Fox News’ Cashin’ In exploded on Twitter Saturday, with 7K mentions during the 11am hour and 41K mentions during the day.  The 7K mentions is a dramatic jump for Cashin’ In, but, for me, the amazing result is the 41K mentions throughout the day: usually, Cashin’ In’s discussion quiets down fairly quickly after the show finishes, but not this Saturday.

Let me get the rest of Cable News Twitter out of the way before we dive into Cashin’ In’s results.  Following Cashin’ In for best hour were Up w/Steve Kornacki, Judge Jeanine, and the each of the two hours of The Melissa Harris-Perry Show:

I don’t usually include a graph showing the total mentions for the day, but in this case it’s worth sharing:

Note that in second place is The Five w/Hosts, which includes mentions of Eric Bolling, the host of Cashin’ In.  It is unclear what portion of The Five‘s mentions are really for Cashin’ In, but is safe to assume a very large percentage are.  That’s part of the challenge of social media analytics — it’s nearly impossible to be 100% accurate in categorizing people’s messy tweets…

Après Cashin’ In, le déluge

Eric Bolling, the host of Cashin’ In, launched a new hashtag for the show, #WakeUpAmerica, and it definitely woke up Twitter.  There were over 31K mentions of that hashtag on Saturday.  Not surprisingly, there were almost immediately some criticisms and questions about its success.

First came the question of whether the hashtag was already in widespread use and not related to Cashin’ In.  So let’s look back a week at how often the hashtag was used. @EricBolling first announced his adoption of #WakeUpAmerica on Friday, 2/6:

Clearly, #WakeUpAmerica was fairly dormant coming into the weekend, averaging under 400 mentions a day prior to Bolling’s adoption of the tag.

Next we have the claim that a misspelt version of the tag, #WakeUpAmeirca was the one that was really dominating (with the usual snark about its users being unable to spell and therefore of limited intellect).  However, there were only 4313 uses of the misspelt tag on Saturday, with the vast majority of them being retweets.  Furthermore, the vast majority of the mentions occurred after the show wrapped for the day (misspelt usages are in blue, correctly spelt mentions are in red):

In a strange irony, the mocking of the misspelt hashtag may have temporarily got it trending, which caused some folks to assume it was was trending because Cashin’ In fans were misusing it:

Fox News Eric Bolling asked GOP to trend #WakeUpAmerica to mock POTUS. They trended #WakeUpAmeirca The derp is real pic.twitter.com/YC6rJoNg13

— Nerdy Wonka (@NerdyWonka) February 7, 2015

There are two things that are wrong about this assertion.  First, a huge portion of the uses of the misspelt hashtag were from critics, not fans.  So it’s incorrect to say that Eric Bolling got the wrong hashtag trending.  Second, at no time — even during the peak #WakeUpAmeirca — was the wrong hashtag used more than a third of the usage of #WakeUpAmerica.  And had you subtracted the critics glee, it would have probably only been a single digit percentage.

Conclusions

There is no doubt that @EricBolling and Cashin’ In broke new ground in social media usage on Saturday and generated an amazing response from his fans on Twitter.

There is no doubt that the surge in use of the #WakeUpAmerica hashtag is completely attributable to the show.

And there is no doubt that the use of the misspelt version of the hashtag amounted to no more than an inconsequential portion of the over all usage, consistent with the amount of typos people normally make in Twitter.

Here’s the raw stats for the day:  2015-02-07-ShowStats.csv

Some other comments…

The total mentions for the show are computed from mentions of @EricBolling, #CashinIn, and #WakeUpAmerica, but do not include the #WakeUpAmeirca misspellings.  The total number should be even higher when you count those misfires.  But I don’t generally include misspellings, so it would be inconsistent to make an exception now.

I was also planning to include a count of mentions of Cashin’ In’s guests in this week’s stats, but I have postponed that until next week given the change in hashtags and the huge increase in week over week counts.  I will start to include them in the mix next week as well.

Finally …

There are many valid criticisms of the opinions voiced on Cashin’ In.  But saying that the people who share those opinions are stupid is simply arrogant and not at all a winning strategy.  Politics is a strange game: in order to win, you must convert your enemy, not vanquish him.

