Thursday
Dec102009
What Has Happened To CNN's Ratings?
Thursday, December 10, 2009 at 9:54AM | Leedog Over the past couple of months CNN's ratings have consistently been on the downturn. The once # 2
cable news channel (next to Fox News) has now recently slipped to # 4 out of the four major cable news networks (Fox, MSNBC, CNN and HLN). In fact, CNN has finished #4 over 100 times this year, something that would have never occurred just a year ago. It's hard to put a finger on what's going on here but there's definitely a new trend forming. CNN's line-up hasn't really changed in the past couple of months other than the leaving of long time news anchor Lou Dobbs. With Dobbs leaving, CNN had an opportunity to bring in a fresh face to in that time slot to create a spark. They seemed to have dropped the ball on that issue and replaced Lou with just another bland news anchor.... big surprise!
cable news channel (next to Fox News) has now recently slipped to # 4 out of the four major cable news networks (Fox, MSNBC, CNN and HLN). In fact, CNN has finished #4 over 100 times this year, something that would have never occurred just a year ago. It's hard to put a finger on what's going on here but there's definitely a new trend forming. CNN's line-up hasn't really changed in the past couple of months other than the leaving of long time news anchor Lou Dobbs. With Dobbs leaving, CNN had an opportunity to bring in a fresh face to in that time slot to create a spark. They seemed to have dropped the ball on that issue and replaced Lou with just another bland news anchor.... big surprise! Granted all of the cable news channels recently have seen a decline in their ratings averages (HLN has had some good days recently but numbers are still low compared to the competition). Even the almighty Fox News is not immune to the ratings decline, though Fox News' decline is very minimal, especially compared to the others. So, the fall of CNN is somewhat of a mystery, there's really not a good explanation to what is going on. It's not like MSNBC and HLN have brought their channels up to a new level. CNN is going down levels, down to their competition and they better make some changes fast. Letting Lou Dobbs go was just the start but more needs to be done. I would suggest moving Rick Sanchez from his afternoon slot to replace the re-airing of Anderson Cooper at the 11pm slot. Also, 3 hours of Wolf Blitzer in the afternoon is too much, Wolf's ratings have been horrible for some time now and it seems people are getting bored with him. In fairness, CNN does has some stiff competition from O' Reilly and Beck in those respective time slots. I'm not saying CNN is going to knock them off the mountain but they need to show their viewers that they're actually willing to compete.
I've always found CNN to be a respectable, legitimate news organization, and maybe that's the
problem. CNN has always been known for being BORING. If CNN wants to be the best, then you need to take the best from the best! Offer Fox News' Shepard Smith a con-tract, offer MSNBC's, well I can't think of anyone at MSNBC that would fit at CNN... maybe Tamron Hall. Plus, there's some talent over at CNN's sister station HLN. Grab Jane Velez-Mitchell from HLN and offer her a new contract. Either way, CNN needs to do something to stop the bleeding. They remind me of vanilla ice cream, granted you're still eating ice cream but it's very bland and boring. While the other news channels offer a variety of flavors that people enjoy.
problem. CNN has always been known for being BORING. If CNN wants to be the best, then you need to take the best from the best! Offer Fox News' Shepard Smith a con-tract, offer MSNBC's, well I can't think of anyone at MSNBC that would fit at CNN... maybe Tamron Hall. Plus, there's some talent over at CNN's sister station HLN. Grab Jane Velez-Mitchell from HLN and offer her a new contract. Either way, CNN needs to do something to stop the bleeding. They remind me of vanilla ice cream, granted you're still eating ice cream but it's very bland and boring. While the other news channels offer a variety of flavors that people enjoy.
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Reader Comments (8)
Well - I'm just glad you didn't pick on my lovely Campbell (although she certainly ain't helping CNN win any ratings races LOL)
IMO - CNN is just going to hang tight with their current line-up and see how 2010 folds out. I think interest in the mid-term elections is going to be pretty big, and this will be the time to see if CNN was just suffering a temporary setback (in 2009) - or do they really need a big shake-up.
If 2010 ends up being much better for CNN (especially the 2nd half), then I think they'll keep the line-up the same in 2011 and 2012. If 2010 turns out to be a dud like 2009, then they'll bring in some big changes in 2011, and let them settle in before 2012 (when CNN will do really well again)
IMO, of course!
PS - I thought we could use "disqus" here?! :o
Unfortunately the comment section for articles can't be changed into "Disqus", but there are at least 20 other places on this site that have "Disqus." :)
I would watch CNN during the day but Wolf Blitzer keeps me from it! I can't for the life of me understand why they continue to keep him if, in fact, his ratings have been low for some time. I know he is the reason I don't watch CNN, even though I am sick to death of MSNBC and have been looking for something else. CNN needs to make some big changes and Wolf should be the first to go!
I will not watch CNN anymore since the departure of Lou Dobbs!
I do not think any of the cable noise channels get it. YOU ALL HAVE BECOME A ECHO CHAMBER,,,,WHAT NEWS...WE NO LONGer HAVE NEWS WE HAVE OPINIONS, OPINIONSAND STORIES THAT SUPPORTS THE PUNDITS POINIT OF VIEW, are you kidding me...NEWS based in facts and not spin propaganda...........NEWS someone please let me know where i caWn get a NEWS cable channel..............
The CNN decline is very obvious to me. CNN really stands for Clinton News Network, many of their political analysts are ex Clinton people or Demos, and since they've decided to back Obamas' admin, are not very popular. Cutting Dobbs was a bad move, and being a mouth piece for Obamas' exclusive news stories is very obvious. They're just an extension of the WH.
Their anchors including Blitzer and Sanchez couldn't get a job at my local tv stations. Sanchez is the ultimate Bozo, too dramatic, not factual, and loves to stir the race pot. CNN is too Obama and his popularity is crashing just like theirs.
I think Lou Dobbs leaving has further eroded the interest in viewing CNN. I think viewers can take only so much "objective" news, and then they want deeper insights on issues that affect every-day working people, who are, like, practically ALL of us. Dobbs gave the viewers that. The multi-millionaire news talking heads seem clueless/unwilling to deal with with 900 pound gorilla of the lousy job market and broken health care system that affect working American citizen wage earners: 1.5 LEGAL "scab" foreign labor workers every year advocated by people such as Meg Whitman and Carly Fiorina; 12 MILLION illegal aliens; tax laws that incentivize off-shoring of jobs; American universities exempt from the foreign "scab" labor cap thanks to the corrupt, now deceased Rep. Joshua Eilberg, and follow 5th column travelers from the NSF: Eric Bloch and Peter House; multi-millionaire health insurance executives denying affordable health care to their fellow American citizens. The list of grievances go ON and ON. When will we elect a government that works FOR US, not just for the "economic royalists."