Last month, I wrote about how Fox News viewers are off-the-chart old and getting older. That trend seems to be increasing, if the August ratings are any guide. Although Fox News continues its dominance as the top eyeball getter of Fox News, its share of the coveted 25-54 year-old viewers shrank precipitously.
According to TV Newser, Fox News viewership "declined across the board year-over-year and posted its lowest ratings in the A25-54 demographic since August 2001 in both total day and primetime."
Here are some of the details:
In its last full month before Elisabeth Hasselbeck takes over as co-host, “Fox & Friends” was down -3% in total viewers and -23% in the demo. In primetime, which the network also plans to shake up this fall, “The O’Reilly Factor,” “Hannity” and “On the Record with Greta Van Susteren” were down for the month compared to August 2012: Bill O’Reilly‘s program was down -9% in total viewers and -25% in the demo, while Sean Hannity‘s show was down -21% in total viewers and -26% in the demo. “On the Record” was down -20% in both ratings measurements.
MSNBC has certainly lost younger viewers, as has Fox News.
I agree with Ellen that the issue here is one of great concern to not only Fox News but the GOP in general. They need to find a way to attract a younger constituency – the analysis shows most of their supporters are older. The real question is whether the younger viewers/voters will somehow become become Fox News people as they pass the 40 and 50 year age markers. There is historical precedent for people becoming more conservative as they get older, but I don’t know that it will apply in the polarized environment we see today. I don’t know that people who have regularly been denigrated and insulted by Limbaugh, Hannity and O’Reilly will suddenly decide they agree with those guys.
From the way Fox News and the GOP are maneuvering, they would seem to have the same doubts I have. Which means that they know their largest group of supporters is bound to shrink by more dramatic numbers as time goes on. Given that the GOP has alienated communities other than white males, this is a very disturbing trend for them. If they don’t find a way to deal with this, they could be in real trouble in a few years. For this reason, Fox News is trying to shake up their lineup – not a step taken by an organization with a lot of confidence in their longer-term future.
The point of the post is that Fox is losing younger viewers. If they didn’t see that as a problem, they would not be adding Megyn Kelly to prime time when they already have a solid lead in the overall ratings.
Also, I’m not saying Fox is in trouble. But I do think it’s worth noting that Fox viewers are not at all representative of America, as much as the network would like you to think that they do.
Hannocchio the RINO and Billy won’t be lifers at this fraudulent network. One day, their contracts will not be renewed, and these aging hacks will be tossed to the curb.
Billy and Hannocchio are too old to attract younger viewers. Hannocchio looks 10 years older than 51. That would explain his elderly audience.
The head Foxies need to give these two old men their walking papers, and bring in younger hosts. Being number one is nothing if you can’t bring in revenue to pay these two grandpas.