Despite declines in advertising revenue affecting most areas of the media industry, cable news increased its advertising spending by 27 percent in 2008, in what Rick Edmonds calls a "banner year" in his article on Poynter Online.

The Project for Excellence in Journalism's sixth edition of its State of the News Media electronic yearbook details the surprising successes of cable television, revealing it as what Edmonds calls "the exception to the overall negative or mixed picture" of other forms of media. Cable television saw its audience grow by 38 percent in 2008, an increase which is not likely to be sustained in the coming year.

A good deal of cable televisions success is attributed to the public's interest in the presidential campaign and election, but credit most also be given to the high profitability of the business. Fees paid by subscribers effectively offset dependency on advertisers and packages that are sold to consumers also ensure income, as they are difficult and complicated for clients to cancel.