Posted on 07/08/2022 5:29:16 AM PDT by Red Badger
The major changes CNN has made in leadership, philosophy, and structure have not yet borne fruit in the ratings, and now CNN employees are reportedly beginning to panic.
A “well-placed” source at the network told the New York Post that “new management is not freaking out but everyone else at CNN is.”
The numbers are indeed cause for concern. In June, CNN primetime shows averaged just 654,000 nightly viewers, despite the allure of the Jan. 6 committee hearings, which the network covered at length. And of those 654,000, just 148,000 of them were in the coveted 25-54 age demographic.
The ratings for Brian Stelter’s show “Reliable Sources” were particularly abysmal, drawing just 585,000 total viewers and 79,000 key demographic viewers. It was the lowest rating for the show in over 20 years.
As bad as Stelter’s numbers have been, the numbers for other high-profile CNN personalities like Don Lemon and Anderson Cooper were far worse, as Stelter outperformed each prime time host in the second quarter. The CNN daily lineup likewise had a poor showing, losing 3% of its audience from May.
Still, executives at the parent company Warner Bros. Discovery remain optimistic. WBD CEO David Zaslav recently told Vanity Fair that he believes new CNN chairman and CEO Chris Licht “is doing a great job pivoting CNN.”
“Journalism first,” he continued. “America needs a news network where everybody can come and be heard — Republicans, Democrats. I think you’re seeing more of that at CNN.”
Licht took over a network that appeared to be in crisis. The former CEO Jeff Zucker resigned unexpectedly back in February when it was discovered that he and a female executive had had an affair that began while both were still married, and the digital streaming service CNN+ lasted less than a month and drew only 10,000 subscribers.
Though the numbers for June may be discouraging for those employed at the network, Zaslav insisted that he and his team are looking at the big picture, not the ratings.
“I think [CNN’s] the greatest news brand in the world with the greatest journalists. And we’re going to lean into that. We’re not going to look at the ratings and, in the long run, it’s going to be worth more,” he said.
In order to restore the CNN news brand, Licht has already implemented some key changes. He has advised hosts against using the phrase “the big lie” to refer to claims that President Joe Biden did not win the 2020 election, and he has threatened to oust those at the network who cannot maintain some level of objectivity in their reporting.
“Freaking out” about what? Dishing out daily doses of lies, propaganda and communist rhetoric to people that cherish their freedoms and liberties, and you expect a ratings bonanza with bonuses?
No one wants CNN, its brand is dead.
CNN is a Ford Pinto.
They’re already freaks.
They lost half their audience when airports stopped airing them as the main news channel. I will give them credit for teaching me one thing: illegal aliens with sob stories all drive new or late model cars.
despite the allure of the Jan. 6
hahaha. Clueless as ever.
I think I see the problem...
CNN still has ratings? Who knew?!
Woke = broke
People eventually grow tired of constant lies and liars
It’s shame and embarassment.
CNN (MSNBC,NYT,WaPo,etc) spent 5+ years whipping these people into a frenzy about the orange boogyman. You know the one who never did any of the things that they fear-mongered he would, and didn’t even do the things that the rest of our government conspired to accuse him of, but they still beat their true-believers down with emtpy fear-hustling.
Now, not only did nothing change now that orangeman went away, IT GOT WORSE.
...and they all know it.
It got so bad, they just wanted to hide.
The best metaphor is like fans of a football team that goes 0-16 and starts another season 0-6. No one is watching the games, or even the scores. No one is calling into the sports talk shows. They just sortof slink away.
The CNN brand should be shut down and the “new management” should rename it and relaunch as something else entirely if they are seriously about restoring credibility - the CNN brand is likely damaged beyond repair.
They don’t need “ratings” entirely to succeed as long as people subscribe to a service that carries them - lots of cash in transmission fees per subscriber even if they don’t watch.
hummmm didn’t a CNN talking head recently announce the network doesn’t care about rating while they’re in this transition period. hummmm
“I think [CNN’s] the greatest news brand in the world with the greatest journalists. And we’re going to lean into that...
Maybe they have assurances when top down China style government is fully in place they will be the propaganda goto.
I think what is happening is that the hardcore leftie vieweres that remained fled to MSNBC. In an increasingly polarized country, there are fewer and fewer people in the center.
Also, it remains to be seen if CNN will legitimately embrace the center. Personally, I am very (very) skeptical. If they do, I may start watching them again. But I won’t shed any tears if they go under.
““Journalism first,” he continued. “America needs a news network where everybody can come and be heard — Republicans, Democrats. I think you’re seeing more of that at CNN.”
Lefty’s would spin a sh** sandwich...
I do not understand one bit what all the fuss is about with CNN, CNN leadership, and CNN ratings. I think they’re doing fine! Carry on I say! Carry on into the annals of journalism history I say and (God willing) let everyone be wiser with the lessons learned because of CNN. Liberal arts students TAKE NOTE!
No va
Actually, it appears that nobody is seeing that.
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