Note that all times are US Eastern Time. See notes at end for further explanations. For earlier articles on cable news twitter ratings, please see this.

Cable News Twitter Ratings for 2015-02-07

Top Shows for the day:

Category	Mentions	Show
Most Mentions During Hour	7294	Fox News: Cashin In
Most Mentions During Day	41223	Fox News: Cashin In

Ratings for individual time slots

Ratings for 12 am

Network	Show	Twts Hour	Twts Day	UT Hour	UT Day	Reach	Male	Female
Fox News	The Kelly File	372	1,957	224	1,361	7,398,023	64%	36%

Ratings for 1 am

Network	Show	Twts Hour	Twts Day	UT Hour	UT Day	Reach	Male	Female
CNN	Weed	4	256	4	189	729,894	21%	79%
Fox News	Hannity	349	7,180	238	4,183	31,304,838	61%	39%

Ratings for 2 am

Network	Show	Twts Hour	Twts Day	UT Hour	UT Day	Reach	Male	Female
Al Jazeera	Real Money with Ali Velshi	1	114	1	40	548,813	73%	27%
CNN	Weed 2	6	256	4	189	729,894	21%	79%
Fox News	On The Record w/Greta Van Susteren	114	2,729	49	1,842	13,616,261	55%	45%

Ratings for 3 am

Network	Show	Twts Hour	Twts Day	UT Hour	UT Day	Reach	Male	Female
Al Jazeera	News	18	1,226	15	868	3,389,040	51%	49%
Al Jazeera	Inside Story	0	4	0	4	3,642	100%	0%
CNN	CNN International	194	4,600	180	3,404	98,925,364	52%	48%
Fox News	RedEye	928	4,470	185	2,402	18,263,816	67%	33%

Ratings for 4 am

Network	Show	Twts Hour	Twts Day	UT Hour	UT Day	Reach	Male	Female
CNN	CNN International	193	4,600	161	3,404	98,925,364	52%	48%
Fox News	The Five	9	267	9	196	420,104	65%	35%

Ratings for 5 am

Network	Show	Twts Hour	Twts Day	UT Hour	UT Day	Reach	Male	Female
Al Jazeera	News	22	1,226	15	868	3,389,040	51%	49%
CNN	CNN International	199	4,600	156	3,404	98,925,364	52%	48%
Fox News	Hannity	136	7,180	90	4,183	31,304,838	61%	39%
MSNBC	Your Business (5:30)	0	17	0	12	320,548	50%	50%

Ratings for 6 am

Network	Show	Twts Hour	Twts Day	UT Hour	UT Day	Reach	Male	Female
Al Jazeera	Real Money with Ali Velshi	0	114	0	40	548,813	73%	27%
Al Jazeera	Inside Story	0	4	0	4	3,642	100%	0%
CNN	New Day	40	732	24	516	10,165,160	43%	57%
Fox News	Fox and Friends Weekend	75	641	54	464	6,232,315	60%	40%
MSNBC	The Rachel Maddow Show	22	1,122	18	777	9,407,544	51%	49%

Ratings for 7 am

Network	Show	Twts Hour	Twts Day	UT Hour	UT Day	Reach	Male	Female
Al Jazeera	TechKnow	0	83	0	57	680,287	56%	44%
CNN	New Day	61	732	47	516	10,165,160	43%	57%
Fox News	Fox and Friends Weekend	75	641	55	464	6,232,315	60%	40%
HLN	Weekend Express	5	55	1	27	517,748	72%	28%
MSNBC	Weekends w/Alex Witt	4	139	4	81	288,760	54%	46%

Ratings for 8 am

Network	Show	Twts Hour	Twts Day	UT Hour	UT Day	Reach	Male	Female
Al Jazeera	News	71	1,226	43	868	3,389,040	51%	49%
CNN	New Day	72	732	51	516	10,165,160	43%	57%
Fox News	Fox and Friends Weekend	114	641	89	464	6,232,315	60%	40%
HLN	Weekend Express	17	55	11	27	517,748	72%	28%
MSNBC	Up w/Steve Kornacki	687	3,643	211	1,331	21,771,115	52%	48%

