STORM2K

With Carl Limbacher and NewsMax.com Staff
For the story behind the story
Thursday, Oct. 21, 2004 8:57 p.m. EDT
O'Reilly's Ratings Skyrocket

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.

Story Continues Below



"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.

rainstorm wrote:With Carl Limbacher and NewsMax.com Staff
For the story behind the story
Thursday, Oct. 21, 2004 8:57 p.m. EDT
O'Reilly's Ratings Skyrocket

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.

Story Continues Below





"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.

WOW Interesting

Controversy gets ratings.

Brent wrote:Controversy gets ratings.

Yes I can tell. Well I hope he is proven innocent. Because I think the guy is kind of cool.

time to find out if there are any tapes:

XXXXX DRUDGE REPORT XXXXX THU OCT 21, 2004 17:23:09 ET XXXXX

O'REILLY ACCUSER DEEP IN DEBT

**Exclusive**

The DRUDGE REPORT has obtained O'Reilly accuser Andrea Mackris' financial records which show a combined debt of nearly $100,000!

FOXNEWS producer Andrea Mackris, who filed a multimillion dollar sexual harassment suit against top talker O'Reilly earlier this month, has I.O.U's scatted throughout the financial world, records show.

Mackris was making $93K a year when she returned to FOXNEWS in 2004 [she earned $69,088 in 2003], but records dated October 18 show she holds more than $37k in credit card debt, and $62k in student loans.

"It appears Ms. Mackris was living way beyond her means," a source close to the situation told DRUDGE late Thursday. "She's up to her eyeballs in debt."

A spokeswoman for Mackris' attorneys, Morelli & Associates, said the firm was unaware of their client's heavy load and laughed off any suggestion her financial burden was a motivation for a cash demand from FOX.

Mackris, 33, and her attorney have been ordered to appear for a hearing in New York State Supreme Court next week to divulge whether sex phone tapes exist and "show cause" why they should not be opened to examination by lawyers for O'Reilly and FOXNEWS.

Developing...