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CNN Closes In On Fox

After being the dominant cable news channel for nearly a decade, Fox is watching both CNN and MSNBC add viewers at dramatic rates. In the first half of 2004, during the last presidential election, Fox's prime-time audience of 25-to-54-year olds was more than double that of CNN. The first half of this election year, CNN has nearly as many viewers as Fox in that demo.

CNN has added 170,000 viewers a night, on average, compared with the last presidential year, while Fox has shed about 90,000, per Nielsen. Fox hasn't slipped, says Republican strategist Scott Reed. "I just think MSNBC and CNN have risen to the occasion in a far more creative way, with better guests, cooler maps and more interactive shows."

Fox News still remains the most-watched cable news channel, with nearly 2 million viewers each weeknight this year, compared to 1.3 million for CNN and 805,000 for MSNBC.

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