YES: The Obama White House’s inexplicable war on Fox has, as we predicted, magnified Fox’s stature among viewers. Far from marginalizing Fox and delegitimizing it as a news source as intended, the feud has made more people than ever choose Fox News as its favored source of television infotainment.Fox’s ratings have bumped up almost 10 percent in the two weeks since the White House decided to engage Fox News directly. And among advertisers’ favorite demographic — the spendy 25- to 54-year-olds — Fox’s ratings are up a whopping 14 percent.This is probably not the kind of change Obama voters thought they were voting for. Congratulations, Obama. You have transformed Fox into the most successful “news” channel ever.Even I’ll admit: Fox having gotten into Obama’s crosshairs makes it intriguing. What can it possibly be doing that is such a threat to the president of the United States? Voters, intrigued, are tuning into find out.The breathless claim that Fox News’ ratings recently spiked thanks to the White House’s public critique is bogus hype — hype that Fox News and the Beltway press have relentlessly pushed. It’s just not true. | D.K. Jamaal, Examiner.comNO: A detailed analysis of Nielsen ratings numbers clearly indicates that in the two weeks after the White House in mid-October sparked a media controversy by claiming Rupert Murdoch’s channel was not a legitimate news organization, Fox News’ ratings did not soar or go “through the roof.” They experienced no significant increase at all.Instead, in the two weeks following the initial verbal jousts with the White House, Fox News’ total day ratings virtually flatlined. Think about it. The unfolding controversy, which gobbled up untold hours and pages of news coverage as the Beltway press treated the dispute like a major news event (even though news consumers couldn’t care less), and the hubbub barely moved the ratings needle one inch in Fox News’ favor.| Eric Boehlert, Media Matters

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Posted on Wed, Nov. 04, 2009 10:15 PM

Buzz Up

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Pro-Con: Has the fracas with the White House been good for Fox News ratings?

Has the fracas with the White House been good for Fox News ratings?

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YES: The Obama White House’s inexplicable war on Fox has, as we predicted, magnified Fox’s stature among viewers. Far from marginalizing Fox and delegitimizing it as a news source as intended, the feud has made more people than ever choose Fox News as its favored source of television infotainment.

Fox’s ratings have bumped up almost 10 percent in the two weeks since the White House decided to engage Fox News directly. And among advertisers’ favorite demographic — the spendy 25- to 54-year-olds — Fox’s ratings are up a whopping 14 percent.

This is probably not the kind of change Obama voters thought they were voting for. Congratulations, Obama. You have transformed Fox into the most successful “news” channel ever.

Even I’ll admit: Fox having gotten into Obama’s crosshairs makes it intriguing. What can it possibly be doing that is such a threat to the president of the United States? Voters, intrigued, are tuning into find out.

The breathless claim that Fox News’ ratings recently spiked thanks to the White House’s public critique is bogus hype — hype that Fox News and the Beltway press have relentlessly pushed.

It’s just not true. | D.K. Jamaal, Examiner.com

NO: A detailed analysis of Nielsen ratings numbers clearly indicates that in the two weeks after the White House in mid-October sparked a media controversy by claiming Rupert Murdoch’s channel was not a legitimate news organization, Fox News’ ratings did not soar or go “through the roof.” They experienced no significant increase at all.

Instead, in the two weeks following the initial verbal jousts with the White House, Fox News’ total day ratings virtually flatlined.

Think about it. The unfolding controversy, which gobbled up untold hours and pages of news coverage as the Beltway press treated the dispute like a major news event (even though news consumers couldn’t care less), and the hubbub barely moved the ratings needle one inch in Fox News’ favor.

| Eric Boehlert, Media Matters

Posted on Wed, Nov. 04, 2009 10:15 PM

Buzz Up

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