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HLN Sees Uptick In Viewers Before End of ‘Morning Express’

HLN sees an uptick over the holiday weekend with a marathon of the Emmy award-winning political drama “The West Wing” that originally aired on NBC.

Doug Pucci

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Almost all the news outlets suffered brief declines during the Thanksgiving week (for the week ending Nov. 27). The lone cable news channel to see an uptick was HLN, which aired a holiday weekend marathon of the Emmy award-winning political drama “The West Wing” that originally aired on NBC from 1999 thru 2006.

But the positive news at HLN was short-lived as its parent company Warner Bros. Discovery began a new round of layoffs for the news division on Dec. 1. Among those let go, HLN’s long-running program “Morning Express with Robin Meade” ended after a 17-year run. For Nov. 21-25, it averaged 147,000 viewers, including 30,000 in the key 25-54 demographic, according to Nielsen Media Research — a relatively normal amount for the now-defunct morning news show.

WBD’s downsizing also comes at a time CNN had posted its lowest-rated primetime adults 25-54 demo in over 30 years as well as its lowest-rated total day 25-54 demo since May 2014.

In the daytime, ABC’s “The View” continued to reign as its No. 1 talk show averaging 2.373 million viewers from Nov. 21-23. Its Thanksgiving Eve telecast (Wednesday Nov. 23) drew 2.591 million viewers — the most-watched edition of “The View” since Mar. 31, 2022. Their guests on Nov. 23 featured actor Kumail Nanjiani (“Welcome to Chippendales”) and legendary R&B singer Patti LaBelle (“A New Orleans Noel”).

ABC’s “GMA3: What You Need to Know”

topped CBS’ “The Talk.” and the recently-installed “NBC News Daily” (which replaced “Days of Our Lives”) for the 11th consecutive week. 

“GMA3” improved on the previous week in total viewers (+2 percent – 1.615 million for Nov. 21-23 vs. 1.580 million for Nov. 14-18), drawing its largest overall audience in 4 weeks (since the week of Oct. 24, 2022) and its second largest of the season. Of course, the program’s recent bump in ratings may be attributed to associated tabloid fodder (link: https://pagesix.com/2022/12/01/amy-robach-and-t-j-holmes-not-ashamed-of-their-romance/ )

“The Talk” averaged 1.512 million viewers (from Nov. 21-23); “NBC News Daily” 1.2 million (Nov. 21-22).

Five Fox News Channel daytime programs also accomplished besting “The Talk” and “NBC News Daily” during this week, based on total viewers (with three of them also topping “GMA3”): 

“America’s Newsroom” (9-11 AM/ET; 1.804 million)

“Outnumbered” (11 AM/ET; 1.764 million)

“The Faulkner Focus” (12 PM/ET; 1.667 million)

“America Reports” (1-3 PM/ET; 1.519 million)

“The Story” (3 PM/ET; 1.514 million) 

Cable news averages for November 21-27, 2022:

Total Day (Nov. 21-27 @ 6 a.m.-5:59 a.m.)

  • Fox News Channel: 1.225 million viewers; 160,000 adults 25-54
  • MSNBC: 0.556 million viewers; 62,000 adults 25-54
  • CNN: 0.428 million viewers; 83,000 adults 25-54
  • HLN: 0.174 million viewers; 38,000 adults 25-54
  • CNBC: 0.118 million viewers; 29,000 adults 25-54
  • Fox Business Network: 0.098 million viewers; 12,000 adults 25-54
  • Newsmax: 0.094 million viewers; 9,000 adults 25-54
  • The Weather Channel: 0.085 million viewers; 15,000 adults 25-54

Prime Time (Nov. 21-26 @ 8-11 p.m.; Nov. 27 @ 7-11 p.m.)

