Newsmax Loses More Than Half Its Audience Since Post-Election Ratings Surge

[demmiblue]

Following its post-election ratings surge, right-wing network Newsmax has seen its ratings drop, losing more than half of its total day audience, according to data from Nielsen.

In December, Newsmax made headlines when it topped a Fox News show in the key demographic of viewers age 25-54: on Dec. 7, at 7 p.m., Greg Kelly Reports had 229,000 viewers in the demo, beating Fox’s The Story With Martha MacCallum, which had 203,000 viewers in the demo. Martha MacCallum still topped Greg Kelly in total viewership that day, with 1.59 million total viewers to Kelly’s 949,000, but the demo upset was a shock for a network that long touted its position as the top-rated one in cable news.

In the weeks following the election, Newsmax saw ratings highs as viewers, disappointed by Donald Trump’s loss to President Joe Biden, turned to Newsmax for comfort, as the network continued to perpetuate baseless claims of voter fraud. (Newsmax did eventually accept Trump’s defeat – well, mostly – but in February, the network allowed Trump to push the false election claims during a phone interview.)

Newsmax has also had its share of controversies since the election. In December, facing the threat of a lawsuit, the network ran a fact-check of its own reporting on baseless voter fraud allegation. In February, anchor Bob Sellers literally walked out of an interview with MyPillow founder and vocal Trump supporter Mike Lindell, who has continued to push baseless claims of voter fraud (and has since been sued for it). Viewers called for a boycott, and the next day, Sellers returned with an apology to Lindell.

https://www.mediaite.com/tv/newsmax-loses-more-than-half-its-audience-since-post-election-ratings-surge/

[marble falls]

1. That's because it's too woooo for news and too stupid for comedy.

[Hugin]

7. It's difficult to make much music with a single note.

Which is all they know how to play.

[malaise]

9. This

[mucifer]

2. That's GREAT news. I assumed their numbers were soaring with fox's numbers tanking

[Omnipresent]

3. Republicans are numb to what they want.

[Cirque du So-What]

4. Speaking of Mike Lindell...

A TV station in my local market is carrying a half-hour infomercial this morning - My Pillow Topper. I wouldn't watch it for any amount of money, but I'm gonna contact the station and chastise them for providing a platform where he can hawk his tawdry wares.

The text of my message:

I am disappointed to see that you have sold Mike Lindell a half-hour block of time where he can hawk his tawdry wares, i.e., My Pillow Topper. He is a supporter of insurrection and martial law as well as an enemy of democracy. I have boycotted his products and will denounce his business whenever possible, since I don't want to fund his efforts to overturn the lawful election in November. Please reconsider providing a platform for this fascist - if for no other reason that he sells a crappy product made of nothing more innovative than shredded polyurethane foam.

[11 Bravo]

6. Good letter!

[Initech]

5. Womp womp!

[Buns_of_Fire]

8. You have to assume that several of them are in jail right about now.

Where they're finding out that the cells do NOT come equipped with 52" flat-screen TVs. Or a Starbucks cart to deliver their Giganto Triple-Shot Raspberry-Mocha Smoothies.

[Brother Buzz]

10. With it's cast of All-Star wackadoodle personalities...

I'm amazed it's still on the air. And speaking of on the air, Newsmax's list of former affiliate TV stations is rather impressive.

There were some curious TV station decisions after dropping the tripe:

Replaced by infomercials
Replaced with Jewelry Television
Replaced with Christian Television Network
Replaced with Court TV Mystery
Channel went dark
Replaced with Heroes & Icons
Replaced with The Country Network