OPINION | This article contains commentary that reflects the author's opinion.
CNN received horrible news as the cable news ratings were released on January 13th.
The network is struggling to attract viewers despite a desperate effort to remove anti-Trump hosts and eliminate radical left-wing bias in its reporting.
Cable News Rankings Fri Jan 13
1⃣@TheFive @JesseBWatters @JudgeJeanine @GeraldoRivera @MarthaMacCallum* @PlanetTyrus*
2⃣@TuckerCarlson
3⃣@JessePrimetime
4⃣@BretBaier
5⃣@SeanHannity
6⃣@GutfeldFox!
7⃣@OutnumberedFNC
8⃣🔟@AmericaNewsroom @DanaPerino @BillHemmer
9⃣@JulieBanderas* pic.twitter.com/dXWHvHJpv0— RoadMN 📈 (@RoadMN) January 17, 2023
The highest-ranked CNN show was “The Lead with Jake Tapper,” which finished in 28th place with roughly 700,000 viewers at the 5 pm slot.
In comparison, all 18 programs on Fox News were ranked above CNN’s top show, even including the 6 am and 10 pm slots which usually attract fewer viewers.
When combining the viewership of all CNN primetime shows, it fails to outpace a single primetime show on Fox News.
The top shows on Fox News are “The Five,” “Tucker Carlson Tonight,” “Jesse Watters Primetime,” “Special Report with Bret Baier,” “Hannity,” and “Gutfeld.” They combine for over 18 million viewers.
After eight long years, CNN recently canceled the prime-time show “Don Lemon Tonight.” Rather than firing Lemon, he was simply moved to a morning spot where he co-anchors with two others.
“I was not demoted,” Lemon told viewers. “This is a promotion.”
Although morning shows can be popular, this change is certainly a massive demotion for Lemon who is losing his prime-time show in exchange for co-anchoring a morning slot.
New CNN boss Chris Licht promised the network is making significant changes and moving in a new direction with less bias.
Viewership has plummeted for the network as a growing number of people have criticized the network’s obvious bias and political agenda in its reporting.
CNN’s @DonLemon on being demoted from primetime to the AM: “I was not demoted” pic.twitter.com/WgatfCzPLT
— Tom Elliott (@tomselliott) September 16, 2022
Licht has signaled that he is making major waves against blatant bias, anti-Trump personalities like former host Brian Stelter.
Licht is demanding that the liberal network become less partisan and stir away from the angry years seen during the presidency of Donald Trump.
If both on-air personalities and their programming doesn’t comply, they could be fired. Three sources familiar with the matter confirmed to Axios that on-air talent needs to adjust to a less partisan tone and strategy. If not, they could be ousted.
Licht reportedly wants to feature more personalities that are less polarizing. This approach is much different than former CNN president Jeff Zucker.
Zucker was accused of programming that engaged in disrespectful interviews and “PR stunts.” Under Zucker, producers and bookers focused less on nuance and mostly on noise.
