This may come as a shock to people (especially Canadians who rely on second hand information) who have been told Fox is pure evil. According to Pew Research Foundation,
FNC's audience is the most balanced of any network.
I don't know what to make of these figures exactly, but they're interesting that's for sure. It can also beg the question if FNC has 22% of independents watching, then why wouldn't Obama take the heat and go on FNC? It seems to me, FNC viewers are the ones Obama needs on board for his health care plan. Not Letterman or his audience.
CNN: 51% Democrats, 18% Republicans, 23% independents
MSNBC: 45% Democrats, 18% Republicans, 27% independents
Fox News: 33% Democrats, 39% Republicans, 22% independents
They must be doing something right.
Here's the
PDF to the Pew survey. Pages 15-20 are of notable interest.
22% of their audience is independents, not 22% of all independents watch. And it's useful to note the numbers of the aggregate audience. 25% republican, 36% democrat, 29% independent. So Fox news is still drawing way less a percentage of independents or democrats than any other network. Theoretically the most balanced network would have identical numbers to the aggregate viewing audience, but they're all really skewed.
ReplyDeleteVery good point, Ashley. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteBut it still shows, vis-a-vis perception, Fox's audience isn't homogeneous as assumed or perceived.