.

[Jim]

"Immigration Bill by Labor Day...not going to happen!"

I think he is just talking about the Senate.

[George Chell]

Immigration Bill by Labor Day...not going to happen!

[Legal_Alien_from_Roswell]

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/WireStory?id=8036217&page=1

Interesting development

[analytical]

Hi greg
As there is a news that immigration bill will be ready by may 2010.
Like EB5 programme,cant HR2536 be ammended to any other bill.
thanks

[D]

CNN as a whole is going down ...Looks like people either watch FOX or MSNBC ..Lets see if CNN tilts to right or left in the process of saving the ratings.. My guess is they will tilt to left...