FOX News Channel Dwarfs Cable News Competition in Remarkable First Quarter Ratings Surge

The O`Reilly Factor Marks 100 Consecutive Months at #1

CNN Ratings Collapse - Network Plummets 21% in Prime Time 25-54 Demographic
During Extraordinary Quarter for Political and Economic News
NEW YORK--(Business Wire)--
FOX News Channel (FNC) expanded its ratings dominance among its cable news
competition in all categories during the first quarter (Q1) of 2009, beating CNN
and MSNBC combined in viewership according to Nielsen Media Research. Marked by
President Obama`s first months in office and an escalating economic crisis, Q1
2009 was FNC`s third highest rated quarter in prime time in the network`s
history - behind Q4 2008 (Presidential election) and Q3 2005 (Hurricane
Katrina). Among all basic cable channels, FNC ranked second for the quarter in
prime time viewership, with CNN and MSNBC lagging behind at 17th and 24th,
respectively.

In prime time, FNC bested CNN and MSNBC combined with an average of 2,250,000
viewers (up 24%) during Q1 2009, compared with CNN`s 1,126,000 (down 10%) and
MSNBC`s 950,000 (up 22%). In total day, FNC also rated higher than the
competition with 1,203,000 total viewers (up 26%) compared to CNN`s 740,000 (up
17%) and MSNBC`s 473,000 (up 20%). FNC ranked fifth among all basic cable
channels for the quarter in total day viewership while CNN and MSNBC followed at
14th and 28th, respectively.

In the key 25-54 demographic, FNC expanded upon an already commanding lead in
prime time averaging 511,000 viewers (up 19%) compared with CNN`s 343,000 (down
22%) and MSNBC`s 343,000 (up 7%). In total day, FNC averaged 317,000 (up 23%)
compared to CNN`s 236,000 (up 7%) and MSNBC`s 180,000 (up 11%).

FNC also secured 9 out of the top 10 programs in cable news for the quarter
based on total viewership. The O`Reilly Factor marked #1 for 100 consecutive
months in March and led all programs with 3,387,000 viewers, up 27% over last
year. Rounding out the top five programs were: Hannity (up 36%); Glenn Beck (up
90%); Special Report with Bret Baier (up 39%); The FOX Report with Shepard Smith
(up 29%); On the Record with Greta Van Susteren (up 26%).

In January, FNC launched three news programs which have posted significant
ratings gains over Q1 2008. Glenn Beck (5:00 - 6:00pm ET) averaged 2,233,000 (up
90%) in total viewers and 548,000 (up 115%) in the 25-54 demographic. Beck was
also the fastest growing program in all of cable news in March - up an
astounding 118% (2,271,000) in total viewers and 171% (580,000) in the 25-54
demographic when compared with the same time period in March 2008. Special
Report with Bret Baier (6:00 - 7:00pm ET) averaged 2,037,000 (up 39%) in total
viewers and 446,000 (up 41%) in the 25-54 demographic. Hannity (9:00 - 10:00pm
ET) averaged 2,671,000 (up 36%) in total viewers and 646,000 (up 35%) in the
25-54 demographic. All three new programs beat CNN and MSNBC combined in total
viewership during their respective time periods.

FOX News Channel (FNC) is a 24-hour general news service covering breaking news
as well as political, entertainment and business news. For more than six years,
FNC has been the most watched cable news channel in the nation. Owned by News
Corp., FNC is available in more than 90 million homes.

FOX News
Richard White, 212-301-3047

Copyright Business Wire 2009