CNN is facing its lowest primetime ratings since 1991, signaling a significant decline in traditional television news viewership, particularly among left-leaning media outlets. During the week of May 13th to May 19th, CNN’s primetime programming from 8 PM to 11 PM attracted just 83,000 viewers in the crucial 25-54 age demographic, while Fox News garnered over 186,000 viewers and MSNBC had 111,000. Despite efforts to revamp its lineup, CNN’s overall weekly performance reached only 494,000 viewers, compared to Fox News’s 2 million and MSNBC’s 1.1 million.
The decline in ratings has intensified scrutiny on CNN’s new boss, Mark Thompson, and Discovery CEO David Zaslav. Despite attempts to address the network’s decline, including personnel changes and lineup adjustments, CNN continues to struggle. While a CNN spokesperson tried to spin the numbers as positive, claiming year-over-year growth in the target demographic, industry insiders remain skeptical, with some dubbing CNN the “Canceled Network Now” and suggesting a disconnect between the network’s programming and audience interests.