Ratings for 9 am

Network	Show	Twts Hour	Twts Day	UT Hour	UT Day	Reach	Male	Female
Al Jazeera	News	69	1,226	60	868	3,389,040	51%	49%
CNN	Smerconish	202	684	113	385	1,931,844	61%	39%
Fox News	Fox and Friends Weekend	187	641	152	464	6,232,315	60%	40%
HLN	Weekend Express	5	55	3	27	517,748	72%	28%
MSNBC	Up w/Steve Kornacki	1,553	3,643	488	1,331	21,771,115	52%	48%

Ratings for 10 am

Network	Show	Twts Hour	Twts Day	UT Hour	UT Day	Reach	Male	Female
Al Jazeera	News	120	1,226	97	868	3,389,040	51%	49%
CNN	News Room	9	67	6	28	38,895	55%	45%
Fox News	Bulls and Bears	97	135	55	80	3,734,558	83%	17%
Fox News	Cavuto On Business	212	477	132	351	6,538,283	62%	38%
HLN	Weekend Express	14	55	12	27	517,748	72%	28%
MSNBC	Melissa Harris-Perry Show	1,248	3,944	400	1,452	14,692,569	36%	64%

Ratings for 11 am

Network	Show	Twts Hour	Twts Day	UT Hour	UT Day	Reach	Male	Female
CNN	News Room	4	67	2	28	38,895	55%	45%
Fox News	Forbes on Fox	53	112	33	73	576,152	65%	35%
Fox News	Cashin In	7,294	41,223	2,576	13,581	198,843,264	57%	43%
HLN	Weekend Express	4	55	2	27	517,748	72%	28%
MSNBC	Melissa Harris-Perry Show	1,397	3,944	495	1,452	14,692,569	36%	64%

Ratings for 12 pm

Network	Show	Twts Hour	Twts Day	UT Hour	UT Day	Reach	Male	Female
Al Jazeera	News	86	1,226	61	868	3,389,040	51%	49%
Al Jazeera	The Stream	28	52	16	35	386,994	55%	45%
CNN	News Room	17	67	7	28	38,895	55%	45%
Fox News	America’s News HQ	107	479	69	331	11,630,958	66%	34%
MSNBC	Weekends w/ Alex Witt	17	139	13	81	288,760	54%	46%

Ratings for 1 pm

Network	Show	Twts Hour	Twts Day	UT Hour	UT Day	Reach	Male	Female
Al Jazeera	News	46	1,226	37	868	3,389,040	51%	49%
CNN	News Room	4	67	3	28	38,895	55%	45%
Fox News	America’s News HQ	101	479	68	331	11,630,958	66%	34%
MSNBC	Weekends w/Alex Witt	85	139	56	81	288,760	54%	46%

Ratings for 2 pm

Network	Show	Twts Hour	Twts Day	UT Hour	UT Day	Reach	Male	Female
Al Jazeera	News	49	1,226	45	868	3,389,040	51%	49%
CNN	News Room	4	67	4	28	38,895	55%	45%
Fox News	WSJ Editorial Report (2pm)	24	26	12	14	16,363	78%	22%
Fox News	America’s News HQ (2:30)	34	479	27	331	11,630,958	66%	34%

Ratings for 3 pm

Network	Show	Twts Hour	Twts Day	UT Hour	UT Day	Reach	Male	Female
CNN	News Room	2	67	2	28	38,895	55%	45%
Fox News	America’s News HQ	30	479	23	331	11,630,958	66%	34%

Ratings for 4 pm

Network	Show	Twts Hour	Twts Day	UT Hour	UT Day	Reach	Male	Female
Al Jazeera	News	74	1,226	63	868	3,389,040	51%	49%
CNN	News Room	1	67	1	28	38,895	55%	45%
Fox News	A Healthy You w/ Carol Alt (4pm)	0	8	0	7	62,115	60%	40%
Fox News	America’s News HQ (4:30pm)	59	479	56	331	11,630,958	66%	34%

