The O-Factor

By: Jordan Rowe

He’s the spokesman for the common man. American television icon Bill O’Reilly has continued to rack in ratings over the course of the 2000s. The O’Reilly Factor (originally called The O’Reilly Report) premiered on the Fox News Channel in 1996, but it didn’t hit its stride until the turn of the century. For those readers who are unfamiliar with the show, Bill O’Reilly will discuss controversial political and social issues with guests. His “cut through the clutter” style has become widely popular, and has distinguished him from other news anchors. He has a wide variety of titled segments, such as the Talking Points Memo, which begins each show, and the Pinheads and Patriots segment, in which he praises someone who’s done something good for the country and chastises another individual who has demeaned the country’s moral.

But back to ratings. The O’Reilly Factor passed Larry King Live in 2001 as the most-watched cable news show in the country. More than 3.5 million viewers enter the “No Spin Zone” every night. And with 106 consecutive months at the top, there are no signs of the masses gravitating anytime soon. O’Reilly’s audience is up 37% from a year ago. But, the Fox News Channel’s ratings in general are up. In July of 2009, the network boasted it was up 48% in everyday ratings, and up 70% in primetime of viewers in the 25-54 age bracket. The network also showed the biggest market growth in the younger demographic. Perhaps even more impressive is the fact that FNC was beating CNN and MSNBC combined in ratings halls. But it all harkens back to Obama in the White House.

Aside from wars overseas, the Obama Administration is fighting one on the home front…against Fox News. Obama senior advisors have referred to FNC as, “not a news network.” Obama himself has gone on the record to say about FNC, “If media is operating basically as a talk radio format, then that’s one thing, and if it’s operating as a news outlet, then that’s another.” To formally show their disapproval, on September 20th Obama appeared on all the major news programs in one day to voice support for his health care bill. But, he forgot one…Fox News. Not that they care…the Obama Administration’s consistent snubs have only provided a bigger wave of ratings for FNC. And Bill O’Reilly’s content to ride that wave…all the way to the bank!