Fox News rules in South Florida
Bottom Line: It’s a funny thing watching people who create their own realities marvel at the rest of us in the real world. We currently have one of those moments taking place right now. Morning Consult produced national survey work of news viewership. They ranked congressional districts based on the highest percentage of viewership.Not surprisingly, Fox News which has led 24/7 news networks in ratings for around twenty years,continues to dominate overall TV viewership.70% of all congressional districts across the country watch Fox News the most. What did surprise some, especially in South Florida news media, is where Fox News rates the highest. Congressional District 21. The one represented by Lois Frankel that serves as my home and much of Palm Beach County.
According to Morning Consult, 47% of us in Florida’s 21st district watch Fox News weekly – a higher percentage than anywhere in the country. Additionally,three other Florida districts, including the 25th in South Florida, are among the top ten nationally. Now, that took Anthony Man at the Sun Sentinel by surprise. In his story he had this to say:
Fox News, which is the favorite cable TV outlet of President Donald Trump and many Republicans, was by far the preferred source of cable news across the country — nowhere more than in the 21st Congressional District, which includes more than half of Palm Beach County’s voters.
First, is this an admission that no one who views Fox News is familiar with President Trump’s TV news outlet of choice? Do no Republicans read the Sun Sentinel? Else why would you explain to those people who these people are to themselves right? Second, to those of us who broker in facts and real news, it makes perfect sense. Fox News isn’t just the highest rated news source – it consistently ranks among the most trusted. This most recently was surveyed by Suffolk University and USA Today in August when Fox News had twice the highest trust rating of any news organization in the country. But just as Man, and many on the left are inclined to do, they spin a narrative that Fox News is right wing to discredit and attempt to write off those who consume it. Just like what they attempt to do to those of us in talk radio.
I mentioned that I’m not surprised. There are two reasons. First, there are two sides to stories and one side to facts. I always establish the facts before formulating opinions. For that reason, it’s crystal clear to me why Fox News rules Florida’s 21st and Florida generally. Second, here’s something else that’s been happening in South Florida. I don’t make a point of talking about ratings because most of it just sounds like hype and nonsense generally when it’s done. That and I think the content speaks for itself. That being said...
In all of Palm Beach County my morning show, The Morning Rush, has been number three for total listening for the past six months across all radio stations. Among men, it’s been #1 for six consecutive months. That’s a new record in the current ratings methodology for any information station in this market. That doesn’t even factor in the listening via iHeartRadio. In Miami, my show has been #6 among listeners of all ages and #3 for men. Not bad for AM radio in a market in which half of the audience doesn’t speak the language. Again, that doesn’t factor in streaming. The point is there’s a hunger and desire for real news and information that’s stronger than I’ve seen at any point in my 22 years in this industry. Given the demographics of South Florida – it makes perfect sense that the most credible sources in news and information would rise to the top. Know that you're not the outlier, it’s them. Those who don’t try to understand and are the least tolerant among us. Also, understand that you’re part of the silent majority and I’m happy to be a voice you can rely on.