Fox News is in for a very rough 2008

[laststeamtrain]

Fox News is in for a very rough 2008
by Eric Boehlert

My guess is that Fox News guru Roger Ailes has been reaching for the Tums more often than usual early in the New Year, and there are lots of reasons for the hovering angst.

Let's take an extended multiple choice quiz. Right now, which of the following topics is likely causing the discomfort inside Ailes' Fox News empire?

A) CNN's resurgence as the go-to cable destination for election coverage.
B) The incredible shrinking candidacy of Fox News' favored son, Rudy Giuliani.
C) The still-standing candidacy of Fox News nemesis and well-funded, anti-war GOP candidate Rep. Ron Paul.
D) The Democratic candidates' blanket refusal to debate on Fox News during the primary season.
E) Host Bill O'Reilly being so desperate for an interview from a Democratic contender that he had to schlep all the way to New Hampshire, where he shoved an aide to Sen. Barack Obama and then had to be calmed down by Secret Service agents.
F) Former Fox News architect and Ailes confidante Dan Cooper posting chapters from his a wildly unflattering tell-all book about his old boss. ("The best thing that ever happened to Roger Ailes was 9/11.")
G) The fledgling Fox Business Network, whose anemic ratings are in danger of being surpassed by some large city public access channels.
H) Host John Gibson's recent heartless attacks on actor Heath Ledger, just hours after the young actor was found dead.
I) Fox News reporter Major Garrett botching his "exclusive" that Paul Begala and James Carville were going to join Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's presidential campaign, and then refusing to correct the record.

I'd say it's A, B, C, D, E, F, and G. (I doubt Gibson's grave-dancing or Garrett's whopper caused Ailes a moment's concern.)

Bottom line is that Fox News is in for a very rough 2008. And the umbrella reason for that is quite simple: Eight years ago the all-news cable channel went all-in on the presidency of George Bush and became a broadcast partner with the White House. Proof of that was on display Sunday night, January 27, during Fox News' prime-time, "Fighting to the Finish," an "historic documentary" on the final year of Bush's presidency. Filmed in HD and featuring "unprecedented access," according to the Fox News press release, the show was pure propaganda. (I must have missed Fox News' "Fighting to the Finish" special back in 2000, chronicling the conclusion of President Bill Clinton's second term and his "extraordinarily consequential tenure.")

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http://mediamatters.org/columns/200801290001

[corkhead]

1. I would be willing to bet that they have lost some of their audience among the Ron Paul crowd.

[SmellsLikeDeanSpirit]

2. Have not watched Fox News in years.

I have the channel blocked. Between the right wing shit, idiot talking heads, and the bad graphic...I just couldn't take any chances.

[SteppingRazor]

3. And don't forget about across-the-board declining ratings...

especially among the all-important 25-54 crowd, in the face of the ascendant MSNBC and holding-steady CNN.

[napi21]

4. I read that whole article on MM this morning. It's well written and

explaines very well that Roger Ailes and the whole FOX group are sinking into depression. I was also surprised to read that FOX USED to have the "Campaign Season Crown" for always having many more viewers during debates, Primaries & November voting, but they have LOST IT to CNN!

One cute comment was that since FOX made the decision to be primarily a Republican network, every time the GOP gets a cold now, FOX gets sick too! Well they made their bed, and it's not very comfortable now!

[bluestateguy]

5. Their 2009 could be even worse with a Democratic president

Because there is no constitutional right to have a White House Press Pass...

[abq e streeter]

9. They won't have to worry too much

with either Rupert's pal Hillary, or Mr. " let's all make nice with the republicans" Obama , in the White House.

[Yael]

6. I honestly think the Dems refusing to debate on Faux was the death knell

That sends a VERY strong signal in the media and to the people. Especially those who are looking for "unity".

[OzarkDem]

7. Hard to make a profit on the 20% crowd

Their viewers aren't enough to sustain them and corporate subsidies are drying up as Bush/Cheneys federal money laundering machine begins to cycle down.

Cuts in pork barrel spending/money laundering have dried up a lot of right wing media support.

[Demeter]

8. I Refuse To Feel Any Pity for Fox News and Their Fellow Travelers

What goes around, comes around.

[yurbud]

10. maybe there's some aspiring Pinochet in the Third World they could work for...

[Enthusiast]

11. No problem, NPR and CNN will

Hey, if Fox News goes under, CNN and NPR will carry the right wing banner, they are already off to a good start. Maybe NPR can get a Rush Limbaugh show.

What we need is a news channel that is unapologetically moderate-liberal.

[dominicoyandor]

12. Boehlert is my favorite analyst n/t