  • Fox News Channel: 1.664 million viewers; 189,000 adults 25-54
  • MSNBC: 0.791 million viewers; 74,000 adults 25-54
  • CNN: 0.433 million viewers; 88,000 adults 25-54
  • HLN: 0.238 million viewers; 51,000 adults 25-54
  • CNBC: 0.208 million viewers; 55,000 adults 25-54
  • Newsmax: 0.118 million viewers; 15,000 adults 25-54
  • The Weather Channel: 0.091 million viewers; 14,000 adults 25-54
  • NewsNation: 0.068 million viewers; 13,000 adults 25-54
  • Fox Business Network: 0.064 million viewers; 11,000 adults 25-54

Top 10 most-watched cable news programs (and the top programs of other outlets with their respective associated ranks) in total viewers:

1. The Five (FOXNC, Mon. 11/21/2022 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.484 million viewers

2. The Five (FOXNC, Tue. 11/22/2022 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.451 million viewers

3. The Five (FOXNC, Wed. 11/23/2022 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.131 million viewers

4. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Mon. 11/21/2022 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.091 million viewers

5. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Tue. 11/22/2022 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.063 million viewers

6. Jesse Watters Primetime (FOXNC, Mon. 11/21/2022 7:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.040 million viewers

7. Jesse Watters Primetime (FOXNC, Tue. 11/22/2022 7:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.900 million viewers

8. Special Report with Bret Baier (FOXNC, Tue. 11/22/2022 6:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.834 million viewers

9. Special Report with Bret Baier (FOXNC, Mon. 11/21/2022 6:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.788 million viewers

10. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Wed. 11/23/2022 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.745 million viewers

22. Rachel Maddow Show (MSNBC, Mon. 11/21/2022 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 1.951 million viewers

148. Erin Burnett Outfront (CNN, Mon. 11/21/2022 7:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.769 million viewers

339. The West Wing “Hartsfield’s Landing” (HLN, Sat. 11/26/2022 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.372 million viewers

348. Varney & Company (FBN, Mon. 11/21/2022 10:00 AM, 60 min.) 0.360 million viewers

420. Shark Tank “Shark Tank 813” (CNBC, Mon. 11/21/2022 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.275 million viewers

643. Highway Thru Hell “(716) The General” (TWC, Sun. 11/27/2022 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.151 million viewers

671. Newsnation: Rush Hour (NWSN, Fri. 11/25/2022 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.141 million viewers

Top 10 cable news programs (and the top  programs of other outlets with their respective associated ranks) among adults 25-54:

1. The Five (FOXNC, Tue. 11/22/2022 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.444 million adults 25-54

2. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Mon. 11/21/2022 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.439 million adults 25-54

3. The Five (FOXNC, Wed. 11/23/2022 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.417 million adults 25-54

4. Special Report with Bret Baier (FOXNC, Tue. 11/22/2022 6:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.391 million adults 25-54

5. The Five (FOXNC, Mon. 11/21/2022 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.385 million adults 25-54

6. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Tue. 11/22/2022 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.358 million adults 25-54

7. Gutfeld! (FOXNC, Mon. 11/21/2022 11:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.352 million adults 25-54

8. Jesse Watters Primetime (FOXNC, Mon. 11/21/2022 7:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.347 million adults 25-54

9. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Wed. 11/23/2022 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.340 million adults 25-54

10. Jesse Watters Primetime (FOXNC, Tue. 11/22/2022 7:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.335 million adults 25-54

67. Rachel Maddow Show (MSNBC, Mon. 11/21/2022 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.180 million adults 25-54

68. Erin Burnett Outfront (CNN, Tue. 11/22/2022 7:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.178 million adults 25-54

201. How It Really Happened “Yosemite Mur:Evil Side Pt2” (HLN, Mon. 11/21/2022 12:00 AM, 60 min.) 0.099 million adults 25-54

230. Shark Tank “Shark Tank 1213” (CNBC, Tue. 11/22/2022 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.088 million adults 25-54

477. America’s Morning Headquarters (TWC, Wed. 11/23/2022 9:00 AM, 60 min.) 0.046 million adults 25-54

555. Varney & Company (FBN, Mon. 11/21/2022 10:00 AM, 60 min.) 0.038 million adults 25-54

603. Newsnation: Rush Hour (NWSN, Mon. 11/21/2022 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.033 million adults 25-54

Source: Live+Same Day data, Nielsen Media Research

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BNM Writers

Is Talk Radio the Lone Survivor for Free Speech?

There’s an irony that a medium regulated by the federal government has less restrictions than that of YouTube.

