June 3, 2013

The Place For Politics: MSNBC Ratings Slip When Breaking News Is Not Political

How about this for breaking news — the news network with the tagline “The Place For Politics” doesn’t shine in the ratings department when the biggest news stories are not political. Is this really a shock to anyone? In May, MSNBC slipped to 4th place behind Fox News, CNN and HLN. This was a time of breaking news like tornadoes, and a murder trial (no, I won’t even mention the name). Usually MSNBC is a distant second to the near worship-like dominance of Fox News. Of course, ratings don’t prove that you are delivering a factually sound product, it just means you are delivering what a fervent audience wants to hear. And when it comes to faux scandals during a democratic administration, the faux news network known as Fox News is definitely your source. When it comes to coverage of non-political breaking news, CNN’s longstanding name recognition wins out. “We’re not the place for that [breaking news],” said MSNBC president Phil Griffin. “Our brand is not that.” Indeed.

∼ Continue Reading ∼

• • •

December 16, 2010

Stargate Universe Didn’t Know Its Own Destiny

Today Syfy announced that Stargate Universe has been cancelled after only two seasons.  Low ratings and numerous new upcoming scripted programs in 2011 are the reasons given for the cancellation.  I can’t exactly say this is a shock as I have been paying attention to the ratings, and they haven’t been good.  Right now Stargate Universe is in the mid-season break and will return with the back half of season two (all 10 episodes) in Spring 2011.  For the record I’ve been a fan of the Stargate franchise since the movie but especially the first two series, Stargate SG-1, which ran for 10 seasons and Stargate Atlantis, which ran for 5 seasons.  It’s unfortunate that there will be no Stargate episodes beyond the final 10 of Stargate Universe for the forseeable future, quite possibly forever.  Plus, the prospects of getting any more direct-to-DVD movies for the Stargate franchise seem to be slipping away as well.  It was definitely a good run and there are always reruns and DVDs available to get us back into the world of Stargate.

∼ Continue Reading ∼

• • •