2014 was not a banner year for cable news channels. Fox News, CNN and MSNBC all saw total day viewership declines last year. Fox News, still far out front in the cable news race, was the only channel to eke out growth in primetime.
This afternoon, FNC chairman and CEO Roger Ailes emailed his staff thanking them for their work, while lighting a fire to keep it going.
“Thanks to all of you for your skill, determination, initiative, work ethic and can-do attitudes,” Ailes writes in the note, obtained by TVNewser. “Now comes the hard part—as we have done every year, we need to top ourselves again. When you are #1 and pulling away, it’s difficult sometimes to maintain commitment and drive.
Because we have special people at Fox News, it has not been difficult for you. You go to work every day to win. I appreciate it and am very proud of all of you.
Happy New Year—let’s go.”
Barring an unforeseen drop in viewership, Fox News will, later this month, mark 13 straight years at No. 1.