CNN's prime time ratings continue to decline

Atlanta Journal-Constitution ^ | Atlanta Journal-Constitution

[jmcclain19]

http://www.ajc.com/business/content/business/cnn/0903/23primetime.html?urac=n&urvf=10643489956980.7520239648255277

Link via Drudge

CNN's prime-time ratings still down despite overhaul

By CAROLINE WILBERT The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

CNN still is putting the final touches on its new prime-time lineup, but the first two weeks' worth of ratings are down compared with last year.

The network said Monday it has hired contributors -- including former Defense Department spokeswoman Victoria Clarke and Time magazine columnist Joe Klein -- for the 8 p.m. show, "Paula Zahn Now."

Zahn's show drew an average of 598,000 viewers in its first two weeks since CNN relaunched it with the new name. That was down 25 percent from the time slot a year ago, when Connie Chung's program was airing.

The new 7 p.m. show, "Anderson Cooper 360," drew an average of 446,000 viewers in its first two weeks, down 32 percent from a year earlier.

While down from last year, ratings have improved since the shows launched and are up over last month, CNN spokeswoman Christa Robinson said.

The shows were designed to sharpen CNN's hard-news image. The network has repeatedly reworked both its schedule and management team in recent years after losing its cable ratings lead to Fox News.

Jim Walton, who took the reins of Atlanta-based CNN in January, canceled "Connie Chung Tonight," which did relatively well in the ratings but was criticized for its tabloid style. He moved the 7 p.m. debate show "Crossfire" to a half-hour slot in the afternoon.

Anchors Zahn and Cooper took over their time slots months ago, but their new shows officially launched Sept. 8, with on-air promos, a new set for Zahn and well-known guests. The network has been working all summer to put together an ensemble cast for Zahn's show.

In addition to Clarke and Klein, CNN is giving Zahn's show nearly exclusive access to other network contributors, including medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta and legal correspondent Jeffrey Toobin. The idea is to provide viewers something different during prime time, instead of just rehashed versions of the news they've seen all day.

CNN last week overhauled its news management, naming local-news veteran Princell Hair to run the flagship network. The goal, CNN chief Jim Walton said last week, is to get viewers to watch CNN for longer periods of time -- key to improving ratings.

Walton said last week he doesn't expect to make any changes, however, in the prime-time schedule.

"I'm very pleased with it," he said.

[Timesink]

I find the only time I tune in CNN is when a major story is breaking that you know will upset the anchor types. Like today's smack down of the 3 Ninth circuit clowns.

Judy was noticeably upset this afternoon, wasn't she? Ha ha ha!

[Windcatcher]

It's hard to see CNN when I've already deprogrammed it from my TV >:)

[ChadGore]

Ya see what lieing gets them ??

[BushisTheMan]

I happen to see the Amanpour fiasco where she criticized her own network. Tory Clark was one of the three guests. The other was Al "the Freak" Franken. Tory was the best of them all. It got so that Amanpour disagreed just to disagree with Tory because there is no way that she was going to agree without something reasonable and pro-American. And that's when she made the ill-fated remark about her own network. I laughed out loud when she spoke the words. The Freak Franken was out of his league with these two women.

[FreedomCalls]

I guess having Janeane Garafalo host Crossfire didn't go over so well, huh?

Does this mean they will have to shelve their plans for a show hosted by Al Franken?

[prairiebreeze]

Missed that. Guess that 'splains why she hasn't been on TV.

If she turns tail and starts touting the CNN company line....I'll lose my cookies.

Prairie

[ChadGore]

This is from 2002:

[Voltage]

Have they gotten a Lazy Boy recliner for Arron Brown yet? I am concerned he might fall asleep and hurt himself. It almost happened to me one evening when I was surfing and came across his show.

[Skybird]

Flush twice and maybe CNN will go away!!

[bray]

CNN has come up with a NEW format by setting up their studios inside the DNC. McClandfill will be editorializing on the failure of GW and Iraq 24-7. CNN spokespersons say that the message was lost from being filtered by CNN's objectivity. Anotherwords, stay the course.

In other news Bush's approval numbers fell to -10% according to the latest Time/CNN/Zogby poll.

Pray for GW and the Truth

[Bonaparte]

Lipstick on your pig-gee
Put a tail on yoo-oo
Lipstick on your pig-gee
Won't make lies look troo-oo
Bet your bottom ra-tings
CNN is through
'Cuz lipstick on your pig-gee
Put a tail on you...

[Vladivostok]

What I can't figure out is how they get anyone into the studio audience for that incomprehensible over/cross talking fluff on CrossFire - do they pay them (or at least supply donuts)?

[Tamzee]

[BlazingArizona]

My wife is going to be P*SSED!

[Uncle Hal]

You would think CNN would get the message and hire a conservative for a prime time show. Even CNBC and MSNBC have got a few conservatives on board. With its whole audience built around Larry King, who draws primarily the geriatric crowd, they are never going to improve. Will the last person watching CNN, please turn out the lights.

[FreedomCalls]

... Crossfire audience ...

It's shot at a liberal university somewhere in the DC area. I haven't watched it in so long I can't remember which one.

[george wythe]

Even my gym is playing Fox News in the TV monitors that used to have CNN.

It seems that Fox News is more viewer-friendly than CNN, since the people changing to Fox News at the gym are not conservatives at all.

[whereasandsoforth]

My! The whole city of Ft. Worth, Texas must be watching CNN.