The liberal-leaning CNN network ended 2014 with an astounding ratings “freefall” while Fox News Channel celebrated its 13th year as the most-watched cable news network.
Despite CNN chief Jeff Zucker calling it a “terrific year” in a leaked memo to staffers, the network closed out the year with an all-time low in total viewers,
according to Deadline.
CNN also recorded its second-lowest rating in the more important news demographic of viewers aged 25-54 in primetime. In total day viewers, CNN fell to an all-time low in the news demo.
“Zucker’s unspoken but obvious decision to turn CNN into a hard-left network obsessed with race-baiting, identity politics, and heartless, mean girl (Sarah) Palin-bashing mixed with Christian-bashing backfired spectacularly,”
wrote Breitbart’s John Nolte.
“Playing ‘Twilight Zone’ with a missing airliner and spreading lies to gin up riots in the predominantly black, working class city of Ferguson did absolutely nothing to stop CNN’s freefall in the ratings.
“Under Jeff Zucker, 2014 was nothing short of a catastrophe for the left-wing cable network. 2014 was the year of false narratives at CNN, and because no one likes to be lied to, viewers went elsewhere.”
In his memo, Zucker claimed that CNN was closing out the year in its “best shape” journalistically and financially, the latter of which may be partially due to the fact that the network
slashed 8 percent of its staff.
Although Zucker noted that CNN ended the year “solidly in second place,” he failed to mention that the network was trounced by Fox News and barely defeated MSNBC in three or four categories. CNN lost to MSNBC in total primetime viewers.
However, MSNBC lost 17 percent of its primetime news demo viewers, with just 169,000 viewers watching, its worst total since 2005. And while CNN’s primetime news demo ratings dropped 1 percent, the audience tuning into Fox News Channel increased by three percent.
There was
one bright spot for CNN during the month of March when Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 went missing, according to Deadline. Over a two-week period, the non-stop coverage resulted in total-day news demo numbers increasing by 102 percent.
According to Breitbart, here are the viewer figures for 2014: Total day viewers, news demo viewers, respectively: Fox News: 1,052,000 – 214,000: CNN: 399,000 – 126,000; MSNBC: 347,000 – 108,000. Primetime viewers — news demo viewers, respectively: Fox News: 1,756,000 – 301,000; CNN: 516,000 – 181,000; MSNBC: 590,000 – 169,000.
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