Rachel Maddow Is Most-Watched In February, As MSNBC Leads All Cable Networks

Discussion in 'Political Opinions & Beliefs' started by ChiCowboy, Mar 3, 2021.

  1. ChiCowboy

    ChiCowboy Well-Known Member

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    Rachel Maddow Is Most-Watched In February, As MSNBC Leads All Cable Networks (forbes.com)

    I've mentioned my distaste for Maddow previously, and it has nothing to do with her politics, which I disagree with, but can appreciate a discussion. I just don't like her show. On the other hand, also as I've mentioned, Joe Scarborough is my favorite talking head. Morning Joe finished first in daytime.

    MSNBC’s The Rachel Maddow Show will finish February as the top-rated show in all of cable television, with an average total audience of 3.6 million viewers—the second month in a row that Rachel Maddow has been the most-watched host in all of cable.

    At the other end of the day, MSNBC’s Morning Joe finishes February as the most-watched morning show in cable news with a total audience of 1.4 million viewers (ahead of Fox News Channel’s 1.1 million viewers and CNN’s 734,000 total viewers). Morning Joe also won in the key demo of adults 25-54, the demographic group most valued by advertisers, with an average audience of 217,000 viewers, followed by Fox News (187,000 viewers) and CNN (179,000 viewers).

    This is quite unusual. Fox's worst ratings in 20 years. ( ‘We are lost’: Fox News suffers worst ratings in 20 years | The Independent )

    Morning Joe has been the sane true conservative show for the last four years, and Maddow is boring, but intelligent far-left investigative ideology. My opinions, of course.

    What are we seeing? Did Fox News succumb to the Trump purity test? Has the moderate middle of the viewing public joined the left wing at MSNBC? The station sure has exhibited this. When the likelihood of seeing names like Bill Kristol, George Will, Michael Steel, Charlie Sykes, every other never trump conservative, becomes greater on MSNBC than Fox News, we know the dynamics of conservatism have shifted. (Adding Nicole Wallace was another move to the middle from the right for MSNBC.)

    So, Trump's gang went to Newsmax and OAN, leaving Fox scrambling, but what's up with MSNBC? They never did this well before.

    MSNBC won the key prime time race in February, with an average total audience of 2.85 million viewers, just ahead of Fox News Channel (2.8 million total viewers).

    So far in 2021, Morning Joe is #1, and MSNBC remains top-rated in all of cable in prime time, extended prime time (4 p.m. to 8 p.m., Monday through Friday) and full day among total viewers, according to year-to-date ratings data compiled by Nielsen.
     
    Last edited: Mar 3, 2021
  2. DEFinning

    DEFinning Well-Known Member Donor

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    It seems like you've come up with a lot of the reasons for the shift--which is really dramatic, ratings-wise, but as far as population %, we're talking about a miniscule number-- a much better job, I'll add, than the superficial forbes article, which didn't even consider the cause. I'll throw in my two-cents, since I hear way more MSNBC than I care to, in a home with someone who has it on constantly.

    First, I would say that MSNBC has co-opted something that has worked well for you tube channels. They go for hosts w/ very distinct personalities so, even if none will have broad appeal, and all will be somewhat irritating, for different reasons, to different people, they all-- & Rachel excels at this-- find a niche audience that really likes them, thinks of the host as a friend. That's also part of their vibe that varies from CNN, I think (since I rarely have the chance to see that other Cable News Network), in that while CNN goes for a more, "professional," image, MSNBC goes for a little more homey, casual, friendly atmosphere. There's this one, young, female, daytime host who makes mistakes frequently but just laughs them off, as if to say, "Aren't I just adorable?" I think her name is Katey (or Katie; but I think there's more than one w/ that name, on their roster). She used to be a reporter at the Capitol, so she knows the politicians from that context &, during interviews, has no problem letting some of that past relationship show: I once heard her refer to the Senator she was interviewing as, "Jim," then, quickly adding, "I mean, Senator..." but almost chuckling while she did it, not acting as if she had done something she should be embarassed about, but just something that made her seem all the, "cuter." I really don't get the appeal, personally, but I understand that for those who do connect with her, she seems a real person, not an overly-formal or professional-acting, talking head.

    Likewise, there's Joy Reid, a black woman who I always found objectionably rude in her interviews, and who is loud, very partisan, & full of hyperbole. But she connects strongly with a certain group who, I'm sure, would not be as faithful to the same content were it not delivered with that person's particular style.

    Then, there's Rachel, who I used to enjoy, for a short while, before she became annoying. Again, here, your different impression, that she is boring but intelligent, shows the individualizing, personal element which affects each viewer differently, but which I think the Network tries to stress. They'd rather have someone who leaves an impression, even if it's not a good one, than someone whose personality doesn't strongly register. Then the person either finds an audience of their people, or gets pushed aside to give someone else a shot.(I had liked a guy who couldn't hold a loyal following, Ed Schultz, of the Ed Show). For Rachel, BTW, the thing I find so irritating is something she didn't always do: she's adopted a style in which she repeats the same details over, & over, & over again, just to remind you, I guess. But to me, it feels like she's talking to idiots, or people with severe ADD who can't remember pertinent details without having them repeated at least every other sentence. For someone like me who wants to get on with the story, & doesn't require all the repetition, it just gets exasperating, as if I had to sit through a remedial class on basket weaving; I keep thinking, "Get on with it. You already said that...We know, you told us that, too, 10 seconds ago...What, another summary to bring us up to speed on the brief story you're still in the middle of telling?"

