Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Thurs., Aug. 30) -- convention's closing night another Fox News Channel victory lap
08/31/12 12:24 PM
By ED BARK
Fox News Channel made it three-for-three Thursday, again dominating its broadcast and cable network rivals in ratings for closing night of the Republican National Convention.
Clint Eastwood's improv theater -- a bracingly stark departure from the choreographed norm -- helped to push part of nominee Mitt Romney's acceptance past prime-time (as did his elongated red carpet walk to the podium). He ran until 10:13 p.m., with ABC, CBS and NBC then all signing off by 10:21 p.m.
We're going to tabulate D-FW's convention ratings from 9 p.m. to 10:15 p.m., when the seven major network providers were all in session. Nielsen Media Research measures in 15-minute increments, so this is the closest we can come to an accurate count. Here's the breakdown in total viewers:
Fox News Channel -- 209,997
ABC -- 94,837
PBS -- 74,515
CBS/NBC -- 60,967 apiece
MSNBC -- 54,193
CNN -- 47,419
Fox4's 9 p.m. local newscast again prospered opposite the convention, averaging 169,353 viewers for the full hour. The most-watched broadcast network entertainment program in prime-time, CBS' Big Brother 14, drew 155,804 viewers from 8 to 9 p.m.
Among advertiser-prized 18-to-49-year-olds, Big Brother drew far more viewers -- 92,867 -- than any individual network's convention coverage.
In Thursday's local news derby numbers, the 10 p.m. newscasts all started late -- save for Fox4's -- and won't be counted in this post.
Fox4 won at 6 a.m. in total viewers while tying WFAA8 for first place among 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming.
The two stations split the golds at both 5 and 6 p.m., with WFAA8 on top in total viewers and Fox4 the most-watched by 25-to-54-year-olds.
Fox News Channel made it three-for-three Thursday, again dominating its broadcast and cable network rivals in ratings for closing night of the Republican National Convention.
Clint Eastwood's improv theater -- a bracingly stark departure from the choreographed norm -- helped to push part of nominee Mitt Romney's acceptance past prime-time (as did his elongated red carpet walk to the podium). He ran until 10:13 p.m., with ABC, CBS and NBC then all signing off by 10:21 p.m.
We're going to tabulate D-FW's convention ratings from 9 p.m. to 10:15 p.m., when the seven major network providers were all in session. Nielsen Media Research measures in 15-minute increments, so this is the closest we can come to an accurate count. Here's the breakdown in total viewers:
Fox News Channel -- 209,997
ABC -- 94,837
PBS -- 74,515
CBS/NBC -- 60,967 apiece
MSNBC -- 54,193
CNN -- 47,419
Fox4's 9 p.m. local newscast again prospered opposite the convention, averaging 169,353 viewers for the full hour. The most-watched broadcast network entertainment program in prime-time, CBS' Big Brother 14, drew 155,804 viewers from 8 to 9 p.m.
Among advertiser-prized 18-to-49-year-olds, Big Brother drew far more viewers -- 92,867 -- than any individual network's convention coverage.
In Thursday's local news derby numbers, the 10 p.m. newscasts all started late -- save for Fox4's -- and won't be counted in this post.
Fox4 won at 6 a.m. in total viewers while tying WFAA8 for first place among 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming.
The two stations split the golds at both 5 and 6 p.m., with WFAA8 on top in total viewers and Fox4 the most-watched by 25-to-54-year-olds.