The second quarter 2009 cable ratings show Fox News prime-time ratings jumping an unheard of 34%. The prime-time segment includes Fox’s “The O’Reilly Factor.”

During otherwise normal viewing hours, Fox News averages 1.2 million viewers on average, more than twice as many viewers as CNN which shows an average of 598,000 viewers. As for MSNBC – Obama’s favorite TV channel – Fox’s ratings more than tripled MSNBC’s pitiful average of 392,000 viewers.

Obama followers, no doubt rushing to adopt his viewing habits, helped NBC beat CNN for the first time ever by contributing to its weekday prime-time average audience of 946,000 viewers compared to CNN’s 939,000.

The prime-time slot between 8 p.m. and 11 p.m. is where MSNBC and Fox place their politically driven opinion shows. For MSNBC and it’s liberal followers the shows are “Countdown with Keith Olbermann” and “The Rachel Maddow Show”. For Fox and its conservative viewers it’s “The O’Reilly Factor” and “Hannity”. As for CNN, Anderson Cooper and Larry King tend to spend their energies on developing stories and interviews.

There has been an increase of anti-Obama sentiment in recent months and is reflected in several polls. The rise in the core viewership at Fox is being attributed to this population and the additional viewers helped Fox dominate both CNN and MSNBC. During the daily prime-time slot which includes weekends, Fox averaged 2.1 million total viewers, more than doubling the combined totals of CNN (862,000) and MSNBC (790,000).

Defending its ratings, CNN pointed out that this month was its most-watched June ever, no doubt helped along by the Iran protests and the death of Michael Jackson.

The message is clear. When America wants news and information along with thoughtful and emotionless opinion about their country and the activities about and surrounding their president, they turn to Fox News. When America wants to know what its like to live in a country of dictators where an opposing view results in its citizens being beaten and killed, or to follow the months long funeral service of a deranged entertainer, they turn to CNN and MSNBC.