    (If you want a political drinking game that will send the loser to get his stomach pumped, have a group watch a live Maddow broadcast. Let her just give the opening sentence or two of a her lead story, and pause it. Each person then gets to assign another person a short phrase, which will be that person's cue to drink, every time she repeats it. I've only conceptualized this, not ever tried it-- I'm a bit old for drinking, "games"-- but I predict getting through an entire broadcast, against people who are familiar with her style of speech would be damn near impossible.)

    Maddow can also act in a very juvenile, & partisan manner: making fun of Rick Perry for being shorter than his body guards, or for wearing glasses, "to look smarter." The worst, though, is when she makes fun of someone for mispronouncing something-- always a Republican-- as if I didn't hear people mispronouncing things on MSNBC all the time; for god's sake, a woman who calls YA-hoo news, " yu-HOO news," is in no position to criticize other people's pronunciations. It just seems petty, to me. And, as a recurrent theme of the hosts, previously noted, not an especially professional look.

    But after all that, I'm actually going to throw in a probably more relevant answer to your question about what is the secret ingredient to MSNBC's increased appeal. They are unabashedly partisan-- part of that not worrying about seeming unprofessional (I know I'm repeating myself, but Maddow could easily have stuck it in once more, in-between my last two mentionings). What worked in better times for FOX, is now helping MSNBC, as the nation becomes increasingly polarized. I noticed a direct correlation between my housemate's level of enjoyment of an MSNBC program, and how insulting the things said on it, about Trump, regardless of whether they had any relevance to the story. I think the network has learned to embrace the tribalism.

    Though you probably also find Joe Scarborough to be a very likeable guy
     
    Last edited: Mar 3, 2021
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  3. DEFinning

    DEFinning Well-Known Member Donor

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    I'll add one more, mundane element to MSNBC's formula for success, that goes along with my previously-mentioned, attempting to find hosts who can connect on a personal level w/ their viewers: "diversity," among their hosts. MSNBC's hosts are not just the guy who likes to quote hip-hop lyrics, the woman who's a Sci-fi, Trekky nerd, and the host who's her close, supportive friend, but the confrontational Latino guy, the yuppy-ish Jewish lawyer host, a couple of Black Women hosts, Rev. Al Sharpton, a Latina host, & a good number of white Female hosts, including a Lesbian, surrounding the straight white males who carry the 8pm, 10pm, & 11pm slots. Maybe we could just call it, "identity," hosting, for short.

    As to the Maddow mystery, is it possible the time in Covid lockdowns has led to an increased rate of female roommates turning to lesbianism? I know it seems a stretch; it only occurs to me because of having been in our mall over the holiday season and being struck by how many female
    couples, many of them young, were walking around together (& I'll go on the record as being all for women going around arm in arm, holding hands, or otherwise demonstrating their mutual affection-- I guess I'm just a sentimental guy).
     
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  4. ChiCowboy

    ChiCowboy Well-Known Member

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    Thanks, DEFinning. I was brief about Maddow, but I agree completely about the repetition. That has always been my main complaint about her style. I like Scarborough because he's straight-up.

    I think you're right about the diversity angle, but this diversity also includes conservatives. I guess what I'm seeing is a microcosm of the direction the nation is taking. The modern business model is welcoming of diversity, as we saw with gay marriage and now racial inclusiveness. It shows the split between traditional conservatism and Trumpism, with Trumpism not commanding the numbers needed to win a ratings war much less an election. Ed Shultz had a decent show, but he could be needlessly brash in my opinion. He didn't quite pull off the "working man's liberal" act to me. O'Donnell is an old school Democrat who I still respect, and Brian Williams is a good bookend for Scarborough as his shows are straight and to the point as well. I don't pay much attention to what's in-between.

    I'm thinking much of the nation is starving for normalcy, and on this, I disagree with your assessment of partisanship. At least partially. This of course depends on how we define partisan. If we define it as being pro/anti-Trump, then yes, the network is highly partisan, but then again, George W Bush was in DC to congratulate Joe Biden on Jan. 20th, not to see Donald Trump as he exited the White House.

    The network seems to have achieved Fox News' claim of fair and balanced, not within any one show, but spread out among them.
     
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  5. Darthcervantes

    Darthcervantes Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    This is not rocket science. There is more doom and gloom on FOX now and its honestly depressing to watch hear about Biden's crappy policies. I'd rather hear the SPINNED version on MSNBC...far less negative....PUT ME IN THAT BUBBLE!
     
