Fox news being more popular doesn't mean anything

[Slartibartfast]

The assumption to those who have a concern (whether positive or negative) about their popularity are ignoring the fact that not everyone gets their information from TV.

If we are really going to draw any conclusions, I think we need to look at:
TV
Internet
Radio
Water cooler conversation
Newspapers

And I think we need to look at these things as a whole.

Anyone disagree?

 

[Nymphetamine]

Either way, popularity has absolutely no bearing on the quality of the idea/entity in question.

 

[Goof Noodle]

Fox news being more popular does mean they get more money for advertising. So I guess it does mean something after all.

 

[Zyphlin]

All that Fox News being more popular means is that it has more viewers than any other singular network.

That's about it.

Its one of the things I'll argue about with people on my "side" of the aisle. Yes, Fox gets the highest ratings. However to assume its becasue its most "trusted", that its "the best", that its "the fairest", or even just "The most entertaining" is a fallacy without any real fact. For example, lets take the general belief held by a number of people that by and large the rest of the TV media skews to the left in some varying degree...from nominally left with PBS to staunchly left with MSNBC. Meanwhile Fox is the singular beacon of seemingly right leaning TV news. As such what you have...and you'd think free market republicans would get this...is a fragmentation within the market in regards to those aiming at liberal viewers where as you have a monopoly when it comes to those focusing on conservatives. Taking just the 24/7 networks, I believe that MSNBC and CNN when combined have a higher rating and viewership than Fox, thus bolstering the notion that it is not necessarily that there are more conservatives...or that there are more people who live Fox's view...but that you have fragmentation with regards to the liberal core of viewers where as you have a monopoly with regards to the conservative veiwership.

While not necessarily a defintive answer, it is one that at least shows that there is enough other possabilities to explain Fox's ratings dominance that claiming any definitive conclusion from it other "More people watch it than any other single network" is futile.

 

[Ockham]

All that Fox News being more popular means is that it has more viewers than any other singular network.

That's about it.

Meanwhile Fox is the singular beacon of seemingly right leaning TV news. As such what you have...and you'd think free market republicans would get this...is a fragmentation within the market in regards to those aiming at liberal viewers where as you have a monopoly when it comes to those focusing on conservatives.

Agreed. There are 7 different flavors of vanilla but one chocolate. The chocolate is more popular than any of the 7 vanilla's.

Second, we have to think about how many cross over viewers share Fox with other stations? We're not only eating vanilla - but we're mixing and matching. It's just that when I want chocolate --- I've got one source.

 

[bhkad]

Just imagine what Fox News detractors would say if FNC didn't lead in the ratings. :lol:

 

[webrockk]

Just imagine what Fox News detractors would say if FNC didn't lead in the ratings. :lol:

They'd actually....for once...have a valid leg to stand on with their.... *delusions*. (Just imagine if the tea party failed to gain popularity, FNC didn't exist, Limbaugh was still working for the Royals, and conservative radio programs failed like Air America)....I'd bet my ****ing house that ridiculous, ad infinitum charges of racism towards political opposition would have never become the rallying cry for our lefty comrades.

 

[Goof Noodle]

Just imagine what Fox News detractors would say if FNC didn't lead in the ratings. :lol:

OK

Now imagine that everything doesn't taste like chicken.

Yum, tastes like frog legs.

Now imagine your ocean front property in Arizona.

 

[Boo Radley]

Just imagine what Fox News detractors would say if FNC didn't lead in the ratings. :lol:

Even if someone said something else it would change the truth. Popularity simply doesn't tell us anything about the quality of the ideas or material presented.

 

[Grim17]

The assumption to those who have a concern (whether positive or negative) about their popularity are ignoring the fact that not everyone gets their information from TV.

If we are really going to draw any conclusions, I think we need to look at:
TV
Internet
Radio
Water cooler conversation
Newspapers

And I think we need to look at these things as a whole.

Anyone disagree?

Lets examine more deeply a few of the other sources of news and information you listed:

TV - Other than Fox News, every other TV news show/program has been losing viewership. Part of that is due to Fox news showing just how one sided the news is and has always been.

Radio - Conservative news/talk radio stations have been running circles around liberal news/talk for years.

Newspapers - Newspapers are the most liberal biased sources of news in the United States, so it's no wonder that nearly all of them are losing money, downsizing, or are close to folding. There is one notable exception, and that is the Wall Street Journal, which is making money hand over fist. They recently bumped the NY Times out of the #1 most circulated paper in the country, and coincidently, are the only major newspaper that isn't slanted to the left.

When you combine those realities, with the fact that Fox News has been shown to be one of the most trusted sources for news in America, and in their 12 year history, has never had to retract a hard news story, it explains their success and demonstrates how a news organization is supposed to operate.

 

[Zyphlin]

TV - Other than Fox News, every other TV news show/program has been losing viewership. Part of that is due to Fox news showing just how one sided the news is and has always been.

Do you have proof for this assertion that you're making as if its defintivie fact?

Are you also saying that every tv news show and program has seen no increase in ratings recently? Over what stretch of time are you making this assertion?