Garrett Searight

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A photo of a radio board

In 2005, Howard Stern famously left AM/FM behind to take his talk radio show to Sirius due in part to censorship concerns and restrictions the FCC put on the medium.

However, less than 20 years later, could one make the case that AM/FM radio — and more specifically news/talk radio — is the last bastion of free speech?

The FCC cracked down on terrestrial radio in 2004 after the infamous Justin Timberlake-Janet Jackson incident during the halftime show at Super Bowl XXXVIII. That increased scrutiny led Stern to depart.

Now, there hasn’t been a similar situation in recent years. However, other mediums and platforms — including social media apps like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube — have seen similar pushes. Not to ban things deemed indecent, but rather a limit on what is and isn’t acceptable according to each’s terms of service.

YouTube has received the lion’s share of criticism from news/talk radio professionals due to the symbiotic nature the medium had with the video platform. The outlet — owned by Google — received harsh pushback from the conservative media community for its quick trigger to remove those who questioned or outright pushed back against the COVID-19 vaccine, leading to many companies and creators moving to competitor Rumble.

Logically, it would be easy to view YouTube as a quasi “Wild Wild West”, as far as content goes. Conceivably, anything (within reason) would be allowable on the platform, who few restrictions on content and its moderation.

But that is no longer the case, with Rumble alleging it holds that place in the video-sharing world.

However, there is a deep irony that a medium — AM/FM radio — is regulated by the federal government but appears to be more open to free speech than those outlets not governed at all.

“It is backwards, in my opinion,” Salem Radio Network host “Officer” Brandon Tatum told Barrett News Media last month. “I understand why, to a certain degree, but it is kind of weird that every platform isn’t open enough where you can say whatever you want to say. We live in America, you know, you have the First Amendment.

If you’re going to be a communicative platform for people, it would behoove you to allow people to say whatever they feel, and if they’re wrong, let people challenge them on being wrong.”

Nationally syndicated host Michael Berry agreed.

“There has never been — in an interview — a question that I hadn’t ever thought of, before that one,” Berry said when asked if the talk radio was more open to free speech than an unregulated platform.

The Houston-based host agreed with the idea that, despite FCC regulations, talk radio was, in fact, more flexible in its free speech capabilities than other mediums.

Tatum shared that while he understands that social media platforms aren’t government-regulated, they’re also not government-run entities, either, making them free to operate as they wish.

“The censorship on social media is asinine to me. I get it. Some of these social media companies are private businesses. They exercise the right to put whatever policy in place that they want,” Tatum said. “Everybody, to sign on to these social media platforms, knowingly or unknowingly have to sign at least the terms and conditions to say that they’re going to restrict you if they feel like it. So it’s something that I understand.

“I know I’m disappointed that is the reality of it. But you know, in the time that we live in, you have to just be mindful of being strategic about the way you communicate,” the talk radio host continued. “On YouTube, I just can’t say certain things. But I’m still going to communicate within their policy so I can still get the word out there.”

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BNM Writers

News Radio Can’t Just Abandon Non-Prime Dayparts

Look, I know money is tight but is creativity and effort also diminishing?

Bill Zito

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A photo of a car radio

Things are tough all over, I get that. The price of my coffee keeps jumping, my airlines are nickel and diming me, charging me not only for the privilege of flying inside the aircraft but also to sit down and some political candidates out there are actually asking me to pay them not to run for office. So, why should I be surprised when the local news radio stations try to save a few bucks by tracking their off-hour newscasts instead of remaining live or perhaps even going to a syndicated news product when they think nobody is listening?

Look, I’ve been finding news services like America’s First News with Gordon Deal, Nicole Murray & Mike Gavin (Yes, I include all their names) up and down the dial pretty much anywhere I’ve been or traveled. For a syndicated news program, I give it props to be sure and I think it’s exactly what the smaller market and staff-limited stations across the country need to introduce their daily schedules.

It’s a nice lead-in to the morning local news except for the likely fact that those listening from 4-5 AM or 5-6 AM have driven out of signal range by the time the local reporting hits the air. Nevertheless, it’s not a bad slot filler when you consider the options at that hour. Not that paid programming for pet colon cleanses or okra investment futures don’t make fascinating listening.