  6. Capt Nice

    Capt Nice Well-Known Member

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    And you expect people to believe that??? :p
     
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  7. Darthcervantes

    Darthcervantes Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    What's so hard to believe about that? FOX is kinda negative right now, not pleasing to watch. All those networks are designed to gift wrap people's news the way they like it and right now fox is giving out stockings full of COAL
     
  8. ECA

    ECA Well-Known Member

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    I don't know how anyone can watch Maddow or any pundit for that matter. The couple of videos I saw of her she was so condescending and arrogant.
     
  9. Josh77

    Josh77 Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    I have a hard time watching Fox or MSNBC. MSNBC (and CNN) were idiotic during the Trump years. All they ever talked about was Trump. It was stupid. Now Fox is doing the same thing with Biden. I don't really like either president, but the news outlets should focus on issues, not character assassination and swaying public perception. They are like a bunch of whiny children throwing a tantrum because they don't get their way.
     
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  10. Capt Nice

    Capt Nice Well-Known Member

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    I mean FOX is so negative talking about the lousy job those Dems are doing I'm going to watch something more positive. I'm going to watch Maddow praise the Dems. Or like when I was watching Maddow slam the Repubs I felt so negative I watched FOX because they were happy and saying good things about trumpers. That's what's so hard to believe!! :)
     
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  11. Darthcervantes

    Darthcervantes Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    I don't know what your problem is. I think you just like to argue. That's cool. I know lots of FOX watchers and as of late, many of them say they have lost the desire to watch it due to all the bad news. On MSNBC most of the news is good for democrats = more are watching. I'm not sure why you feel the need to argue about this simple thing. You are acting like this is qAnon or something. Lay off!
     
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  12. Capt Nice

    Capt Nice Well-Known Member

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    Sorry for the misunderstanding. I don't think finding something humorous about a comment falls into the category of arguing.
     
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  13. fmw

    fmw Well-Known Member

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    She is a talented anchor. Congratulations to her.
     
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  14. PARTIZAN1

    PARTIZAN1 Well-Known Member

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    Madcow as I named her during a posting fury due to a typographical FUBAR is not an anchor any more than Shaun Vannity or Golden Boy Carlson is. She is an opinionator albeit a good one whether you agree with with her or not because she does her homework.

    I have not watched the Rachel show since the day the news broke axbout Andy Boy Cuomo. I was curious how much time she would give that story. Not surprising since I had no expectations she did not give it as much air as I was hoping. Have not whated her since. I also have not watched the younger brother of the accused harrassment specialist.
     
  15. MJ Davies

    MJ Davies Well-Known Member

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    That's hilarious!

    By the way, ALL news is depressing. That's what sells. People want to hear about train wrecks, prison escapes, storms, etc.

    A few decades ago, there was a talk show on called "The John Bradshaw Show". Unlike Jerry Springer and Maury, et. al, Bradshaw's show focused on positive stories (good Samaritans, everyday heroes, etc.). It was canceled. Psychologically, people judge themselves based on those around them and hearing about good things makes one feel they are not doing enough or aren't "enough". Hearing the crazy stories makes one feel they are doing okay in life. Like it or not, society thrives on the bad news.
     
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  16. fmw

    fmw Well-Known Member

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    In the TV news business, those who sit behind the desk whether they report or opinionate are called anchors. Hannity and Carlson are also anchors.

    I guess you want me to withdraw my congratulations to her?
     
  17. ChiCowboy

    ChiCowboy Well-Known Member

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    Agreed. Not a talent that interests me, but she apparently has cable TV tuned in.
     
  18. fmw

    fmw Well-Known Member

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    I have never watched her. I've seen a few sound bites but never tuned in her show. Obviously she has a strong following.
     
  19. ChiCowboy

    ChiCowboy Well-Known Member

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    It's always been that way though. Murdoch founded Fox News as an alternative to CNN. The "Fair and Balanced" act was pretty transparent. Hannity and Colmes. Lol.

    We're still talking about Trump because he won't fade away like a good ex-prez. But the MSM is talking about issues right now; the bills working their way through Congress.
     
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  20. ChiCowboy

    ChiCowboy Well-Known Member

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    She was a favorite of an ex of mine. I avoided the show as much as I could but got stuck lots of times. Lol. Every once in awhile she impressed me with the level of devotion and effort put into an investigative story, but mostly bored me to death.
     
  21. PARTIZAN1

    PARTIZAN1 Well-Known Member

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    Well I will be nice and let the "anchors" slide but not News Anchors.

    You can can congratulate Madcow that is ok.

    Important Question for TV experts:::: When a TV is let go is that Network Chiefs say. "ANCHORS AWAY"?
     
  22. Matthewthf

    Matthewthf Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    Fox news made thier bed with Democrats. They get what they deserve.

    I get all of my news online now. None of it from news max or oan and nothing from main stream news. I'm tired of all of the fakeness, lies and agendas.
     
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  23. Lee Atwater

    Lee Atwater Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    Some of the talking heads on Faux dared to contradict the Trump narrative by challenging a few of his most egregious lies. For that they are paying the price in the ratings as the minions seek to have their misinformation reinforced elsewhere.
     

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