CNN Ratings Plummet After Another Year of Trump Bashing
Here’s another example of “fake news” falling short in the eyes of the American news consumer.
For the last couple of years we have heard President Donald Trump point to CNN as a fake news media outlet. Maybe he’s persuaded a lot of viewers to move away from the network, or maybe Americans are just sick and tired of its liberal spin and Trump bashing, but whatever the reason, it is suffering a serious ratings drop.
The numbers don’t lie.
CNN’s ratings last week plummeted 41 percent in daytime and 36 percent in prime time compared with the same week last year, according to Adweek.
“CNN ranked No. 6 across basic cable in total prime time viewers, and No. 5 in total day this past week,” the trade publication said Wednesday. “Despite the top 10 finishes, the network was -36 percent in prime time viewers, and -41 percent in total day viewers vs. the same week last year.
“During the same same week in 2017, cable news provided wall-to-wall coverage of Hurricane Irma. Significant breaking news stories tend to give CNN a bigger ratings boost than what Fox News or MSNBC traditionally get.”
Breitbart noted Friday that this isn’t anything new for the network.
“The network has repeatedly seen embarrassing viewership losses compared to 2017,” it said. “In August, the network lost 12 percent of its primetime viewers compared to 2017.
“During one week in August, the network dropped 23 percent during the day and 24 percent in prime time compared to the same week last year.”
While CNN saw its ratings plummet, it issued a news release boasting of its “second-best August ever in total viewers.”
Adweek had glowing things to say about CNN in August even though it lagged behind other cable news networks.
“Fox News and MSNBC may be getting headlines for being the two-most-watched networks on basic cable, but CNN held its own in August 2018,” it said.
The trade publication, quoting the CNN news release, made the case that it was a very good month for the network.
“First, it ranked as a top 10 basic cable network in total viewers, during prime time and across the 24-hour day,” Adweek said. “Second, CNN defeated MSNBC this past month in adults 25-54. That’s not out of the ordinary across the 24-hour day, but it is out of the ordinary in prime time.”
I wonder why they didn’t profile the network atop the ratings.
Oh wait, they did. Fox News was No. 1 in August.
“Another month, another ratings win for Fox News Channel,” Adweek said. “The network marked a significant milestone in August 2018: 200 consecutive months as the most watched cable news network in both prime time and total day in total viewers, according to Nielsen Media Research.”
I think President Trump is right about fake news and CNN. I’m wondering just how long the network can tread water and keep up the good front before someone pulls the plug on that sinking ship.
Maybe it’s time we just made more room for fair and balanced news media outlets to fill the vacuum left behind by mainstream liberal media. The numbers are indicating that may be happening already.
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