As you see, I am letting the modest-sized broadcast outlets off the hook here but do not expect me to be so forgiving when it comes to the big leaguers.

My most recent annoyance was fueled as I was awoken far too early on a Saturday morning in New York. Dragging myself to the car, I had hoped to find some mental solace in my go-to news outlet, WCBS Newsradio 880 as I set about for parts north.

Instead of one of the more recognizable voices I am accustomed to, I was treated instead to the musings of This Weekend with Gordon Deal, pretty much a compilation show and not what I’m seeking from what’s supposed to be a premiere news station in the nation’s number one market.

See here, it is bad enough that 880 does more than its fair share of tracking the overnight and early morning news and filling the weekend with pre-produced-playback magazine news programming on the weekends. And of course, the NY Mets and Rutgers Basketball have to be heard somewhere. But come on. This is New York.

I never gave it much thought but I started to look around to see who else was throwing in the towel in the early morning hours.

San Diego, Seattle, Phoenix, Denver, Houston, Chicago, Boston and Miami. 

And that’s just some of the big markets and the big stations therein. Look, I know money is tight but is creativity and effort also diminishing?

I hate to be the one to tell these markets and their stations but 4-6 AM is pretty big commuting time all over the country. Here’s a trick, avail yourself of the news. People who make up the majority of radio’s audience (save for a few lonely dogs and cats) are working harder out there. The commutes are earlier and longer and working weird hours has become the norm, not the exception.

Radio executives and programmers are forever lamenting how they care about their listeners and fear the demise of radio yet this is what they do about it. It seems to me that once again those making the decisions are not paying attention or perhaps they simply lack the initiative and the courage to find out what the audience wants and needs from their drive-time news radio stations.

Lesson one might be to find out when drive-time actually is. 

Lesson two would be to cater to those in it.

I keep reading these largely spun articles and studies about radio listeners; how they’re more informed about the issues, how they’re more likely to go to the polls on Election Day, and even how they’re more reachable through advertising.

What is the programmer doing these days? What is a brand manager and what are they doing? Who is paying attention?

As I pointed out earlier, America’s First News with Gordon Deal, Nicole Murray & Mike Gavin is pretty good news programming for its time slot and market placement. But if those in charge of the heavy-hitting news stations aren’t careful, that programming is going to be what everyone across the country hears, all the time.

Do you want actual local coverage?

Watch TV, that is until the same concept occurs to their programmers and Inside Edition becomes your local news source.

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Benny Johnson Has a Beat on What Matters to America-First Voters

The RNC’s approach seems to have shifted massively this month. Time will tell if it will produce the result they, and other hosts like Benny Johnson, desire later this year.

Rick Schultz

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A photo of Benny Johnson
(Photo: The Daily Beast)

It is quite possible that the most consequential development from last week was completely and totally missed by most of the media. The news sent shockwaves through alternative media, and was celebrated by legions of America-First voters. But among the mainstream, corporate news, it barely registered. Benny Johnson, however, isn’t the mainstream, corporate news.

The big news is this – the Republican National Committee is finally taking the issue of free, fair and honest elections seriously. And a few media personalities certainly did notice.

On March 8th, the RNC announced Michael Whatley as its new Chairman. After years of lukewarm support from the national party toward the most popular Republican president in the modern era, Ronna Romney McDaniel’s tenure at the head of the Committee ended. The new leadership group immediately cleaned house and began laying the groundwork for a revamped get-out-the-vote effort in 2024. The change in personnel was so large and abrupt, many in the mainstream media referred to it as a “bloodbath.”

Talk show host Benny Johnson welcomed newly-named RNC Co-Chair, Lara Trump, to the program to discuss the organization’s revamped way of thinking for the sprint to November.

“One of the biggest lies, the most pernicious lie I think, that’s ever been told to the American people is that 2020 was the most secure election in our lifetime,” Johnson began. “You’ve leveled a lawsuit against Michigan. Now you’re saying the RNC is going to invest big time in chasing ballots. Can you talk me through the structure of ensuring that, let’s just call it all of the shenanigans, the funny business, the downright criminality, the illegality and the rigging in the electoral process does not happen again in 2024?”

