Well maybe, just maybe some people (at least the ones with Nielsen meters installed in their homes) are finally tiring of the bull being spewed out on Fox News. Also maybe people (again those darn Nielsen families) are tired of Natalie Holloway, Andrea Yates and related stories that appear on all the pseudo-news channels.
And Roger, being Roger can't take it --- I sure would not want to be working at Fox News right now (then again i wouldn't want to work there ANYTIME). And when you constantly have people like Ann Coulter on ---- i guess having the same ugly faces can be detrimental to ratings at some point!
Then again Rupert's bottom line (the money he needs from his faux news to help Hillary win in NY) depends on these Nielsen families.
From:
BROADCASTING & CABLE
June 26, 2006
Ailes Cracks Whip as Fox News Slips
Slackers at Fox News Channel, you're on notice! Your boss is not pleased. Fox News Chairman Roger Ailes is on the warpath following his network's recent ratings slump, and he won't hesitate to clean house to turn things around.
So far during the second quarter, the No. 1 cable news channel's primetime schedule has dropped 22% in its core 25-54 demo and 8% in total viewers. The first quarter was even worse.
Chief rival CNN has also dipped in recent weeks, but less dramatically, off 18% in the demo and 2% in total viewers.
Insiders say that, even though Fox News remains No. 1, Ailes is fuming over the complacency he senses among staffers.
Production values are slipping, and bookers aren't competitive enough, relying too heavily on the same pool of faces and settling for authors or actors after they've already been on CNN or & gasp & MSNBC.
A full-page "Now Hiring" ad that ran recently in a trade magazine asked, "Can you make the cut?" Says one Fox staffer, that question was not addressed to outside applicants: "That was aimed inside."
Commenting through a spokesman last week, Ailes left no doubt: "Anyone who displays launch-type intensity will continue to have a job at Fox News. Those who don't will not. And that includes talent."
One can only hope some of that talent doesn't have the intensity.