(DC Pundit) – Cable news viewership is quite the rollercoaster ride these days. But when you look at the big picture, it’s clear that President-elect Donald Trump has come out on top in his battle with CNN.
Let’s break it down with some hard numbers. Since CNN started their crusade against Trump back in 2016, they’ve lost a whopping 94% of their prime-time audience. That’s not just a decline – it’s a freefall.
Back in 2016, CNN was sitting pretty as the most-watched cable news network. They were pulling in an average of 13.3 million viewers during prime time. Fast forward to today, and that number has plummeted to around 800,000. Do the math, and that’s a 93.99% drop. Ouch.
The 2024 election night really drove this point home. CNN only managed to attract 5.1 million viewers, while MSNBC edged them out with 6 million. Fox News, on the other hand, was the clear winner with 10.3 million viewers tuning in.
Given these dismal numbers, it’s no shocker that CNN is reportedly planning some major layoffs, including on-air talent. They’re still hanging onto well-known Trump critics like Jim Acosta and Jake Tapper, as well as establishment regulars Anderson Cooper, Dana Bash, and Kaitlan Collins.
So, new CEO Mark Thompson has some tough decisions ahead. Does CNN keep up their costly fight against Trump? Or do they take a step back and try to promote some of their more likable faces?
It’s a tricky situation, and only time will tell how it all shakes out. But one thing’s for sure – CNN’s got some serious soul-searching to do if they want to turn these numbers around.
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