OPINION: This article contains commentary which may reflect the author’s opinion
CNN ratings have been steadily declining, and changes are being made at the network.
In July, Fox News swept the cable news ratings, finishing as the most watched network in prime-time and for total day, among both total viewers and adults 25-54, the key demographic group valued by advertisers.
Fox was the only cable news network to see an increase year-over-year in total day ratings, with an average audience of 1.35 million viewers – up 13% from the same period one year ago.
MSNBC was second overall, and CNN finished third.
Last February, CNN had a very bad month, in which Jeff Zucker resigned under pressure after the continuing investigation into prime time anchor Chris Cuomo’s unethical behavior cast light on Zucker’s smokescreen over that behavior.
After that, Prime Time was down nearly 70% in the ratings.
Also, CNN has been notoriously liberal-leaning in its delivery of the news.
Looking at the ratings, it is apparent what viewers want.
It is obvious that the more non-partisan the news reporting, the more viewers seem to like it and tune in more often.
Inside CNN, there has been a decisive effort to become more middle-of-the-road in politics, but the talent who are known for their left-leaning politics seem to be disappearing.
This is creating a panic among CNN employees who felt safe in the network known for its liberal take on stories.
Daily Wire reported that the panic comes after CNN parted ways with hard-left White House Correspondent John Harwood this week following hyper-partisan remarks from Harwood, including a tweet in which Harwood claimed, “Biden’s assertion that Trump and extremist Republicans pose a threat to American democracy is, undeniably, true.”
During the 2016 presidential campaign, Harwood reached out to Hillary Clinton’s campaign chairman, John Podesta, and asked him, “What should I ask Jeb?”
The Hill noted at the time that Jeb Bush, at the time the email was sent, was the leading Republican contender to take on Clinton.
Warner Bros. Discovery canceled CNN’s new subscription streaming service, CNN+, earlier this year after it experienced significant struggles in attracting an audience.
Even though other streaming services are doing well, CNN+ was canceled abruptly after a short period.
And Warner Brothers Discovery has been in the midst of trimming costs and laying off staffers since there was a merger.
Harwood’s departure comes weeks after former CNN “Reliable Sources” host Brian Stelter recorded his last show and exited the network.
Stelter’s exit reportedly came at the behest of CNN chief Chris Licht, who took over the network in February after Jeff Zucker’s exit.
Licht has reportedly been driving CNN toward adopting a more nonpartisan stance in its news coverage.
Employees at CNN are reportedly panicking as Licht is continuing to cut some of the network’s most hyper-partisan leftist “talent.”
The Daily Mail reported that staffers at the far-left network, which is trying to become more nonpartisan, “fear a network-wide purge” of “woke” talent at the company.
“People are freaked out,” one CNN journalist said. “It almost feels like there’s a pattern. Is there a purge going on? They seem to be sending a message: ‘Watch what you say. Watch what you do.’”
“Longtime CNN personalities are disappearing, and the viewers don’t know why,” another CNN employee said.
A producer for the network said it was an “unsettling time from top to bottom at CNN” and that no one “is happy right now.”
Chris Licht, the new Chairman and CEO of the company told staffers at an August editorial meeting, “There will be moves that you may not agree with or understand.”
Deadline reported that Licht is trying to paint the best face possible on the dismissals, stating about Stelter,” I have known Brian since the days he was running TVNewser as a college student. I wish him all the best on his new venture.”
Licht also expressed some irritation over some media reports about CNN’s plans, characterizing them as incorrect assumptions, Daily Wire reported.
The executive stressed to staff that those fluid plans are only known by a few in CNN management’s inner circle.
Licht has started to evaluate the hyper-partisan so-called “talent” at the network shortly after he joined CNN as he aimed to dial down the extreme partisanship that has plagued the network in recent years.
“I want to acknowledge that this is a time of significant change, and I know that many of you are unsettled,” Licht said, according to numerous people who attended the editorial meeting call. “There will be more changes, and you might not understand it or like it.”
Licht has announced plans for CNN that include a morning show and a Sunday night showcase.
He also is avoiding the kinds of advocacy journalism that have infected cable news.
“When David Saslav put me in this role he gave me one simple directive,” Licht stated at Warner Brothers Discovery’s upfront on Wednesday, enhance CNN’s leadership as the definitive source for reliable news and exceptional journalism globally.”
Source: The Republic Brief