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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsRatings Show Americans Don't Care About the Impeachment Trial Enough to Watch It
How sad.
http://nymag.com/intelligencer/2020/01/impeachment-ratings-show-americans-arent-tuning-in-on-tv.html
Jan. 23, 2020
Ratings Show Americans Dont Care About the Impeachment Trial Enough to Watch It
By Matt Stieb
Within the Senate chamber, lawmakers were doing their best to endure the long hours of the Trump impeachment trials first two days, bringing crossword puzzles, falling asleep, and flaunting the no-electronics rule by communicating on smartwatches. At home, Americans havent sought these distractions, because the public is just not tuning in.
According to TV ratings for the first two days of the trial, the six news networks covering Trumps impeachment averaged a little over 11 million viewers combined, with Fox News leading the pack with some 2,654,000 on their channel from 12:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Viewership dropped by about 20 percent on Wednesday, with a total of 8,858,000 million watching; MSNBC led day two with 1,793,000 tuning in.
Compared to other televised political moments of historical importance, its a fairly weak showing. In 2018, the testimony of Christine Blasey Ford and Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh drew an audience of 20.4 million on the six broadcast networks. In 2018, the midterms also pulled in a substantial 36.1 million, a greater audience than the four previous midterms. And though it may not be totally fair to compare the impeachment trial to the last presidential election, the 2016 motherlode event drew an audience of 71 million.
Perhaps a more telling comparison can be found on the news networks coverage on the same days as the trial. According to Nielsen data, Sean Hannity drew 4,246,000 million viewers double the networks daytime impeachment audience leading an impressive Wednesday on Fox News, with Laura Ingraham and Tucker Carlson bringing in 3.93 million and 3.73 million respectively. At MSNBC, Rachel Maddow also delivered with 2.99 million viewers over 1 million more than the daytime showing for the impeachment trial.
There are reasons for the underwhelming performance thus far: Day one was a 13-hour event, full of slow procedures that set the terms for the remainder of the trial. The Nielsen data also doesnt account for online streaming: Impeachment viewers may be more likely to check in periodically on a C-SPAN stream throughout the day, rather than November audiences glued to a night of gripping election coverage on TV. As for Maddow and Hannitys strong numbers, the hosts almost certainly benefitted from viewers looking for their politically preferred recap. And unlike recent election specials, the ultimate result of the impeachment show is already decided, barring the total dissolution of Mitch McConnells political will.
But the 20 percent dip in daytime viewership may be the best indicator that Trumps impeachment wont be must-see TV in its remaining week or so. (That CNNs daytime and primetime Tuesday audiences were almost identical to those of the Clinton impeachments first day isnt promising either.) If witnesses are called, however, there could be a late-trial boost, courtesy of former national security adviser John Bolton.
RandySF
(58,835 posts)Fullduplexxx
(7,863 posts)pnwest
(3,266 posts)thing new if different they any of them can say, theyve been repeating themselves in the House and to the media for months. Barring actually having witnesses who will provide proof, theres nothing new to see. Its all just posturing and bullshit.
Hortensis
(58,785 posts)Trump's an idiot to want Hunter and Bolton appearing. It would have boosted actual viewership tremendously, and no way McConnell would allow that.
LisaL
(44,973 posts)What's the point of watching if you know the ending?
Six117
(205 posts)Just raises my damn blood pressure. Besides, the truth matters -ratings or not.
TheBlackAdder
(28,201 posts)JonLP24
(29,322 posts)Sigh. Too many distractions.
tirebiter
(2,537 posts)The 21st century and all. The medium is still the message. Its not a matter of either/or.
Different Drummer
(7,615 posts)I will be shocked if the Senate votes to convict and remove. Nope, not gonna happen.
empedocles
(15,751 posts)articles of all sorts. The concept and implications will more than trickle down to the bases.
tavernier
(12,388 posts)and that it is up to the people this time to remove the crooks through the election process. Many thought HRC was a safe bet to be elected in 16 so got complacent, but now its hair on fire time. I may be wrong but I think there will be a very healthy turnout to show them all that we run the country.
spanone
(135,834 posts)BlueIdaho
(13,582 posts)SWBTATTReg
(22,124 posts)then rebroadcast the juiciest parts ... and include witnesses (live) that would comment on various portions of the rebroadcast. This would have a better impact I would think. Remember that McConnell planned the senate trial in this manner, to disinterest the American public.
bdamomma
(63,849 posts)do people really want to live in a dictatorship??? Just proving to those Repig bastards "that the American people" don't care about the Ukraine or don't know where it is" . Why are those who are totally ignorant giving the cultists tRump regime more ammo to just do this to us.
The continuing of dumbing down the masses is what they want, the people can be controlled better that way.
This what they want obedient workers, who just don't care what Cult of tRump does.
Codeine
(25,586 posts)because we know the outcome already, and because they refuse to allow evidence and witnesses to be presented.
UniteFightBack
(8,231 posts)hunter
(38,313 posts)They made Trump, they can eat him.
Cirque du So-What
(25,939 posts)Perhaps I would have watched some when the Democrats had the floor, but work takes precedence. Sure as shit not gonna watch the dreck presented by the pugs.
lindysalsagal
(20,686 posts)But, of course, he wasn't part of the impeachment....
maxsolomon
(33,345 posts)Last edited Sat Jan 25, 2020, 06:39 PM - Edit history (3)
1. Barely anyone will discuss or mention it beyond "Oh God, don't talk about it", and this office is about 99% Soshlyst Libtards, but we're "super super busy" (we actually are).
2. In particular, the Millenials want nothing to do with it; they can't tolerate it emotionally. My stepdaughter is the same; she said she wouldn't be able to get to sleep. This is the same woman who watches rape and murder procedurals almost exclusively on TV.
3. It's easy to ignore; we're on the West Coast and barely anyone leaves the office before 9 pm EST. The show was mostly over by then (except for the best part: Schiff's summaries and closing arguments).
I watched Schiff's closing arguments on the computer.
Happy Hoosier
(7,308 posts)I know the evidence. The fucker is guilty. But it simply wont matter. Trump believes he is above the law, and he is right.
CatWoman
(79,302 posts)I'm not watching it because the whole ordeal and the GOP's preconceived conclusion is really pissing me off.
I have to accept it but don't have to watch it in real time.