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

[Gasparilla]

I gave up when they started hiring all the plastic bimbos, male and female, to read the news. They want to be Fox Jr. They don't have to be "liberal", just get some people on there who sound like they know more than reading a telepromper and the latest talking points.

[KindMisica]

I agree, they're trying hard to be FOX JR...everythings for the rating. Bashing and non-news sell very well(that's what they think anyway), actual reporting not so much. It has become almost unwatchable.

[corsair1917]

CNN has become the Conservative News Network.

It is so slanted to the right now that I can't even watch anymore.
I know can't even watch Jack Cafferty because his segments are in the Situation Room.
They lost me in the coverage of Obama during the election. They became more and more negative. Then when he took office... it has gotten even worse. They seem to be constantly trying to find a way to negate any successes in the White House... If had to hear one more time "Looks like the honeymoon is over in the Obama Administration" or other things along that line, I thought I would scream.

So now I don't watch. John King and Dana Bash push the right wing agenda and I don't have to watch.

CNN sold out... and they are going to lose their audience because of it.

[MPeter]

CNN has been a joke for a while. When you have John King, John Roberts and Kyra Phillips spending hours necking, Blitzer ranting like Limbaugh and Heidi cluess, the network is fast becoming a joke. Lou Dobbs needs to be yanked off the air and Sanchez needs retraining on how to conduct a townhall.

[Truby]

I wonder if it would be successful to re-allocate the vast sums of money spent on these celebrity newsreaders into hiring reporters and editors and focusing in on providing the public with news in an unbiased as possible way? Probably not, as it would seem most of us have lost the ability to form our own opinions.

[alanposting]

CNN has become unwatchable.... They don't give you real news, its all about personality....their way of course. Wolf with his little whiny voice and personality driven shtick makes me crazy. Who ever came up with their "your interested friends here at CNN who are moving their hands and arms around to show you just how much they care and interested in talking to you as your friend" strategy should have been fired long ago. IT DOES NOT WORK....for god sakes how low do you have to go before someone at CNN sees the writing on the wall. Its bazaar to me why they can't see we want REAL news by REAL newspeople, not people magazine....and the one comment that JACK CAFFERTY is the only one worth saving is right on....in fact put him in charge.

[NYC80]

Wolf is an AIPAC soldier, he is there to push his Israel interests, not the America Interest.

[DogTown]

GIVE JACK CAFFERTY A DAYTIME TV SHOW!
AND TAKE WOLF OFF THE AIR.....PLEASE!

[ChairmanOfTheBoard]

Well that's what Fox News Jr. gets May their ratings continue to nose dive. Ted Turner would be so ashamed if he were still in charge.. They should have known moving to the right to compete with Fox News was dumb. If people want far right news they can go to Fox News. I hope more liberals/progressives move to MSNBC leaving CNN completely.

[eirrac]

Carsy, you're right about Fareed Zakaria. He's not only objective but he is well read and smart. He's a strategic thinker and a very good interviewer. And he's in a whole different league.

The worst is Lou Dobbs. Used to like him, but he's become a different person over the last few months....very snide and no longer enjoyable to watch. It now seems to be all about self-righteous anger with him. And heaven help anyone who disagrees with him...he'll never forget it. We continued watching him for awhile after we noticed this change, but finally just gave up.

[Yurdelite]

The really incredible thing about Dobbs is that his wife Mexican American and they have children (4?). I used to listen to Lou Dobbs before Obama announced his candidacy. I guess I must have bought into what he was saying. But as a black person and one who supported Obama from day one, I had to rethink my feelings about a lot of things Dobbs was saying. I thank Obama for helping me to see things from a different perspective. Once I did that there was no way I could listen to Dobbs. What really, really turned me off from his was his relentless attacks on Obama after he mentioned his name at one of the rallies. Lou Dobbs makes millions of dollars yet he proclaims to identify with and to be an advocate for the working man. He is full of hot air and never offers any solutions.

[chronic]

AMEN!!!!!

