CNNs shocking low ratings revealed as staff brace for mass layoffs
Legacy media network, CNN, suffered its worst rating in a key demographic for the first time in a quarter of a century as employees fear more layoffs are coming.
Legacy media network, CNN, suffered its worst rating in a key demographic for the first time in a quarter of a century as employees fear more layoffs are coming.
A critical demographic for network news channels are those aged 25 to 54, and on Tuesday - a week after the 2024 presidential election - CNN averaged 61,000 viewers in that range.
It was the smallest of audience viewers in that demographic since June 27, 2000, when Bill Clinton was in the White House.
It also pulled in bad numbers for its daytime programming - shows that run between 9 am and 5 pm - with an average 60,000 viewers in the demographic on Tuesday.
This was the worst for a non-holiday week since 2014, according to Fox News.
Overall daily viewership for daytime programming sat at 403,000 for the liberal outlet, whereas its competitor and conservative outlet Fox News brought in around 2.2million.
Primetime coverage - between 8 pm and 11 pm - also saw struggling viewership numbers with an average of 483,000 since Election Day. Fox News brought in 3.4 million, according to the network.
CNNs Election Day coverage also waned compared to previous cycles, with a huge downfall in viewership as it fell below MSNBC for the first time since the company launched, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
CNN brought in 5.1million viewers, while MSNBC had 6.01million. Meanwhile, Fox News led with 10.32million, according to THR.
A critical demographic for network news channels are those aged 25 to 54, and on Tuesday, CNN averaged 61,000 viewers in that age range. It was the smallest of audience viewers in that demographic since June 27, 2000
During CNNs prime time shows in 2022 it saw an average of 828,000 viewers, significantly down from 2020 numbers, where it saw around 1.8million, according to Pew Research Center.
MSNBC saw slightly lower numbers than CNN, while Fox News bulldozed the both of them with a 2.1million average viewers in 2022 and 3.1 million in 2020.
CNNs dropping numbers have caused staff to become scared and frustrated about looming layoffs.
Stars including Jake Tapper and Wolf Blitzer have reportedly been denied raises on their multi-million-dollar salaries as the biggest names on the network fear for their futures.
Tappers salary is currently $3million and Blitzer stands at $7million.
On-screen favorite Chris Wallace also departed the network earlier this week, although he insisted that he did so on his own terms.
A longtime CNN employee told Fox News that after news of the layoffs spread, staff across the company are left feeling very sad and deeply frustrated.
Feelings which are pervasive throughout the organization among those who have been here a long time and feel a deep personal connection to having helped build the organization, the anonymous staffer added.
The news also comes as veteran anchors Jake Tapper (left) and Wolf Blitzer (right) were reportedly recently denied raises. Tappers salary is currently $3million and Blitzer stands at $7million
The man behind the layoffs, they said, is none other than new CEO Mark Thompson (pictured) - the former New York Times boss brought in to overhaul the network under its Warner Bros. Discovery parent
News of CNNs budget cuts and layoffs first spread after an explosive report from Puck News, warning that network executives are set to take drastic action to save the companys flailing reputation.
Although there is no mention of who may be on the chopping block, it is feared that the cuts could hit everyone from low-level staff to those such as Anderson Cooper and his $20million-a-year salary.
In the next few months, I’m told, CNN will implement another round of layoffs that will impact hundreds of employees across the organization, reporter Dylan Byers wrote Friday, referencing CNNs recent 100-person layoff seen over the summer.
The fresh round of firings, the insiders said, will be more geared toward the production side of the company - but on-screen talent will be impacted too.
The highest-paid stars include Anderson Cooper - who rakes in $20million a year - Erin Burnett at $6million, and rising star Kaitlan Collins at $3million.
The man behind the layoffs, they said, is none other than new CEO Mark Thompson - the former New York Times boss brought in to overhaul the network under its Warner Bros. Discovery parent.
The old BBC boss filled the position left by then-languishing leader Chris Licht this past August, and since then, ratings have fallen more than 20 percent.
Under Licht - a tenure that lasted a little over a year - the station fell from being the most-watched cable news network on election nights to one of the least.
Despite Lichts controversial reign, he appeared to shade his former colleagues earlier this week when he spilled to a Yahoo Finance reporter all the things he thought was wrong with the industry - one he hasnt returned to since his firing in June 2023.
CNNs dropping numbers have caused staff to become scared and frustrated about looming layoffs, that are said to also affect on-screen talent. Some of CNNs most famous faces are Anderson Cooper, who makes $20million a year, and Erin Burnett, who makes $6million
On Tuesday, the former CEO sat down with to discuss how he thinks legacy media - which includes CNN, although he did not name the company directly - have lost their way with the American people.
The facts are that people have lost trust in legacy media, he told Yahoo Finance anchor Seana Smith.
Thats not me saying that, thats a demonstrable fact that has not happened in the last six months. That is something thats been happening for a long time and people are tuning out.
Licht, who started in local news, thinks legacy media needs to find a way to reconnect with people and become relevant in their lives again.
