Cable news refers to television channels devoted to television news broadcasts, with the name deriving from the proliferation of such networks during the 1980s with the advent of cable television. In the United States, early networks included CNN in 1980, Financial News Network in 1981, and CNN2 (now HLN) in 1982. CNBC was created in 1989, taking control of FNN in 1991. By 1997, the cable news industry grew to incorporate several other networks, including MSNBC, Fox News Channel, and specialty channels including Bloomberg Television, ESPNews, and Fox Business Network.
As the highest rated and most widely available cable news channels, CNN, Fox News Channel and MSNBC are sometimes referred to as the "Big Three". Beginning with Fox News, some television networks shifted emphasis from simple news and news analysis to focus on opinion programming. In the 2000s, MSNBC positioned itself as a social liberal alternative to the more conservative Fox News Channel, in the process vying for second place with CNN in the ratings.
Regional 24-hour cable news television channels that are primarily concerned with local programming and cover some statewide interest are News 14 Carolina that operates out of North Carolina, NY1 operates from New York City and Northwest Cable News (NWCN) operates from Seattle.
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The Persian Gulf War in 1991 catapulted CNN into the spotlight, largely because CNN was the only news outlet with the ability to communicate from inside Iraq during the initial hours of the American bombing campaign, with live reports from the al-Rashid Hotel in Baghdad by reporters Bernard Shaw, John Holliman, and Peter Arnett. Throughout the 1990s, CNN (which was at the time the only major cable news channel) became very influential, an influence later coined as the CNN effect.
Today, CNN's television personalities include Wolf Blitzer, Campbell Brown, former interviewer Larry King, and Anderson Cooper.
During the 1990s, CNN was criticized by former Republican House Majority Leader Tom DeLay and among other conservatives of liberal bias and have referred to CNN as the "Clinton News Network."[1] Today, CNN is considered neutral compared to Fox News and MSNBC, though critics argue it still has a liberal bias.[2][3] and catering to a more liberal audience,[4]
CNN was the first cable news network to launch in high definition (HD) in September 2007.[5]
In 1982, Time Warner created a spin-off called CNN2. Every thirty minutes it showed the top stories of the day. CNN2 was renamed CNN Headline News, and most recently, HLN. Time Warner created CNN International in 1985. CNN launched a special version on January 20, 1992 named CNN Airport Network which is available exclusively in United States airports, which simulcasts CNN and HLN, but with inserts of information of interest to air travelers. CNN also runs a Spanish version of its newcasts named CNN en Español.
Time Warner started two networks which failed. One, as a competitor to the upstart ESPNews, the other a competitor to CNBC. CNNSI, a combination of CNN and Sports Illustrated launched in 1996 and was shut down in 2002. CNN and Sports Illustrated continue to maintain their partnership, Sports Illustrated runs the sports section of CNN's website. CNNfn launched at the end of 1995, and was shut down after nine years on the air in December 2004.
Fox News was founded by Rupert Murdoch's News Corp., the third largest media company behind Time Warner and Disney and is headed by CEO Roger Ailes. Since the network's launch, FNC has become the highest rated cable network. FNC's prime time line up includes The O'Reilly Factor, hosted by Bill O'Reilly, which is the highest rated cable news program since late 2001. Fox News uses the logos "Fair and Balanced" and "We Report. You Decide." The network added an HD channel in May, 2008.[6]
Like MSNBC in later years, Fox has faced frequent accusations of bias, in its case conservative.
When the network was launched in 1996, the leading hosts included Jodi Applegate, John Gibson, Tim Russert, and Brian Williams. For over a decade, the network's ratings were consistenly last. Phil Griffin became president of MSNBC in mid-2008 and MSNBC has become increasingly politically liberal since then, particularly in its prime-time lineup.[7][8][9]
Primetime Commentators Chris Matthews and Keith Olbermann have harshly criticized Former President George W. Bush over the years. Each of the conservative commentaters on MSNBC; Pat Buchanan and Joe Scarborough, are paleoconservatives and Bush critics themselves, which has resulted in MSNBC being criticized for being liberally biased. In September 2008, radio host Rachel Maddow was given her own show adding to the primetime lineup. Radio host Ed Schultz was also given his own show in April 2009. Lawrence O'Donnell will host a 10 PM show in the future, according to an announcement by Keith Olbermann.
