CNN Plummets, Hosts Lose Nearly Half Their Audiences

Media Buyer Planner.com ^ | 3/29/10

[advance_copy]

CNN’s most popular hosts have lost nearly half their audience over the last year in precipitous falls that have affected the entire network.

In February, the network came in last place among the cable news nets, trailing not only Fox News and MSNBC, but also behind HLN (formerly Headline News) and CNBC, reports The New York Times.

The first quarter of 2010 was Larry King’s worst quarter ever, with his audience down 43%, to 771,000 viewers, for the quarter and down 52% for the month of March. In the same quarter in 2009, Larry King’s show had 1.34 million viewers. King’s audience is just a quarter of the size of Sean Hannity’s Fox News show, is regularly beaten by Rachel Maddow on MSNBC, and is now fighting a sometimes-losing battle against a new competitor, Joy Behar on HLN.

Campbell Brown, too, dipped significantly, seeing its worst quarter ever in the advertiser-friendly 25-54 demo.

[JLAGRAYFOX]

I could not have stated it better. CNN & MSNBC are just wasting their time. The American public and voters have Obama’s flim/flam act and he is toast. He just does not know it.

[Cobra64]

Greta is doing a great job now. She's using her lawyer trained brain asking excellent questions and bringing out excellent points in her interviews.

I couldn't stand her when she was covering the news soap operas.

On the other hand, O'Reilly's ignorance never ceases to amaze me. Every night he makes dumb, uninformed statements. He must have studied with F-ing Slow-Joe Biden.

[Nateman]

LOL!

[montag813]

Beck is best. No one else comes close. On TV for sure, but not on the radio.

Agreed. On the radio he is pretty lousy. Rush and Levin are my favorites. Hannity is a doofus. John Batchelor is excellent too.

[Cobra64]

Well even their one viewer has to sleep, eat, and visit the bathroom.

[MplsSteve]

“In the same quarter in 2009, Larry King’s show had 1.34 million viewers...is regularly beaten by Rachel Maddow on MSNBC, and is now fighting a sometimes-losing battle against a new competitor, Joy Behar on HLN.

Things have got to be bad for Larry King when he’s being beaten by Rachel Maddow and Joy Behar.

[Artcore]

After watching their completely biased reporting on the Searchlight rally from this past Saturday, this really doesn’t surprise me!

[Boucheau]

“Gee, I wonder how much English TV would’ve been watched during 1775/76???”

Nice.

[Outrance]

I met “the” CNN viewer one time at an airport in California. Nice guy, he said his tuner was broken and he couldn’t change the channel but as soon as he got enough money for a new TV he was changing to Fox News.

Don’t know what Wolfie and the folks will do then.

[cricket]

Do not know status now; but CNN was quite innovative at one time. They paid for - or just owned - the tv’s in airports and their lounges etc. with stipulation of course, that they ‘channel’ CNN.

[ChiMark]

Hannity does a good job interviewing guests on his T.V.
show. O’Reilly seems self absorbed often trying to upstage guests especially conservatives like Ann Coulter.

I don’t know if it’s personal or deliberate for him to play the devil’s advocate.

[Freedom_Is_Not_Free]

The most busted name in news, CNN.

[cricket]

On the other hand, O'Reilly's ignorance never ceases to amaze me. Every night he makes dumb, uninformed statements.

He needs to do more of his own 'homework' and as well, just wake up to starker realities.

O'Reilly does make a great 'welcome center' for the newest of visitors to Fox News. They can get some truth and still feel good about their Liberalism. Eventually, they will be ready for Beck/lol. And if not; figure close to truth is better than never having been close at all; and so can appreciate O'Reilly for his contributions. He also. ..does shine light on situations that are deserving of attention; but would not otherwise get any.

[M. Espinola]

Is CNN still on the air?

[Global2010]

If I am in a waiting area long with a tv I pick up the clicker and ask Anyone mind if I change the channel?

Or carry reading material with so I ignore the tv if no clicker is available.

Also my blackberry (only source of u tube I have) can keep me occupied.

My first choice of company other than the tv being on in a waiting area is striking up a conversation with others who are interested in doing so or if a big area just enjoy people watching.

I am sorry you are forced to watch CNN when in public waiting areas. /sarc

[phil1750]

I don’t understand how larry could be losing viewers with such guest as bill mahar and michael moore. sarcasm off

[101voodoo]

I took my wife to the Dr last week and in the waiting room was a TV with CNN tuned in. After listening to the drooling commentary on all things Obama, I approached the desk and ask, in a friendly way, who determines which station is selected on the TV. I was told “one of the doctors”

When I asked why the choice would be te lowest rated cable news station available instead of the highest rated one, FNC, the response was that CNN has ALWAYS been tuned in. I left her with te suggestion they ought to put on the cartoon Network and let their patients laugh at something actually meant to be funny rather then something which is funny by mistake.

[Joe Boucher]

Not if that one viewer is Jack Bauer.

[abb]

[y6162]

“What I do not get is why I am oftentimes “forced” to watch CNN on TVs that are in public places such as airports, bars, waiting rooms.”

I flew fore the first time in a long time yesterday.

During the lay over in Atlanta, I felt like a hostage with CNN watching me.