Newspapers - Newspapers are the most liberal biased sources of news in the United States, so it's no wonder that nearly all of them are losing money, downsizing, or are close to folding.

Are you making the claim that newspapers are folding because they're liberally biased? is this opinion or are you saying this implication is fact?

When you combine those realities, with the fact that Fox News has been shown to be one of the most trusted sources for news in America,

Trusted != best, nor most truthful, nor most accurate. Additionally it doesn't take into affect that even if you take your assumed hypothesis, that all the rest of TV news is slanted left, then you're ignoring the fact that it has a monopoly in regards to its base of viewers while every other network is fighting for a fragmented base. For instance, is the total amount of people saying all the other 24/7 networks are most trustworthy greater than the total who say of Fox? If it is, then would it be true to say that Liberal Media is the most trusted slant in news?

and in their 12 year history, has never had to retract a hard news story, it explains their success and demonstrates how a news organization is supposed to operate.

Do you have any kind of information to validate this claim, and the implication that other 24/7 news organizations have had to make retractions?

 

[Renae]

You got some serious hate for Fox there Z.

 

[Zyphlin]

You got some serious hate for Fox there Z.

Not at all. Actually when I watch 24/7 news it tends to be about 65 to 70% Fox News, 30-35% CNN. During the elections I tend to go back and forth between them, in part because its interesting to see the various differences, in part due to aesthetics, and in part because I'll at times swap off a station when someones on and just pissing me right the **** off.

I primarily watch Fox though. I have nothing greatly against them and I think they get a lot more flack then they deserve. Conversely I think they also get a lot more credit and passes than they deserve as well.

You could check into a few Glen Beck threads and you'll see me doing much the same I'm doing here, only in the defense of Beck.

I just find it really annoying when people act like lots of people watching it means better or more accurate. I find it annoying when people complain about the liberal media and how the rest of TV is that, but then immedietely act like Fox is absolutely impartial and balanced down the middle or that somehow Fox having huge ratings proves the country is conservative while ignoring the general market principles of comparing a monopoly vs a segmented consumer base.

 

[ReverendHellh0und]

The assumption to those who have a concern (whether positive or negative) about their popularity are ignoring the fact that not everyone gets their information from TV.

If we are really going to draw any conclusions, I think we need to look at:
TV
Internet
Radio
Water cooler conversation
Newspapers

And I think we need to look at these things as a whole.

Anyone disagree?

This thread title made me think "that's what the ugly chicks used to say" :ssst:

 

[Slartibartfast]

This thread title made me think "that's what the ugly chicks used to say" :ssst:

I have to admit, I cannot make any sense of your response.

 

[ReverendHellh0und]

I have to admit, I cannot make any sense of your response.

It was humor, that was far to high brow for you. :2razz::2razz::2razz::2razz:

 

[Slartibartfast]

Lets examine more deeply a few of the other sources of news and information you listed:

TV - Other than Fox News, every other TV news show/program has been losing viewership. Part of that is due to Fox news showing just how one sided the news is and has always been.

Radio - Conservative news/talk radio stations have been running circles around liberal news/talk for years.

Newspapers - Newspapers are the most liberal biased sources of news in the United States, so it's no wonder that nearly all of them are losing money, downsizing, or are close to folding. There is one notable exception, and that is the Wall Street Journal, which is making money hand over fist. They recently bumped the NY Times out of the #1 most circulated paper in the country, and coincidently, are the only major newspaper that isn't slanted to the left.

When you combine those realities, with the fact that Fox News has been shown to be one of the most trusted sources for news in America, and in their 12 year history, has never had to retract a hard news story, it explains their success and demonstrates how a news organization is supposed to operate.

There is no disagreement with me on the fact that fox news is the most popular cable news org and I don't know enough about newspapers to comment.

However, I disagree with your assessment on what is happening on radio. If you look at the two linked articles, you will find that NPR is the most popular of the stations, by far, and that they tend to be viewed as liberal.

MSNBC's Scarborough Points Out NPR's Bias Hypocrisy | NewsBusters.org <--- Link thanks to Mr. V
Will NPR Save the News? | Fast Company

This essential piece of evidence leads me to believe that liberals and conservatives simply get their news from different sources.

 

[Slartibartfast]

It was humor, that was far to high brow for you. :2razz::2razz::2razz::2razz:

Sorry, I am just down here tending my horses.

 

[MikeVFF]

Why do you care? It is quite apparent that Fox is Right and others are Left. So if one company made lemon lime soda and 5 companies made cola, which company gets the most sales?

 

[Erod]

Drudge is just as impactful as anything Fox News is doing.

It's as if 90 percent of the media decides what they are going to report on according to what Drudge deems is most newsworthy.

 

[zimmer]

GRIM 17... That was a bullseye.

Pehaps they own all the top slots because they do not come across as anti-American.
They tell two sides of the story.
They actually have conservatives and Libs.
They do not stack the discussions with 4 libs to 1 RINO every effing day..
They have never had to retract a story.
They never tried to swing an election with forged documents.
Never went to Baghdad and told bald faced lies to the world for Saddam.

 

[mmmike1977]

Either way, popularity has absolutely no bearing on the quality of the idea/entity in question.

I used that same line when Obama was elected!