Survey: 45 Percent Still Trust Fox News, 21 Percent Less So

Roughly one in five Fox News viewers trust the network less after the defamation lawsuit brought by Dominion Voting Systems revealed text messages and emails from top figures at the network expressing doubt about former President Trump’s false claims of voter fraud during the 2020 election, according to a new poll. 

A survey conducted by Maru Group for Variety Intelligence Platform found that 21 percent of Fox News viewers over 18 trust Fox News less after the revelations, which including text messages from prominent Fox News hosts and executives as well as testimony from Fox Corp. chairman Rupert Murdoch.

Still, 45 percent say they continue to trust the network. Eleven percent say they didn’t trust it before and continue not to, while 23 percent said they have no opinion. 

Dominion Voting Systems has brought a $1.6 billion lawsuit against Fox, arguing that the network defamed the company by boosting Trump’s claims that its voting technology was used for election fraud in now-President Biden’s favor. Court filings have shown discrepancies between what top Fox figures said privately of the claims and what was said on-air.

Variety Intelligence Platform reports a spokesperson for Fox News said viewership levels and advertising have not been affected by the lawsuit.

The network’s audience has appeared strong even as it weathers the Dominion suit. Fox News reported earlier this week, per Nielsen Media Research, that it topped basic cable for the week of March 6 and averaged 2.2 million viewers in the 8 p.m-11 p.m. primetime hours.

Asked whether the lawsuit’s revelations have impacted their belief in the legitimacy of the 2020 presidential election, 13 percent of Fox News viewers say their minds were changed and that they now do not believe the 2020 election was stolen. Fifty percent said the revelations had no effect and that they still believe the election was stolen.