Sick America Drudge reports Littelton massacre boosted TV viewing figures

April 27, 1999

IN PRESS RELEASES, NBC AND CNN CELEBRATE AUDIENCE SURGE DURING MASSACRE!

Late on Tuesday NBC spokeswoman Barbara Levin broke out the digital champagne and poured a press release on the wires celebrating dramatic audience increases for NBC NEWS at the height of last week's school slaughter.

"As the nation focused on the school shooting tragedy in Littleton, Colorado... NIGHTLY NEWS posted double digit viewer growth in both total viewers and homes," bragged Levin in a press release she issued on AP NEWS EXPRESS.

MSNBC followed the example and issued its own shocking press release claiming viewership records had been set during the bloodbath.

"MSNBC's total day households grew an impressive 88% to a .5/259,000," declared MSNBC in a press release.

"MSNBC's broadcast of the NEWS WITH BRIAN WILLIAMS rocketed 105%" during the slaughter.

The press release continued: "MSNBC shattered its previous peak quarter-hour record, scoring a 4.2/2,018,000 households during John Gibson's interview with a Columbine High School student."

Not to be out done, Atlanta was also busy celebrating its increased viewership with a press release that claimed dramatic gains.

"CNN's key demo more than doubles," noted CNN in a release.

Ted Turner's media relations office announced: "On April 20, 1999, the network's highest-rated day of the year to date, CNN/U.S. posted total-day increases of 425 percent in rating and 409 percent in delivery, averaging a 2.1 rating and delivering 1.6 million homes. The network's delivery among adults 25-54 also increased by 731 percent..."

...if only the shooting would never end.

IN A PARALLEL development, on Wednesday, April 28, 1999 the British Broadcasting Corporation announced that viewer figures for its six o'clock and nine o'clock television news bulletins more than doubled on the day that popular television presenter Jill Dando was gunned down in her home street. Even the rival ITN news channel doubled its ratings for the same reason. Yes, if only...