If the intent of Fox News Channel producer Andrea Mackris' sexual harassment lawsuit was to ruin Bill O'Reilly and his network, it doesn't seem to be working. In fact, rather than deserting O'Reilly, his viewers are tuning in, in droves. "The O'Reilly Factor" averaged 3.2 million viewers per night for the first three nights after the suit was announced, reports the New York Post. That's a 34 percent increase over the TV talker's ratings for last quarter. Among older viewers, who might be expected to be offended by the controversy, O'Reilly is doing even better. Nielsen ratings show a 42 percent improvement among adults ages 25-54, who may be having trouble buying Mackris' claim that she was "forced" to have phone sex with the cable star. While the publicity over Mackris' accusations no doubt accounts for some of the increase, the solid numbers show that the scandal may have ultimately backfired on O'Reilly's enemies.
| It might also be that people are interested in O'Reilly's campaign coverage and that the election's less than two weeks away. |
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