2013 TVNewser Challege: The Results

By Merrill Knox 

At the beginning of the year, we asked you to predict what would happen in the television news industry in 2013, and thousands of you responded with your thoughts on the year ahead. We’ll have a new set of questions in the 2014 TVNewser Challenge tomorrow, but in the meantime, here’s how you did.

Will the three evening newscasts increase or decrease in viewership in 2013?

82% of you thought the evening newscasts would decrease in viewership, compared to just 18% of you who thought viewership would go up. As it turns out, you were all right: year-to-date, the three-network annual total is up +2% in total viewers and down -4% in the A25-54 demographic compared to 2012. “NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams” remained on top this year. “ABC World News with Diane Sawyer” was second and “CBS Evening News with Scott Pelley” was third.

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By this time next year, which CNN daypart will see the biggest change under Jeff Zucker?

The majority of you (57%) believed CNN’s primetime programming would see the biggest changes under Jeff Zucker’s leadership. There have been a few changes in primetime, but the major programming overhaul was in the mornings, which 30% of voters predicted. “New Day” debuted in June.

Which broadcast morning show is likely to see an anchor change in 2013?

Only 12% of responders saw an anchor change in the cards for “Good Morning America,” which had weather anchor Sam Champion depart for The Weather Channel this month. 61% of you thought the anchor change would be at “Today” and 27% thought it would be at “CBS This Morning.”

Will Megyn Kelly still be with Fox News at this time next year?

44% of you correctly predicted Megyn Kelly’s move to primetime, which took place after she returned from maternity leave in October.

Will MSNBC’s primetime lineup of Ed Schultz, Rachel Maddow and Lawrence O’Donnell see changes in 2013?

53% of you saw this one coming: Ed Schultz was replaced by Chris Hayes in April. Schultz anchored on weekends until August before moving back to weekdays, where he now holds the 5pmET timeslot.

Who will win Inauguration coverage ratings?

In the final ratings, NBC News topped the broadcast networks with 5.08 million viewers and CNN won on cable with 3.13 million viewers. 33% of you predicted an NBC News victory and 19% of you predicted a CNN win.

Will “GMA” maintain its #1 spot in the mornings in 2013?

Most of you (78%) were right about this one: “Good Morning America” held on to the top spot for the year. “GMA” won its first season in 19 years in September.

Who is most likely to be hired by CNN this time next year?

TVNewser readers were wrong on this one. 65% of voters predicted Ann Curry would find her way to CNN in 2013. Only 18% correctly predicted Chris Cuomo would join the network. Cuomo anchors “New Day” alongside Kate Bolduan and Michaela Pereira.

Which business network anchor is most likely to join a competitor in 2013?

One of the biggest industry headlines of the year was Maria Bartiromo’s jump from CNBC to Fox Business, which 51% of you predicted.

Which Sunday public affairs show anchor is most likely not to be hosting at the end of 2013?

43% of voters predicted it would be CBS News’ Bob Schieffer, who hosts “Face the Nation.” But everyone was wrong: there were no talent changes on the Sunday shows in 2013.

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