Has Covid-19 been good for TV news? Viewership is up, way up
Mark Anthony Germanos
I go into networks and audit the network security, or lack of security... I have seen a lot. I work with you to improve your security, create your disaster recovery plan and make things work faster.
Covid-19 coverage increases ratings
Covid-19 dominates our lives and our consciousness. So much so that we stop what we are doing to watch network news every day. It has returned to being a mandatory part of our lives. A local TV news station anchor began the broadcast with “And now the latest Covid-19 news.” It seems we cannot get enough news, even when the news is not really news anymore. It is just an update of what we already know.
Higher ratings
The news networks are benefiting from Covid-19. They are enjoying increased viewership, which in turn produces higher ratings which in turn generates increased advertising revenue. I’m sure you get the picture. For the second quarter of 2020, all major news networks saw increased ratings. https://variety.com/2020/tv/news/cable-news-networks-tucker-carlson-tv-ratings-1234694846/ says Covid-19, police brutality and protests were good for business. Sad but true, bad news is good news for TV news. You can troll me on Twitter @markgermanos.
Variety also reports “CNN, Fox News and MSNBC all posted double-digit gains from Q2 last year in both total viewership and the key demographic of adults aged 25-54.” This demographic is more likely to spend their hard-earned money than the others.
Hollywood reporter also reports a good quarter for the news networks. https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/tv-ratings-cable-news-has-record-setting-second-quarter-1301220 says FoxNews’ viewership was up 40% year-to-year. They also report ”CNN had the largest percentage gains in the second quarter, more than doubling its total audience and 25-54 viewership in primetime and over the full day compared to the same time in 2019.”
Times were bad, but not any more (for TV news, that is)
I used to write times were bad for broadcast and cable news. People found other ways to get information, primarily on demand and from social media. “Why wait for the evening news?” I used to write. Times have changed. On a temporary basis, Covid-19 is bringing people to the news. Networks are finding that bad news is good news. They are taking bad news to the bank. Sad but true.
--
Mark Anthony Germanos is the author or Howe Hacks Happen and how to protect yourself. Visit https://howhackshappen.com and view three chapters online for FREE today. By Mark Anthony Germanos, of https://cybersafetynet.net/about-cyber-safety-net/.