Though CNN has made some prime-time ratings headway in recent months, Fox News Channel is still No. 1 in terms of overall viewers, and the gap between them is no more apparent than in the morning.

"Fox & Friends" has twice the number of viewers as CNN's "American Morning" nationally and in several key cities —- including CNN's home turf of Atlanta, according to data from Nielsen Media Research and the two cable channels.

The big three broadcast networks still rule early morning TV across the country. But "Fox & Friends" recently finished third for 72 consecutive months in metro Atlanta, Miami, San Diego and several other major markets. "American Morning" was No. 4 and CBS' "The Early Show" was No. 5 in those markets.

What is Fox News' secret? A more stable cast and faster pace, experts say.

"Fox is a new kind of television," said Paul Levinson, chairman of Fordham University's communication and media studies department. "It's a program that's more in tune with YouTube, with the Web and with the way television has been evolving in the 21st century."

Levinson said Fox's success in the morning has to do with its rapid-fire pace. In other words, the producers and anchors on "Fox & Friends" have figured out how to dish out a ton of news quickly to people who are trying to pour orange juice, pack their child's lunch and put on a jacket all at the same time.

One of Atlanta-based CNN's issues is that "American Morning" has had six hosts since 2001.

"Maybe all of the changes in personalities may have had a negative impact," said Brad Adgate, research director for Horizon Media. "Maybe they are trying to look for the right formula and haven't found it yet."

Janelle Rodriguez, executive producer of "American Morning," disagrees. She says the program's emphasis on hard news is working.

"I think 'Most news in the morning' is exactly where we need to be and where we continue to be going forward," said Rodriguez, a CNN veteran who just moved into her role last week.

Paul Rittenberg, Fox News' senior vice president of ad sales, said network officials thought "Fox & Friends" would beat one of the early programs on the broadcast networks.

Rittenberg's job is to talk to advertisers —- who may spend as much as $15 million to run commercials each year during NBC's "Today" —- and persuade them to slice $1 million off that in favor of Fox. He has an easier job reeling in contracts for the prime time, 8-11 p.m. slot; advertisers pay the cable networks a great deal of attention then.

But for the morning, shows such as "Today" and ABC's "Good Morning America" are big-ticket items for advertisers, and cable networks "have made little inroads," he said.

So, Rittenberg says he doesn't focus on Fox being ahead of CNN when trying to get business from advertisers. He says it's not about whether advertisers give money to the other cable news networks, it's that they don't give as much to the broadcast networks in favor of Fox.

"We look at the markets where we have a realistic chance of beating CBS —- Atlanta being one of them —- and that gives us a foot in the door with national advertisers, saying, 'We're a good alternative, we're a credible alternative,' " Rittenberg said.

When pressed, he offered this about the rivalry with CNN: "When we do well, it's always fun to point that out."

CNN officials are trying new things.

Executives at Headline News, CNN's sister network, think they've got the morning chemistry mix just right. The network created a high-octane program around popular anchor Robin Meade, who has been the face of Headline News in the morning for six years.

The result was a new show, "Morning Express With Robin Meade," which started in November.

"There's definitely a buzz about it," said Steve Rosenberg, the show's executive producer. "I think we certainly have our own formula that we think is a success, and we're going to stick with it."

Fox News officials know that they cannot relax in such a fast-changing business.

"We're not taking anything for granted," said Brian Kilmeade, who co-anchors the show with Gretchen Carlson and Steve Doocy. "We feel fortunate, but we also feel the pressure to keep it going and keep it fresh."

—-

A revolving anchor door:

CNN's American Morning

OUT

1. Paula Zahn (2001-2003): Moved to 8 p.m. slot with "Paula Zahn Now." Left network in 2007 after show was canceled partly from lackluster ratings.

2. Bill Hemmer (2002-2005): Once considered a rising star at CNN, Hemmer left to anchor the noon news program on Fox News Channel.

3. Soledad O'Brien (2003-2007): Came from NBC to replace Paula Zahn and help boost ratings. Still considered a star at the network, but was moved to "CNN: Special Investigations Unit" after morning ratings improved only slightly.

4. Miles O'Brien (2005-2007): Joined show after co-anchoring an afternoon program on CNN. Replaced at the same time as Soledad O'Brien; now covers the environment and technology as a chief correspondent.

IN

John Roberts/Kiran Chetry

(2007- ) Roberts joined CNN in 2006 after a long stint at CBS. He was moved into the morning slot after working on various other CNN programs. Chetry came from Fox News Channel, where she worked for six years.

Source: CNN

No hometown edge for CNN

In metro Atlanta, Fox & Friends has a sizable lead over American Morning and The Early Show.

Average daily viewers for Dec. 31 through May 11:

Good Morning America (ABC) ...........133,000

Today (NBC) ..........................105,000

Fox & Friends (Fox News Channel) ......30,000

American Morning (CNN) ................15,000

The Early Show (CBS)....................8,000

Morning Joe (MSNBC) ....................3,000

Sources: Fox News and CNN

Differing national tastes

Nationwide, Fox & Friends slips to fourth place, but is still ahead of American Morning by a wide margin.

Average daily viewers for Dec. 31 through May 11:

Today (NBC) ........................5.8 million

Good Morning America (ABC)..........4.6 million

The Early Show (CBS)................3.4 million

Fox & Friends (Fox News Channel)....985,000

American Morning (CNN)..............441,000

Morning Joe (MSNBC) ................337,000

Source: Nielsen Media Research

CHARLES W. JONES / Staff

 CHARLES W. JONES / Staff
Steve Doocy, Gretchen Carlson and Brian Kilmeade have been holding 
court together at Fox & Friends since September 2006.
Graphic includes photos of Paula Zahn, Bill Hemmer, Soledad O'Brien, Miles O'Brien, John Roberts and Kiran Chetry. Also a photo of a cup of coffee with saucer, and a hand holding a remote control.