CNN exec talks of ratings fight with Fox (Fox Wins)

AP | 7/11/03 | LYNN ELBER

[kattracks]

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Fox News Channel may have the ratings advantage, but CNN has the prestige and value, CNN's top executive said Thursday.

Jim Walton, president of the CNN News Group, acknowledged that the once-dominant CNN has slipped behind Fox in total viewers and failed to retake the lead during coverage of the Iraq war.

But he said while answering questions from the Television Critics Association that ratings don't tell the whole story.

"I really don't think Rolex cares about how many watches Timex sells," he said.

CNN, an AOL Time Warner company, has a more affluent audience that allows for higher advertising rates and greater shareholder benefit, Walton said.

Fox News Channel spokesman Rob Zimmerman disputed Walton's assertions about CNN's supremacy among moneyed viewers.

Fox can claim more affluent viewers, those making $75,000 a year or more, Zimmerman said. For the first quarter of 2003, FNC in primetime averaged 407,000 viewers age 25 to 54 making $75,000 or more, he said, citing Nielsen Media Research figures. CNN had 159,000, he said.

But that doesn't account for those who tune in but don't stay long enough to be counted in the average ratings, said CNN spokeswoman Christa Robinson. Among that group, CNN has more affluent 25-to-54 viewers, she said, attracting 2 million more viewers than Fox in June.

CNN's goal is to keep audiences tuned in longer, Walton said.

[kattracks]

But that doesn't account for those who tune in but don't stay long enough to be counted in the average ratings,...

Which is generally referred to as chanel surfing, which viewers do when they are bored with the content.

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[evad]

What a load..
..talk about living in denial.

[kcordell]

CNN is counting people who don't stay tuned in long enough as viewers? It sounds like they are hurting big time!

I noticed there was no mention of the number of people who tuned into FNC but didn't stay long enough to be counted.

[mewzilla]

...but CNN has the prestige and value, CNN's top executive said Thursday.

Watched your own programming lately, bud?

[BushCountry]

Walton went on to explain further that CNN, an AOL Time Warner company, also has a more poorer audience with buck and twisted teeth, that are crosseyed and bow legged, have a low intelligence, and are in desperate need of viagra, which allows for more a wider range of advertisers and greater shareholder benefit.

[Loyal Buckeye]

Is Fox beating CNN straight up even though Fox is available in far fewer homes than CNN?

[PGalt]

...but CNN has the prestige and value, CNN's top executive said

Propaganda devalues. Truth has value. Prestige follows. People that deliver propaganda are not prestigious. They are a joke. Just ask Baghdad Bob.

[mewzilla]

Dear Mr. Walton, if you'd really like to see what you're up against, where your problems (yes, plural) lay, I cordially invite you to spend a news cycle at my place. I'd be more than happy to show you the error of your ways.

[Loyal Buckeye]

Caught on tape at CNN headquarters:

"I could hardly breathe. Gulping for air, I started crying and yelling at him, 'What do you mean Fox is ahead of CNN? What are you saying? Why did you lie to me? I was furious and getting more so by the second. He just stood there saying over and over again, 'I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. But anyone knows our viewers are better than Fox viewers. They are smarter and more affluent.”

[rep-always]

LOL.

[kattracks]

But that doesn't account for those who tune in but don't stay long enough to be counted in the average ratings,...

So, if they don't stay long enough to be counted, how does CNN know they are there?

[KeyWest]

Even worse, if they are not staying, it says there was nothing there to keep them. Like saying we have a great store because we have a lot of people come through the door. They do not stay long and they do not buy anything but we have a lot of people come through the door. (Which will soon be closed.)

[Feckless]

Sounds like a speech you'd give a T-ball team that came in second.

[Conspiracy Guy]

"CNN's goal is to keep audiences tuned in to Fox longer," Walton said.

[Conspiracy Guy]

He did leave that out. Thanks for bringing it up.

[Conspiracy Guy]

Cuz all his friends at Starbucks told him this.

[bullpup]

"Rolex doesn't care How many watches Timex sells"

Only if it affect people who would have bought rollexs...

and when leftist propaganda is your product instead of news...the amount of people who don't listen is critical..or he wouldn't be talking about it....

I don't channel surf to CNN..I bulldoze right on past it because I want fact...not their opinions on how things ought to be...

Perhaps if they listed their content as fiction....

they might do better...

more or less an "X" files spin off?

[syriacus]

"I really don't think Rolex cares about how many watches Timex sells," he said.

Snobby, isn't he?

[Helms]

"Fox can claim more affluent viewers, those making $75,000 a year or more, Zimmerman said....."

Whoa!, watch out or Fox will be accused of being "The Network of The Rich"