During the month of October, CNN exhibited a lower level of performance in comparison to other prominent cable news networks, particularly the influential Fox News. Nevertheless, the network was able to attract a certain number of viewers in comparison to the previous year, as shown in a report published on Tuesday.
“Fox News again topped all the cable news networks in October, but only CNN and MSNBC gained viewers versus last year, as Israel-Gaza coverage and the House Speaker upheaval dominated the news cycle,” Deadline reported.
The publication added: “In primetime, Fox News averaged 2.12 million viewers, down 7% from October 2022. MSNBC drew 1.33 million, up 12%, and CNN posted 722,000, an increase of 16%. In the 25-54 demo, Fox News averaged 256,000, off by 13%, while CNN averaged 167,000, up 25%, and MSNBC posted 132,000, up 16%.”
“In total, Fox News averaged 1.36 million, down 8%, followed by MSNBC with 895,000, up 19%, and CNN with 600,000, an increase of 12%. In the adults 25-54 demo, Fox News averaged 174,000, down 15%, while CNN posted 124,000, up 17%, and MSNBC was at 98,000, up 23%.” Deadline added with more detail, noting that Nielsen provides the ratings data through Fox News.
With an average audience of three million viewers, Fox News’ “The Five” was once again the highest-rated cable news program across all networks. Following it was Fox’s “Jesse Watters Primetime,” which drew an average audience of 2.58 million viewers. Watters is also a co-host of The Five. Sean Hannity came next with 2.41 million, followed by Fox’s “Special Report” with 2.21 million and Laura Ingraham’s “The Ingraham Angle” with 2.17 million.
“In adults 25-54, The Five averaged 316,000, followed by Hannity with 300,000, Gutfeld! with 292,000, Jesse Watters Primetime with 270,000, and The Ingraham Angle with 244,000,” Deadline reported, adding: “‘The Rachel Maddow Show,’ which airs on Mondays, averaged 2.5 million viewers, per MSNBC.”
CNN’s news remains bleak, though, and the network made cable news history in September—albeit not in a good way.
“The network just hit an all-time low in viewership among the key demographic in primetime ratings, according to the latest data released by Nielsen,” TheStreet.com reported at the time.
The decline is “another sign of the difficulties facing incoming boss Mark Thompson,” the New York Post added.
The Post added as follows: “The cable news network logged its worst weekend ratings on record in the all-important 25- to 54-year-old demo, according to the latest Nielsen data. CNN — which launched in 1980 and bills itself as ‘the most trusted name in news’ — totaled just 55,000 viewers for its weekend slate of shows that include Sunday political programs ‘State of the Union with Jake Tapper and Dana Bash,’ and ‘Fareed Zakaria GPS.’ The network’s Sunday primetime lineup, which featured ‘The Whole Story with Anderson Cooper’ and ‘Stanley Tucci: Searching for Italy,’ drew 43,000 in the demo.”
According to the site, the network’s poor performance over the weekend is also the worst since 1991—the earliest year for which easily available television viewership statistics is available.
According to the estimate, CNN’s total viewership was not much better, with about 345,000 viewers overall—far behind Fox News’ 683,000 and left-leaning MSNBC’s 424,000.
“Fox won the battle in the key demo as well, drawing 75,000 viewers to top MSNBC’s 47,000, which finished behind CNN,” The Post noted.
The Post was informed by an insider that CNN is a ratings embarrassment. Thompson will provide them with direction, at least.
Thompson served as The New York Times Company’s CEO before. After Chris Licht’s brief tenure, which industry insiders viewed as a fiasco, he was chosen by parent firm Warner Bros. Discovery to take over as CNN’s new chairman last month.
He was fired in June following the publication of a harsh article by The Atlantic, which portrayed him as obsessive and suspicious of his predecessor, Jeff Zucker.
Thompson took office on October 9.
Under Licht, hosts Don Lemon and Brian Stelter were let go, while Kaitlin Collins, who filled Chris Cuomo’s prime-time position, was given a new assignment or given her own show. However, that has also not gone well.
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