A cable news network under scrutiny by millions is again the king of the hill with competitors far behind. The latest TV ratings data show Fox News is kicking butt and taking names.

One of my favorite web sites that I check weekly is TV by the Numbers. It’s not a political site — just a TV ratings site with charts, graphs and analysis of Nielsen ratings data.

Their cable news section has been a hotbed of activity lately thanks to the White House’s recent trash-talking about Fox News, a cable news organization that, frankly, gets lots of viewing in my household.

The ratings data show I’m not alone. The evening ratings for Fox News is near 2008 election levels, while the ratings for its competitors are down by at least 50 percent.

As an admitted news “junkie,” I do complement Fox News coverage with Internet news aggregators like Google News, which scour and collect news stories from the Internet. A more “low-tech” approach I use is with my TV remote control to check in on CNN, HLN, and yes, even MSNBC. Fox News is more likely to give the viewer a fair shake and not omit or tilt the story, a subconscious tactic I often see on CNN, especially from talking heads Don Lemon and Kyra Phillips.

Links

• Fox News Evening Ratings Near 2008 Election Levels, Competition Down 50%+
• TV by the Numbers
• Google News

For Glenn Beck, it’s tough being a trend-setter. For the first time, his 5 p.m. cable news show topped 3 million viewers on Weds, Aug. 26.

Weeks after Glenn Beck fended off allegations of racism, big-name advertisers are still pulling out despite record ratings. Lilly-livered corporate advertisers like Walmart, CVS Pharmacy, Sprint, UPS and Clorox have cancelled their ads on the show, seeking instead less provocative fare.

Despite the advertiser backlash, Beck still beats all his competitors combined. This week, he has raked in record numbers, obliterating his opponents and continues to offer incredible value to his remaining advertisers.

The advertiser dustup seems caused by an organization co-founded by Obama administration advisor and admitted Communist Van Jones. ColorOfChange.org is a grassroots organization whose sole existence — and namesake — relies on playing the race card. Their latest publicity stunt is a campaign to encourage advertisers to pull their ads from the Beck show.

Jones helped create the group shortly after Hurricane Katrina hit the Louisiana coast in 2005. The group later blamed George Bush for racism when he allegedly released a natural disaster onto the Louisiana coastline.

Links

Big Beck Goes Over 3 Million Viewers, Beats O’Reilly in Demo
More Advertisers Bolt Beck