CNN's viewership ratings reportedly plummeted to an all-time low in 2024, a surprising outcome given the typical surge in audience numbers during election years.
From December 26, 2023, to December 15, 2024, CNN's average viewership was a mere 93,000 in the key 25-54 demographic, and a total of 488,000 viewers, as reported by The Post Millennial. This pales in comparison to the dominant Fox News, which boasted an impressive 1.46 million total viewers, according to Nielsen Media Research.
This downturn in viewership follows a lackluster election night coverage by CNN, which attracted only 5.1 million viewers, marking a significant 44 percent decline from its 2020 election coverage. In stark contrast, Fox News drew a staggering 13.6 million viewers during the same event.
CNN was not alone in its struggle to maintain viewership. MSNBC, another left-leaning media outlet, averaged 86,000 viewers in the 25-54 demographic, albeit outperforming CNN in total viewers with 806,000.
Recent reports revealed that MSNBC requested pay cuts from anchors Joy Reid and Stephanie Ruhle in a bid to retain their services, following a $5 million salary reduction for Rachel Maddow.
On a brighter note, NewsNation, a fledgling network launched only three years prior, experienced a significant boost in 2024, with its primetime cable viewership increasing by 25% and its 25-54 demographic audience by 45%.
As 2024 drew to a close, Fox News retained its position as the most-watched cable network for the ninth consecutive year, securing the top spot in viewership during the fourth quarter.
The late-night show "Gutfeld!" also emerged as a leader, averaging 2.1 million viewers overall and 295,000 in the 25-54 demographic, making it the highest-rated cable news program in its time slot. This suggests that conservative perspectives continue to resonate with a significant portion of the viewing public.
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