CNN’s ratings decline shows no signs of reversing anytime soon, as the network recently plunged to an all-time low in viewership among the most-coveted demographic for advertisers.
The left-leaning news network—currently undergoing a massive overhaul that is expected to entail wide-reaching layoffs—averaged just 92,000 total day viewers in the key 25-to-54-year-old demographic. This dismal figure marks a one percent drop compared to the previous year’s average of 94,000, which was already an unprecedented low for the network, according to a report from Mediate. This decline highlights a persistent downward trend for CNN, as it faces a massive loss in viewership following President-elect Donald Trump’s historic comeback victory in November.
Since Election Day, CNN’s viewership in the key demographic has plummeted by 52 percent, drawing an average of just 77,000 viewers, according to Nielsen data. The dramatic decrease underscores the challenges CNN faces in retaining its audience in a competitive cable news landscape.
Overall, CNN’s primetime viewership has also cratered by 45 percent this year, averaging 405,000 viewers. The network’s share of primetime cable news viewers has dropped to a mere 11 percent, trailing far-left rival MSNBC’s 16 percent. Meanwhile, Fox News continues to dominate the cable news landscape, with an astonishing 72 percent of primetime cable news viewers tuning in during the same period. Fox News has solidified its position as the leader among the coveted 25-to-54-year-old demographic for the ninth consecutive year. While MSNBC has surpassed CNN in terms of total day viewers, it trails CNN in the 25-54 demographic and is also grappling with a post-election ratings decline. MSNBC’s primetime viewership has fallen by nearly 60 percent since Election Day, showcasing broader challenges within the cable news industry.
CNN’s struggles extend beyond weekday programming and into its weekend lineup. Last Saturday, the network’s talk show hosted by Jonathan Capehart managed to attract just 12,000 viewers in the 25-54 demographic. For comparison, the recently launched NewsNation drew three times as many viewers during its weekend programming in the same time slot.
These dismal ratings underscore the deep challenges CNN faces in attracting and retaining viewers. The ongoing overhaul at the network, paired with significant changes in its programming and strategic focus, will determine whether CNN can recover its standing in the highly competitive news media landscape. Until then, the network’s ratings decline serves as a stark reminder of the evolving preferences of news audiences and the intensifying competition within the cable news sector.