Obama inauguration: TV news ratings plummet compared with 2009

TV viewers had a message for President Obama and his second inauguration: Been there, seen that.

Ratings on the three cable news networks Monday plunged compared with four years ago, when Obama was swept into office on a message of hope and change.

A combined total of 6.7 million viewers watched CNN, Fox News and MSNBC during the half-hour starting at 8:45 a.m. Los Angeles time, when a reelected Obama took the oath of office and gave his address.

That was a 61% drop compared with the same period in 2009.

But reelected presidents — much like “Dancing With the Stars” winners — always get fewer people to come out for their second go-round. When George W. Bush was sworn in again in 2005, his TV ratings fell 46% compared with his first inauguration.

CNN won for the inauguration on Monday, with 3.1 million, trailed by MSNBC (2.3 million) and Fox News (1.3 million).

Broadcast ratings from Monday won’t arrive until Wednesday because of delays from the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday.

What did you think of Obama’s second inauguration?

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Twitter: @scottcollinsLAT