CNN Posts Lowest-Rated Week in Primetime Since 1991, Despite Trump Trial

One of the most intriguing stories in media ahead of the 2024 presidential election is what impact CNN will have. 

CNN is the oldest cable news network on television and has long branded itself as the "most trusted." But CNN is now a distant third behind Fox News and MSNBC in the ratings and is on its third CEO in as many years: Mark Thompson.

One would think CNN would do well right now by covering former president Donald Trump's ongoing hush money trial. Trump, Stormy Daniels, disgraced attorney Michael Cohen, and Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg are the exact type of characters that draw "normies" to cable news programming. 

Yet, last week, CNN posted its lowest-rated week in primetime since 1991, according to Nielsen. 

The network drew just 83,000 viewers from 8 to 11 p.m in the advertised coveted 25 to 54 demographic, the measurement for cable news success. 

The current primetime lineup for CNN consists of Anderson Cooper,'"AC360" at 8 p.m., "The Source with Kaitlan Collins" at 9 p.m.," and  "CNN NewsNight" with Abby Phillip" at 10 p.m.

Not exactly the most must-watch of trios ever assembled, huh?

By comparison, MSNBC averaged 111,000 in the demo. Fox News averaged 186,000 viewers. Disclosure: Fox News and OutKick share common ownership.

And while CNN didn't set record lows in total viewership last week, the network wasn't far off from doing so. CNN averaged 494,000 viewers from May 13-19.  Fox News and MSNBC drew 2 million and 1.1 million, respectively.

CNN's viewership now ranks closer to Newsmax and NewsNation, the third and fourth most popular cable news networks, than Fox News and MSNBC. 

Via OutKick

CNN is stuck in no man's land. 

What is CNN under Mark Thompson? We can't say for certain. Even the hosts on the network couldn't tell you.

The channel isn't as openly partisan as it was under Jeff Zucker, led by Chris Cuomo and Don Lemon. Yet, it's certainly not the straight-news hub for information that Chris Licht purportedly tried to build before his ousting last summer.

Simply put, CNN isn't interesting. Say what you will about the Mean Girls of MSNBC (Jen Psaki, Joy Reid, and Rachel Maddow), but at least they are good fodder for conversation. 

Cooper, Collins, and Phillip are painfully dreary.

Individual star power is more important than ever due to the oversaturation of media content available. Only the biggest names in television maintain cultural relevance – be it Maddow, Sean Hannity, Jesse Watters, or Bill Maher. 

Meanwhile, CNN just promoted Jim Acosta to the weekly lineup. 

Sure, CNN will see a substantial boost in ratings for the first 2024 presidential debate on June 27, 2024, which Jake Tapper and Dana Bash will moderate. However, a debate lasts only one night. 

The next morning, it's back to mostly C-list news anchors and whatever Wolf Blitzer is.

Prediction: CNN will have less impact on this upcoming election than any election since, well, let's say, 1991.