Why do people continue to watch Fox News on cable?

Question

It pretty well known the O'Rielly is a nut job with terrible job skill never lets his guest finish a sentence and always get his facts wrong. And Hannity is a HUGE racist that blindly supports anything right winged. IDK to much about the other shows but in general it is know to be very bias and right winged network. Why would someone watch a bias news network....that defeats the whole purpose of news its suppose to be neutral . To me even MSNBC looks a little to liberal to take seriously but i think Countdown is the closest one i know that tries to give the facts (although Keith does have a say but doesn't report it like news he just says his opinion sometimes).

Answer 1

I agree with arctic a bit here. A good % of people who used to listen to Howard Stern on NBC (or any other station he's ever been on) hated him but they wanted to hear what he would say next. Bill O'Reilly evokes emotion from an audience, whether the audience worships the words coming out of his mouth or think he is the root of all evil. The connection, regardless of it's polarity, is what keeps people watching. Many of Fox's audience is inundated with their style: ridiculously fear based, misogynistic, campy, racist, and hearkens back to print sensationalism. It may be all they watch and unfortunately they are too scared or unintelligent to understand the difference.

Bias in the media comes from all angles though. The late Tim Russert was regarded as one of the greats because you didn't truly know what 'side' or viewpoint he favored, he reported and seemed like he tried to get to the root of things and left his sided opinions at the door.



I'm an American. I occasionally watch CNN, Fox, and MSNBC for basic sh** and read The Economist (brilliant), The New York Times, The Star Ledger (NJ) and The Guardian UK. I never take anything I see or read at face value though. You have to internally audit any source and form your own opinion with regard to its bias or veracity.

Answer 2

they will be trying to see the other side of boring pc (political correctness) news channels

they want a balanced view of how people especially  the middle  see the world

Answer 3

cause they want to see what those crazy nutcases are going to say

Answer 4

I agree, I can't watch O'Rielly's show for more than a few minutes.  I also feel that he thinks too highly of himself, along with many other show hosts on this network.  I am more of an ABC and CNN (Headline News) person.  

In the only episode of a show I have seen on this network, the host never really allowed any opposition to his ideas, he just cut off the guest who was trying to explain his position and ideas on the problem.

IDK why people watch it!!! Maybe they like that!!!!!!!

I don't!!!!!!!!!

Answer 5

Because it's THERE. They can't tell the Difference between fact & fiction. And they only want to be told what THEY want to hear.  :(

Answer 6

Because they like it?

Also..... O'Reilly and Hannity are COMMENTATORS.

They discuss things. Topics, news briefs, major stories, etc. It's the same as CNN or MSNBC having commentary shows. It's like a forum.

The reason people watch these shows on these networks? They like them and they want to see what they have to say.

It really is that simple.