Nothing better than quoting the bible on a Sunday morning.
“Maddow’s unique style spikes ratings. Smarts, smile fuel MSNBC host’s rapid rise.” That’s how Variety, long known as the show business bible, headlines its story on MSNBC’s leftwing loon Rachel Maddow.
“After struggling for years to fill the prime 9 p.m. slot — with personalities as disparate as Rita Cosby to Dan Abrams — the network has landed a solid performer in Maddow,” the story says. “Her ratings are a vast improvement over what has been there recently, and she has helped erase doubts the network could carry over sizable audiences from the record heights of the campaign season.”
Maddow premiered with ratings that topped even those of MSNBC “star” Keith Olbermann. And the Variety piece leaves the impression they’ve stayed at that lofty level. In reality, her ratings trajectory looks more like Greg Louganis jackknifing off the high board. There’s been a steady decline and Maddow’s show has now dropped out of the nightly top ten.
As you can see in this chart, Maddow’s audience has dropped significantly this year, while the numbers for direct competitor Sean Hannity have increased significantly.
NOTE: Numbers are in hundred thousands and measure the highly coveted 25-54 demographic. In total audience, the disparity between Hannity and Maddow is even more dramatic.
Let’s compare this to a horserace. Maddow broke fast out of the gate. She led for the first three quarters of the race, but faded at the end and lost the race by 20 lengths.
Not that we would compare Rachel Maddow to a broken down old nag. Never. That would be tacky and tasteless and totally unlike us.
Source: Variety
