Keeping the Ratings Out in the Open

By Chris Ariens 

CNN’s 8pmET place-holder Rick Sanchez is profiled in the New York Observer today. After a fierce week of back, forth and back again from all three 8pm cable hosts, (O’Reilly, Olbermann, and Sanchez) we wanted to see how the numbers add up.

Sanchez’s program, Out in the Open, debuted on August 6. It has averaged 568,000 total viewers a night; 100,000 less than Countdown with Keith Olbermann.

According to Nielsen, in August an average of 601,000 total viewers tuned-in to Sanchez’ show. In September the show averaged 570,000 total viewers. So far in October, the show is averaging 518,000 total viewers. The caveat: as the broadcast networks premiere new fall shows, it’s not uncommon to see cable news numbers drop.

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Still, the bottom line is, even with Olbermann’s growth, and Sanchez holding the fort, FNC’s Bill O’Reilly just marked 6 years at #1, pulling in 2,032,000 viewers in Q3.

Says Sanchez in the Observer piece, “It’s really a great feeling — and it would be wonderful if somehow we could make it last.”

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