CNN has pushed the bogus narrative of collusion between Russians and the Trump campaign, and as the narrative has gradually began to die, so have the ratings.
That was evident in how the ratings rounded out the year in December, putting CNN in last place, and having their primetime viewership eroded by double digits from just months prior. The figures for total daily viewers were as follows:
- FNC: 1,501,000 (up eight percent)
- MSNBC: 885,000 (up 47 percent)
- CNN: 783,000 (up four percent)
Fox is nearly doubling CNN in the ratings, and while MSNBC has grown the most over the past year, it’s easy to grow at a faster rate when nobody watched your programming in the first place. But at least they’re growing. CNN can’t say the same, and as a result, the network is planning a round of layoffs, among other cost-cutting measures.
According to Vanity Fair,
Despite the so-called Trump Bump, CNN appears to be re-thinking at least some elements of its digital strategy. I’ve learned that CNN, a key property in AT&T’s planned takeover of CNN’s parent company, Time Warner, is targeting big savings on the digital side, with as many as 50 jobs around the globe scheduled to be eliminated this week, according to people familiar with the matter, who noted the exact number could still be in flux.
The cuts will affect employees who work in premium businesses including CNN Money, video, product, tech and social publishing, these people said. Several high profile digital initiatives are being scaled back, including CNN’s virtual reality productions and its efforts on Snapchat, where CNN recently nixed a live daily webcast after just four months. CNN’s business-oriented MoneyStream app, as BuzzFeed reported earlier this month, is in the gutter as well.
Media analyst Jeffrey McCall told Fox News that the layoffs “seem to suggest that CNN may have outkicked its coverage.” He added that “it does seem odd that these cuts are apparently targeted for the digital side at this time, when most strategists seem to think that’s an area for potential growth.”
President Donald Trump, meanwhile, is probably bummed he didn’t get to tell them “you’re fired” himself.
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