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2021-02-03 08:44:07 UTC
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Permalinkhttps://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2021/feb/2/cnns-ratings-free-fall-in-bidens-first-week-networ/
CNN's first week in a post-Trump world was painful for its prime-time hosts.
Analysis by Variety of two key metrics raises ratings red flags for network bosses.
"Viewership data across two key metrics - the target news demographic for people ages
25-54, and the total audience watching - shows that CNN ended the final week of
January with ratings dropping roughly 44% for total audience versus the prior week
across all three hours of primetime," the entertainment magazine reported Monday.
CNN's "Cuomo Prime Time" metrics with viewers 25-54 fell "by more than half" (1.38
million to .45 in the key demographic).
The development appears to lend credence to predictions by journalist Megyn Kelly,
among many others, that former President Trump in many ways was a ratings life raft
for cable news pundits.
"They need him," Ms. Kelly said in November. "As long as he stays somewhat active,
[corporate media will] have a little bit more of a life span. But their ratings are
going to go down, I have very little doubt: Without Trump in the office every day,
there's no way, especially CNN and MSNBC, sustain the numbers they are getting."
A CNN representative declined to comment when contacted by Variety.