Ratings for 5 pm

Network	Show	Twts Hour	Twts Day	UT Hour	UT Day	Reach	Male	Female
Al Jazeera	Talk to Al Jazeera	0	0	0	0	0	0%	0%
Al Jazeera	The Stream	0	52	0	35	386,994	55%	45%
CNN	News Room	3	67	3	28	38,895	55%	45%
Fox News	The Five	3	267	3	196	420,104	65%	35%
Fox News	The Five w/Hosts	554	14,387	390	6,508	65,908,491	59%	41%

Ratings for 6 pm

Network	Show	Twts Hour	Twts Day	UT Hour	UT Day	Reach	Male	Female
Al Jazeera	News	38	1,226	32	868	3,389,040	51%	49%
CNN	Smerconish	116	684	82	385	1,931,844	61%	39%
Fox News	America’s News HQ	21	479	18	331	11,630,958	66%	34%

Ratings for 7 pm

Network	Show	Twts Hour	Twts Day	UT Hour	UT Day	Reach	Male	Female
Al Jazeera	Fault Lines	0	2	0	2	986	0%	0%
Al Jazeera	TechKnow	1	83	1	57	680,287	56%	44%
CNN	News Room	1	67	1	28	38,895	55%	45%
Fox News	Fox Report Weekend	240	615	183	429	1,358,907	71%	29%

Ratings for 8 pm

Network	Show	Twts Hour	Twts Day	UT Hour	UT Day	Reach	Male	Female
Al Jazeera	News	48	1,226	41	868	3,389,040	51%	49%
CNN	Inside Man	30	164	18	96	269,441	45%	55%

Ratings for 9 pm

Network	Show	Twts Hour	Twts Day	UT Hour	UT Day	Reach	Male	Female
Al Jazeera	Consider This	0	0	0	0	0	0%	0%
Fox News	Judge Jeanine	1,530	2,680	753	1,335	8,186,654	59%	41%

Ratings for 10 pm

Network	Show	Twts Hour	Twts Day	UT Hour	UT Day	Reach	Male	Female
Al Jazeera	Fault Lines	0	2	0	2	986	0%	0%
Al Jazeera	TechKnow	8	83	8	57	680,287	56%	44%

Ratings for 11 pm

Network	Show	Twts Hour	Twts Day	UT Hour	UT Day	Reach	Male	Female
Al Jazeera	News	50	1,226	44	868	3,389,040	51%	49%
CNN	Anderson Cooper 360	46	952	27	532	2,951,547	37%	63%
Fox News	RedEye	556	4,470	271	2,402	18,263,816	67%	33%

 

---

Definition of terms used in this report:

• Network: For the purposes of total network mentions, the count is the total unique tweets that mention any of the shows tracked on the network or the network’s general Twitter account (e.g., @CNN).
• Mentions During Hour or Tweets Hour: The number of tweets that mention the show during the hour specified. For shows that are repeat later in the day, the first (and often live) showing usually garners the most mentions by a significant margin.
• Mentions During day or Tweets Day: The total number of mentions a show received from midnight to midnight, eastern time.
• Tweet Count: The number of tweets (including retweets) that mention a show.
• Unique Tweeters (Also labeled ‘UT‘): The number of Twitter users who have sent one or more tweets mentioning a show. If a user sends more than one tweet, they still only count once. For individual shows, both the unique tweeters during an hour as well as throughout the day are shown.
• Reach: A measure of the number of impressions a collection of tweets could make. For each tweet that is sent, I add up how many people follow the person tweeting it — how many timelines that tweet will show up in. Thus, if network A has 10,000 mentions from people with an average of 10 followers, the reach will be 00,000. On the other hand, if network B has 10,000 mentions from people with an average of 100 followers, the reach will be 1,000,000. So network B has much greater reach: tweets mentioning network B will potentially be seen 10 times as often as tweets about network A. There’s no guarantee that that many people actually see or read the tweet; in fact, it’s probably safe to say a very small fraction do. For individual shows, reach is only calculate on the entire day’s tweets: there’s no point in assuming that people read the tweets in real time.
• Male / Female: An estimate of the demographics of a show’s audience. Note that this number is an imprecise estimate.

Cable News Twitter Ratings are still experimental. If you have any suggestions, find any errors, or have any questions, please feel free to contact me at admin@socialseer.com

For further discussion of how these stats are calculated, please see this blog post. Especially the part about how I determine the gender of Twitter users.