Ratings nonsense
During the week of Jan. 16, Nielsen data show Lemon drew an average of 408,000 total viewers, with a mere average of 87,000 viewers in the key 25-54 age demographic. The ratings struggle did not help CNN. It placed 15th overall in total day viewership — the network’s smallest delivery since 2014, according to TVNewser.
Fox News continued to dominate in the ratings last week, leading ad-supported basic cable networks in total viewers with an average of 1.39 million viewers and placing second in the key 25-54 demographic, behind ESPN, with 176,000 viewers. CNN’s liberal media rival MSNBC placed third in total day viewers with 629,000 viewers.
That was from the Washington Examiner, 26 Jan 23
There are a lot of lessons to be drawn here; for viewers and broadcasters. CNN was gasping and staggering in 2014. They argued in the back offices about whether to carry Trump news, he being a member of the great unwashed. They decided he was too good for ratings not to go with him.
The plan was to carry every single Trump appearance like the rest of the news stations did, and adorn the coverage with hysteria. Hysteria works - for a while. For about two years they obsessed on hating the Donald, while drooling on any politician that spoke ill of the man. That carried them a little way, but ultimately it damaged their brand.
While they and their dwindling veiwership continue to run almost wall-to-wall Trump, they continue to fall in the ratings.
Suggestion to CNN and other suffering news outlets: hire professional journalists and professional editors and producers. What you have now are atrophied meat, gone lazy at having basically one story to cover - and in the truth department, you even blew that. You need fresh blood and real journalism.
To my readers: Statistics say, regardless of politics, you get your news and analysis mosty from social media. While that is great for a guy like me, it really isn’t good for the country. Your second source is TV. That is almost as unhealthy.
My advice would be to follow the Washington Examiner, the Washington Post, the Wall Street Journal and AP, in that order…and P4B every week, of course.
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