“Yeah, I mean look. There are millions of people, I’m going to say 75 million-plus Americans, who still are like, what the hell happened in 2020?” Lara Trump answered. “They didn’t get any answers. They all wanted us to move on. But they all feel like something was awry, something was amiss. Because let’s be honest, 81 million people were not so inspired by a guy campaigning out of his basement, who could barely string two sentences together, that they said we’re going to come out big for this guy. Absolutely not. No one believes that.”

After the GOP was caught flat-footed in 2020 with floods of new, pandemic-related voting protocols in place, Republicans have finally committed to playing the game as is.  Certainly, the party aligns with most Americans in favoring voter identification and in-person voting. That is not currently how the game is played, however. And at long last, the GOP is determined to win the game as it stands today. They are, in essence, freeing the one hand they had tied behind their back.

“So at the RNC, it is something that we’re taking incredibly seriously. We have the first-ever Election Integrity Division. This is an entire wing of the building dedicated solely to that. So how do you do that? Right now you just talked about a lawsuit we have in Michigan. We have in 23 states, 78 lawsuits single-handedly to address this issue. To make it easier to vote and harder to cheat in 2024,” Lara Trump said.

Many Americans are still perplexed about how Donald Trump won on all previously predictive metrics in 2020 – and led decisively late into Election night – only to see floods of ballots erase his lead in the wee hours of the morning. Lara Trump told Johnson that these new measures will help protect the integrity of the vote, both before and throughout Election Day.

“We know about all the states who illegally changed their voting laws in 2020, under the guise of Covid. It flipped some of those back around, but it also adds an extra layer of protection on top of that. In addition, we now have the ability to train poll workers. These are not just poll watchers, people who physically stand in a polling location and kind of look around and maybe might be able to see something.

“These are people, Benny, who get to handle a ballot. Who can count the ballots coming in and the ballots going out, so they know what the numbers should be at the end of the day,” Lara Trump explained. 

Lara Trump noted how the RNC’s new leadership immediately defined the problem and identified specific states where it was most rampant. But she adds that this was only the first step.

“On top of that we are also hiring and we are asking for volunteer attorneys all across this country,” she told Johnson. “We want you in a polling location near you every single minute that there is polling going on, because we want to be able to address a problem immediately, in real time.

“We cannot wait until it’s too late. We also have to strike the fear of God in people who would ultimately be cheating in this capacity. If you are a person who is paid to cheat, do not do it because we will come after you. The full extent of the law will be laid on you. We will prosecute the hell out of you. It’s not worth it. Don’t do it.”

In another move that had social media network X ablaze in the last week, Lara Trump said the RNC will be making moves to bring many effective, yet unheralded, grassroots activists into the fold.

“We also have to start thinking about things like legal ballot harvesting. Something we’ve never embraced as a party. We’re going to start doing it now. I’m going to have a call very soon with Scott Presler, who is an amazing vote registerer. He has registered so many people in this country. I think he’s fantastic. I want him on our legal ballot harvesting division.”

Benny Johnson nodded with approval, seeming pleased that many of the approaches he has advocated for in past years now appear to be welcomed by the party apparatus.

“We also have to embrace early voting, Benny. I know we want one-day voting in this country. It doesn’t exist right now. We’ve got to bank enough votes going into November 5th that we’re not playing catch up on Election Day,” Lara Trump told him. “We need to swamp the system so it doesn’t matter how many 3 am drops they have, or suitcases filled with ballots. There will be no question on the night of November 5th that Donald Trump is elected as the 47th President.” 

“So unbelievably based that I got chills,” Johnson said. “I’m sitting here, the entire team is like, cheering and screaming online. Yes, Scott Presler! Please! He’s such an ally of the show. We love him so much. And so this will finally become real. The internet will win and Scott Presler will be part of the integrated process to actually save America.”

“He is the first person I thought of whenever the whole idea of the RNC was floated to me. I said if I end up there, if I am Co-Chair of the RNC, I want to bring him in. Because what a job that guy has done. Not only should he be rewarded for it, but we want to give him more jobs to do up until November 5th and well beyond,” Lara Trump said.

In an effort to match the mood of America at large, the RNC’s approach seems to have shifted massively this month. Time will tell if it will produce the result they, and other hosts like Benny Johnson, desire later this year.

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