By Don Irvine.
Embattled Fox News host Bill O’Reilly saw his ratings rise substantially last week despite the fact that more than 60 advertisers have pulled ads from his show after The New York Times reported that O’Reilly and Fox News paid $13 million to five women to settle sexual harassment charges.
The O’Reilly Factor averaged more than 3.7 million total viewers and 652,000 in the all-important 25-54 demo, making it the No. 1 show in both categories for the week. That represents a 28 percent increase in total viewers and 42 percent increase in the demo compared to the same period last year.
Fox said that it’s investigating a sexual harassment claim against O’Reilly made by radio talk-show host Wendy Walsh, who said that O’Reilly withdrew a job offer after she declined to visit his hotel room in 2013—a charge that he vehemently denies.
Advertisers will likely continue to stay away from O’Reilly’s show until the investigation concludes, though I’m sure Fox News is hoping that strong ratings by The O”Reilly Factor and the passage of time will lure them back.
