AJC: CNN Ratings still down despite 'overhaul'

CNN still is putting the final touches on its new prime-time lineup, but the first two weeks' worth of ratings are down compared with last year.

The network said Monday it has hired contributors -- including former Defense Department spokeswoman Victoria Clarke and Time magazine columnist Joe Klein -- for the 8 p.m. show, "Paula Zahn Now."

Zahn's show drew an average of 598,000 viewers in its first two weeks since CNN relaunched it with the new name. That was down 25 percent from the time slot a year ago, when Connie Chung's program was airing.

The new 7 p.m. show, "Anderson Cooper 360," drew an average of 446,000 viewers in its first two weeks, down 32 percent from a year earlier.

While down from last year, ratings have improved since the shows launched and are up over last month, CNN spokeswoman Christa Robinson said.

The shows were designed to sharpen CNN's hard-news image. The network has repeatedly reworked both its schedule and management team in recent years after losing its cable ratings lead to Fox News.

Jim Walton, who took the reins of Atlanta-based CNN in January, canceled "Connie Chung Tonight," which did relatively well in the ratings but was criticized for its tabloid style. He moved the 7 p.m. debate show "Crossfire" to a half-hour slot in the afternoon.

Anchors Zahn and Cooper took over their time slots months ago, but their new shows officially launched Sept. 8, with on-air promos, a new set for Zahn and well-known guests. The network has been working all summer to put together an ensemble cast for Zahn's show.

In addition to Clarke and Klein, CNN is giving Zahn's show nearly exclusive access to other network contributors, including medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta and legal correspondent Jeffrey Toobin. The idea is to provide viewers something different during prime time, instead of just rehashed versions of the news they've seen all day.

CNN last week overhauled its news management, naming local-news veteran Princell Hair to run the flagship network. The goal, CNN chief Jim Walton said last week, is to get viewers to watch CNN for longer periods of time -- key to improving ratings.

Walton said last week he doesn't expect to make any changes, however, in the prime-time schedule.

When you are a guest in a hotel, fill out their customer survey form and tell them you don't like CNN and would prefer to watch Fox News.

Even better, take universal remote and delete CNN from the channels offered on the TV, be sure Fox News is included (some DU'ers have been known to delete Fox News). Sometimes the remotes the hotels offer don't allow you to access the channel delete option.

"Was sent there from a live thread when the CNN crew were the first ones into into Tikrit, Iraq. Hadn't watched anything there in a year. They shot up a checkpoint. It got my interest. They need to shoot at things on a regular basis."

I liked it best when the Iraqis shot back at CNN...

You know, you're right. Why would you watch CNN? they have a bias, ok. That's bad. But obviously nobody is listening, when they were the only cable news channel they had a naturally occuring monopoly, once competion came they lost out. the fact that they are blaming their troubles on Fox News bullying is telling. It goes to show that they are putting their own journalistic impulses, however biased they may be, on hold because they are in a ratings war with Fox which they are hopelessly losing.
Elite liberals don't get their news from CNN, they get it from the old gray lady or from Ted Turner (aka; the krazy krakker) himself at some bullshit $5000 a plate 'charity event'.
Peopel on the far left espouse that there is some kind of Right Wing disnfo machine running the media because it doesn't run socialist propaganda 24/7, and the rest of the liberals are either too dumb or too self-absorbed to watch any news.
I find your Moesha line, hilarious, but think about it. There are more blacks in the ranks of the Middle class than ever before. A friend of mine is a black kid who grew up in the streets of Boston a huge liberal. He was smart, he bought a bunch of income property in the late nineties that has tripled in value. Now he's 28 and worth about $800,000. Guess who he voted for in the Mass. gov election, that's right, Mitt Romney. I went into his house last week and Fox News was on. guess what Ted, another one bites the dust.

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