[eirrac]

Our family used to watch CNN a lot, but they just have too many Republican "analysts" on, and I'm tired of their parsing the words of Obama or those who he's appointed. The spin goes on, hour after hour. Vapid questions and hand-wringing, little snippets of the news followed by yet more "panels of experts" often featuring more self-rightous Republicans who spew nothing but hateful, unrealistic rhetoric. And theiquestions are often rather lame. Just can't take it anymore.

[Carsy]

I like Fareed Zakaria, he is their only objective host.
As for Lou Dobbs, I don't know what I would do if I met him, probably want to wipe the sneer off his face. Do any of you ever imagine running into people like Beck, Dobbs, Limbaugh, Coulter? What would you do?

[zinc11]

I used to like Lou Dobbs, and I still think he's got some good points. But something happened during this last election, that he went totally bongos. He seems like a basically okay guy whose got a lot of anger inside of him and the need to lecture everybody.

What would I do if I ran into any one of them? Ignore them. First of all, because I don't give "celebrity" status to anyone - they're just people like everyone else. Secondly, because ignoring them would say volumes about what I think of them.

[sandpiper1]

Yeah, Fareed is the best of CNN..Blitzer( how did he get the job, he mispronounces so many words and swallows most of the others), Dobbs, Brown, King must go...I only tune in to see Jack Cafferty, then switch to BBC & CBC(Canada). Alas I had to cut back on expenses and lost MSNBC so I only get Rachael and Keith online...boohoo. I Ioved Aron Brown, he was erudite& reasoned. I even liked Paula Zahn after a while. Why did CNN owners think the public needed another conservative, right wing network? That was so stupid. Jack Cafferty and Don Lemon should have their own show.

[Yurdelite]

I think Don Lemon has a show on late Sunday night.

[StellaRay]

That's an interesting question, Carsy.

What to do if you show up at a party, and find yourself introduced to Ann Coulter. I think most people become frozen at moments like this. It's only later that you think of all the things you wished you would have said.

As for me, I'm human and could see myself looking like a deer in the headlights if I were in this situation. But I like to think grace would strike and I'd say civilly, "how do you do. You are entitled to your opinions but it is my opinion that you are more interested in your own ego than you are with what's best for the country. Have your tried the artichoke dip?"

[AKJM]

Something is really not right here !!!!
http://tvbythenumbers.com/2009/03/13/cable-news-ratings-for-thursday-march-12/14533

[AKJM]

One hour is enough, too much Anderson, Blitzer, Lemon, and Schancez. and the bald guy has got to go.

[Emerald1943]

I used to be totally tuned in to CNN before the campaign this last year, but I have watched them make a definite turn to the right! At first, the change was subtle, but then became outright blatent in their dislike of President Obama.

Lou Dobbs should be as hamed of himself! He doesn't just criticize the President....he sneers!

I will no longer watch CNN! MSNBC has my vote now, at least after Joe goes off. KO and Rachel are the best!

[eden4barack08]

"KO and Rachel are the best!"

David Shuster is getting up there too.

[zinc11]

Completely agree. On both counts!

[Pgrace]

Yeah Shuster's a good man

[DogTown]

MSNBC ROCKS!

[eden4barack08]

Minus Morning Joke and Matthews...

[nancytheragingliberal]

CNN, here is a message: Liberal, liberal, liberal, liberal, liberal, liberal, liberal Liberal, liberal, liberal, liberal, liberal, liberal, liberal Liberal, liberal, liberal, liberal, liberal, liberal, liberal Liberal, liberal, liberal, liberal, liberal, liberal, liberal 24/7 Got it? What do you have to lose? You may be pleasantly surprised that 55% of the population craves liberal TV and radio.

[ChristianEcon.com]

I think liberal talk radio fails because liberals listen to music. You know, like humans.

[zinc11]

P.S. I'm with oneblackvote: Let's boycott CNN during the month of April. I barely watch it anymore as it is, except for Jack Cafferty.

[Emerald1943]

Count me in!