Trump catapults cable news outlets to their best ratings year ever
Ethan Miller/Getty Images
Fox News fared the best in 2016, beating not only its rival cable news networks, but also finishing the year as the most-watched basic cable network - in both primetime and total day - for the first time in its 20-year history.
In primetime, Fox News averaged 2.4 million viewers in 2016, making it the fifth most-watched primetime network in all of television, only behind the big three networks and Fox.
CNN also saw a boon in ratings. 2016 proved to be the channel's most watched year ever among total viewers.
In primetime, CNN placed eighth with an average of 1.3 million viewers, its highest ranking since 1995.
And, while MSNBC finished behind both CNN and Fox, it experienced significant growth, outpacing its rival networks in total-day gains. 2016 was also its most-watched year ever.
While ratings for cable news networks always increase during election years, the jolt each outlet received in 2016 was undoubtedly a direct result of Trump's bombastic candidacy.
The president-elect's outlandish style, mixed with his unpredictable personality, made campaign events, interviews, and debates must-watch television.
"Trump deserves ALL the credit for this banner year in cable news. Period," said Erik Wemple, a media columnist at The Washington Post. "Any cable news executive who insists otherwise risks eternal embarrassment."
Joe Concha, a media columnist at The Hill, agreed, though he said Trump didn't "deserve all the credit."
"Those who were loyal watched every rally, hung on every tweet, watched every cable news segment debate. Those who loathe him watched every rally, hung on every tweet, watched every cable news segment debate," Concha said.
It's an incidental twist. While Trump regularly attacked the media in 2016, characterizing members of the press as "dishonest" individuals who are the "scum" of the Earth, his candidacy - and likely his presidency - financially helped each of the cable news outlets.
Or, as Jim Rutenberg, a New York Times media columnist, put it in a recent column: "As Mr. Trump tries to burn the media village down, he may just be saving it."
NOW WATCH: Here's how much the presidency ages you
- Luxury “floating” beach unveiled in France, termed an “ecological aberration”
- Scientists think they’ve spotted 60 potential alien power plants in the Milky Way!
- Bread, butter, milk-based health drinks, cooking oils classified as ultra-processed food, ICMR advises restriction
- Debt, equity holders approve merger of IDFC with IDFC First Bank
- Sunrisers Hyderabad to take on Punjab Kings as they look to grab the second spot in IPL points table
- Nothing Phone (2a) blue edition launched
- JNK India IPO allotment date
- JioCinema New Plans
- Realme Narzo 70 Launched
- Apple Let Loose event
- Elon Musk Apology
- RIL cash flows
- Charlie Munger
- Feedbank IPO allotment
- Tata IPO allotment
- Most generous retirement plans
- Broadcom lays off
- Cibil Score vs Cibil Report
- Birla and Bajaj in top Richest
- Nestle Sept 2023 report
- India Equity Market