MICHAEL JACKSON - TOO MUCH JACKSON? SO WHY WERE YOU WATCHING?

TOO MUCH JACKSON? SO WHY WERE YOU WATCHING?

Despite polls indicating that nearly two-thirds of the public believe the coverage devoted to Michael Jackson since his death was "oversaturated," ratings disclosed Wednesday that viewers tuned in sometimes in record numbers. E! Entertainment channel said that its coverage of the Jackson tribute at the Staples Center averaged 746,000 viewers, twice its usual audience and a record for it in the adults 18-49 demographic. The syndicated Entertainment Tonight recorded a 14-percent increase from the previous week, aided by a 43-percent upsurge on June 25, the day of Jackson's death and Farrah Fawcett's. Inside Edition, Access Hollywood, Extra and The Insider each recorded spikes in their ratings. However, TMZ , whose website received considerable notoriety for being the first to report Jackson's death, saw its TV ratings decline 5 percent, the only syndicated celebrity show to do so.

09/07/2009