MSNBC launched their HD version on June 29, 2009.[10]
Current TV is a liberal-leaning cable news channel, led by former U.S. Vice President Al Gore and businessman Joel Hyatt. Comcast owns a ten percent stake of Current's parent company, Current Media LLC.[11]
Beginning early in 2011, Current TV started implementing major changes in programming and personnel, beginning with the hiring of Keith Olbermann and the re-launch of his former MSNBC Program Countdown. The network is beginning a long series of major program changes and will eventually develop a full schedule of news, opinion, and analysis programming from an independent-progressive perspective. The Young Turks with Cenk Uygur premiered on Monday, December 5, 2011 at 7 p.m. ET. Cenk Uygur, like Olbermann, left MSNBC in 2011 to join Current TV. He reportedly had a feud with MSNBC because he was too critical of President Obama. They then hired former Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm, who will host The War Room with Jennifer Granholm. The program will launch in January 2012 at 9 p.m. ET
Until the start of 2002, CNN was the number one cable news network in ratings.[12] Fox News has been number one in audience since.[13]
In March 2009, MSNBC finished in second place in prime-time rankings, ahead of CNN for the first time in its existence. Phil Griffin, President of MSNBC, attributed this to the network's decision to become more liberal with Keith Olbermann and Rachel Maddow in primetime slots along with problems at CNN.[14]
Average Viewership During Election Events:[15]
| Compaign Event | CNN | MSNBC | Fox News |
|---|---|---|---|
| Super Tuesday | 3,640,000 | 2,110,000 | 3,890,000 |
| Democratic Convention | 3,152,000 | 1,586,000 | 3,836,000 |
| Republican Convention | 2,413,000 | 1,111,000 | 6,186,000 |
| Election Day | 12,292,000 | 5,888,000 | 15,027,000 |
Television network ABC launched a 24 hour news channel named ABC News Now on July 26, 2004. It is available through some digital television providers, broadband and streaming video, though the online live broadcasting has been eliminated.
In 1989, CNBC was launched by NBC Universal. It was followed by Bloomberg Television in 1994, created by Bloomberg L.P., which is led by New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg. Bloomberg TV is currently the only business network that isn't in High Definition. In October 2007, Murdoch launched his own financial network called Fox Business Network saying CNBC is too "negative towards business" and promised to make Fox Business more "business friendly".
The Big Three:[16]
| CNBC | Bloomberg TV | Fox Business Network | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | Englewood Cliffs, N.J. | New York City | New York City |
| Number of Households in 2008 | 97 million | 47 million | 44 million |
| Profits in 2008 | $350 million | $15.6 million | not reported* |
| Management | Mark Hoffman (President) | Michael Clancy (Executive Editor) | Roger Ailes (CEO) |
Nielson doesn't track Fox Business ratings,[17] but peaked at 81,000 viewers.[16] Bloomberg also doesn't subscribe to Nielson and ratings are assumed to be very small.[18] Currently, CNBC usually has between 200,000-400,000 viewers during the day.[19] In 2000, CNBC had higher ratings then CNN during market hours.[20]
ESPN launched a 24 hour sports news channel named ESPNews on November 1, 1996, which is carried by most cable and satellite providers. It airs news, highlights, press conferences, and commentary by analysts all in relation to sports.
| Network | 7 PM | 8 PM | 9 PM | 10 PM | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| News | |||||
| CNN | Erin Burnett OutFront | Anderson Cooper 360 | Piers Morgan Tonight | Anderson Cooper 360 (repeat) | |
| Fox News Channel | The Fox Report | The O'Reilly Factor | Hannity | On the Record with Greta Van Susteren | |
| MSNBC | Hardball with Chris Matthews (repeat) | The Ed Show | The Rachel Maddow Show | The Last Word with Lawrence O'Donnell | |
| Current TV | Young Turks with Cenk Uygur | Countdown with Keith Olbermann | War Room with Jennifer Granholm (Starting in January 2012) | unknown | |
| HLN | Issues with Jane Velez-Mitchell | Nancy Grace | Dr. Drew | The Joy Behar Show | |
| Financial | |||||
| Bloomberg Television | Charlie Rose | various programs | Charlie Rose (repeat) | ||
| CNBC | The Kudlow Report | CNBC Specials | |||
| Fox Business Network | Lou Dobbs Tonight | Freedom Watch with Judge Napolitano | America's Nightly Scoreboard | Stossel | |
| Sports | |||||
| ESPNews | SportsCenter | ||||
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