CNN's Rough Ratings March: Trailing Even MSNBC, HLN In Prime Demo

Portfolio:

More evidence that CNN is going to have to find a new strategy fast or risk becoming a cable news also-ran: In the month of March so far, the Time Warner-owned network has come in fourth place in prime time among adults 25 to 54, the key demographic for advertisers, more often than not.

Through March 17, CNN trailed not only Fox News and MSNBC but also its own sister network, Headline News, on nine out of 17 days. On one day, March 13, CNN even drew fewer 25-to-54 viewers than CNBC -- the first time that's happened since November 2007. And of the eight days it finished higher than fourth in the demo, five were either Saturdays or Sundays, typically the lowest rated nights for the news networks.

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Comments

[Whatashame]

I like watching Fareek Zakari. He is the only one that makes sense and it is because he is highly intelligent unlike the pretty face boys/gilrs and old white men on CNN.

[BenderBot]

The uninformed GOP base claims CNN is a commie network.

[serindipity803]

Commie or not, they are not professional nor do they embrace TRUTH. Gossip, lies and videotape.

[RRoadrunner]

Not a surprise. I get 80% of my TV news from CNN. I am dissatisfied with the on-air reporting and the programming schedule. Like all other media outlets CNN has have become a tabloid network.

Returning to their roots of 24 hour news, National news, International news broadcasted from around the world and investigative reporting instead of canned specials might turn things around. Wolf Blitzer, Larry King and Lou Dobbs leave a lot to be desired.

[MyGuyO]

It couldn't be because of Anderson Cooper, now, could it?

Wolf Blitzer ... Thumbs up.

Dana Bash and her new husband, John King. ..... Thumbs down. (How in the world are these two allowed to be on the same program (at times) together? This is not right.)

Campbell Brown... Thumbs down.
David Gergen... Thumbs up.

Gloria Borger....Did I get her name right? Anyway, she is one of the best on the nightime show.

[LindaLeigh]

Perception of CNN is kind of funny. I've read comments from liberal people who think CNN is too conservative and I've read comments from conservative people who think CNN is too liberal. I like CNN but no one person stands out like they do on MSNBC and Fox. The closest is probably Anderson Cooper, who I watch and like a lot but doesn't cause much controversy....and controversy seems to be what it is all about.

[vc2]

A couple of years ago CNN really killed their whole programming lineup. Not sure what the thinking was, but they got rid of the wonderful 10 pm anchor replacing him with Anderson .

Then they got rid of some of their really good day time anchor line up, Daryn Kagan, Bill Hemmer and others. I don't agree with Hemmer's take on everything but he is an excellent anchor, fox was lucky to get him. They kept the worst of them and tossed the best or slotted them sideways into less visible places such as soledad obrien yanked off the anchor spot in the am and now just does special issues. Lately they fired Miles Obrian their terrific science reporter..senseless decision, especially with the admin making a big push on science and nasa issues.

Wolf blitzer....he is the most boring political anchor in history. I don't think he is biased, just not very bright and using superlatives every sentence doesn't make him sound any better. 3-4 hours of him is plain stupid. It would be of any anchor! I couldn't take 3 or 4 hours of Olbermann or Tim Russert in a row. He must have taught john king how to speak too..they both use the same monotone drone. Let alone King's republican bias, its more than clear. He isn't a reporter he is a shill. I hadn't realized he married Dana Bash but both are equally boring and predictable, its a match made in heaven.

[alanposting]

Wolf blitzer is not biased? Well here are some facts.

Early seventies.­....journa­list for Reuters in the Tel Aviv Bureau.
Mid seventies.­.......wor­ked for American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) as editor for in-house publication.
1973-1990.­..........­..........­hired by the Jerusalem Post
May 1990......­..........­......move­d to CNN

Middle East biased.....oh I don't think so.

[AlligatorShuz]

I like Don Lemon and his style of reporting.
They need to get rid of Frederika Whitfield she has nothing interesting to say
Tony Harris?

[Solja]

I like all three of them. They are not there to do "hard news", I don't think. The network is on all the time so they have to keep talking throughout the day. They don't write the content though. They only report it. I like all three of their personalities though. They aren't slanted like the rest of the folks on there, with the only exception being Cafferty.

Where are the Democratic analysts that were there during the campaigns? Are they gone now? I don't watch so I don't know. Anybody?

[AlligatorShuz]

They truly needs to get rid of hateful Lou Dobbs because he hates Mexicans and anybody isn't from Europe.

[1088]

CNN can get lost and I'll never missed it!! The Bush Admin network. Every Bush operative works for that network, and they are still pulling the strings. Jack Cafferty is the only good thing on that stupid network. Thanks, for no thanks!!

[AlligatorShuz]

They need to get rid of Campbell Brown, Larry King shows. When Campbell Brown goes out to have her baby CNN not bring her back. They give Wolf Blitzer to much time from 4 to 7.... Ali Velshi I truly don't listen to and all of the other wanna be wall street people....

[alanearth]

CNN is a shell of it's former self, they looked at fixed news and said lets be like that.,,neo-con bull.

[Solja]

EXACTLY, and that's the reason I stopped watching them. They are doing what the Republicans have been doing since losing the election, doubling down on the right. I used to be a die-hard CNN viewer but no soon as the Presidency changed, they did, which was so obvious that it was offensive. And I won't even speak about that bigot, Lou Dobbs. The ONLY reason folks tune in on the weekend is because MSNBC runs garbage and no news.

[michiganman2]

campbell brown, more bias, more bull

[Grannysue]

CNN is the Complete Neocon Network now, with Lou ranting about holidays and Mexicans, and King and Bash all but carrying the GOP flag around, then you have dear old Wolf, sorry but he has lost his luster. They do the same stories over and over and over. MSNBC I like, except for big mouth Matthews, he's constantely interrupting everyone, still, so why not just let him talk for an hour and don't bring anyone on, if it wasn't for him I thing they would probably be number one, Rachel and Olberman rock.

[Solja]

I agree with everything you wrote, except I still love Chris. Sometimes.... he interrupts too much, but his niche is that he doesn't allow the lies told by the Republicans to go unchallenged. He gets on Dems too, and here lately, he has been interrupting them way more than the neocons, which I hate.

I think Chris is mad about his 401k these days though and that is contributing to his "behavior" towards the new Administration. I have yet to figure out why the media is attacking Geitner though.

[azcamp]

Lou Dobbs has become too arrogant and self-righteous to do anything other than sell his own books. Campbell Brown often misstates the facts in her zeal to play "gotcha". Jack Cafferty is the wise one who gives CNN its credibility.

The problem with the news networks is that they are struggling to develop content after the election. They did not cover the Bush administration in sufficient detail to keep the public informed and now they are covering nits and gnats as if they are headline worthy news features.

The public is sighing, "who cares" while the anchors are screaming about minor gaffes and guffaws.

[glitz]

The problem is that CNN does not present the news anymore. They are all trying to be rag magazines. You can watch one hour of Wolf and you don't have to watch any more. Everything else is repeats, over and over again...just rehashing old news. The only thing worth watching is Fareed Zakaria on Sunday.

[Solja]

Definitely. Fareed is the bomb.