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.

Read the whole story: Portfolio

Comments

[Slapmewhenitsover]

CNN just flat sucks. I do not watch their programming, ever, and it is the only source of English television news where I am. However, I do not use their website either because it is the only approach to news more boring than its television broadcast.
Last but not least, they need to hire someone with a personality, and I do not mean Anderson Creeper.

[eden4barack08]

-CNN needs to get out of the business of imitating FOX if it wants to get its audience back.

[zinc11]

What's with the story above headline "even" MSNBC? Chris Mathews, Keith, and Rachel Maddow are the best thing on cable news. They'd do well to get rid of Mika, though, geez is she awful. I guess she's on because of her famous daddy. She opens her mouth and I cringe. I don't often watch Morning Joe, but I bet his ratings would do a lot better if someone else was anchoring with him. And I agree with some of the posts: bring Jack Cafferty over to MSNBC with his own show. Forget Ed Schultz, let's have Jack.

[BenderBot]

Mika is an Alan colmes.

[NYC80]

You need to do some research, her famous Daddy endorsed Obama for pres, and he is a foreign policy advisor to obama behind the curtains. Just like Kissinger the criminal was an advisor to Bush Junior.

[Flymast]

CNN has become "too bitter", moving far right, and too sensatiional. My skin cringes when I now look at Andersen Cooper. Contrary with what some of you are saying, now they "nit pick" everything to death that the Obama Administration is doing and they started about 3 weeks ago to lean to the right.

I noticed a change in CNN coverage about four weeks ago when President Obama became more agressive with a message at a Democratic strategy meeting in Williamsburg, Virgina about the stimulus package; as long as he was smiling and grinning they thought he was great but as soon as he became agressive and "raised his back" they started to change their tune. The straw that broke the camels back was when they had a panel of David Gergen, Ron Christy, and Roland Martin discussing the "racist" chimpanzeee cartoon and Ron Christy defended it, this was it.

I was so stressed out three weeks ago that I stopped watching all local and national news, specifically cable news and went to watching HBO and other entertainment with the exception of Keith Obermann on MSNBC because of the "entertain­ment"/poli­tical satire twist that I like so much.


The main reason why President Obama is using alternative media outlets to talke to "real people" like using the Jay Leno show is that the "talking head cable pundits" chop up everything from the message with their "gotcha" type attitude.

[Mekarri]

I am happy to hear that CNN ratings are in the toilet. They have always been against our President and that is the reason why I fast foward until the Cafferty file. I wish that Jack Cafferty and Donna Brazille was on MSNBS. They could replace spiting Matthews and boneheaded Joe Scarbrain. Also if MSNBC wasn't on a channel where you have to upgrade (pay more) cable they would be #1.

[ljc]

Have you ever read their Political Ticker page? The comments of hate of President Obama is breathtaking. Just awful.

[24kgold]

Morning Joe is weighing MSNBC down, they would get more ratings if they get another host or get someone like Rachel Maddow to sit next to Joe and get rid of the brainless Mika I get so tired of her looking behind her and in the mirror on TV.... Joe dominates the conversation.

[Slapmewhenitsover]

Actually, they need to get rid of Joe too. He is an embarrassment.

[darleneslee]

Joe, ain't in Rachel's league intellectually.

[kbrc81]

Thanks guys... I was beginning to think it was I that was out of touch.

[Bluesue]

CNN better take a look at their turn to the right and how they report the news through innuendo. That's why their ratings are bad.

[Indie2008]

They took that turn a couple of years ago (adding Glen Beck for awhile) and unleashed Dobbs--hoping to steal some of FOX's audience.S­orry, CNN, when it comes to pandering to the wackos, no one equals FOX.

[ECB]

"Even MSNBC" ????

[oakley9]

MSM is failing because they have gotten so far from looking for and telling the truth.
Americans are now ready for the truth, want the truth and are tired of being l!ed to by media, government, corporations and banks, etc. As the covers are being pulled by this crisis, we are waking up to the grim reality of the corruption that has been festering all along.

[michiganman2]

MORE DON, LESS DOBBS

only reason i ever check out CNN is because its in HD and on the weekends MSNBC only plays those predator documentaries LOL. i DVR fareed zakaria every sunday but thats about it.

[dthom403]

Don Lemons? Dude is a dweeb

[mcantwell]

Did anyone read the comments posted below the Portfolio article? The comments say that CNN is slanted left wing Liberal, with the exception of Lou Dobbs. While many of us on HuffPo have stopped watching CNN in recent months because we've noticed it has taken a hard turn to the right.

CNN does not do unbiased NEWS or Commentary very well, so they need to choose sides, Left or Right.

[KindMisica]

I read some of those replies and I wondered are these people for real? They must be living on a strange planet where Fox is fair and balanced..­.haha, oh yeah and CNNis leaning "left"!

[hudsuckerproxy]

I cannot fathom why Jack Cafferty doesn't have his own show.

[oneblackvote]

1600 is one of the best shows.

[24kgold]

Yeah Shuster get them straight..