There was a time when CNN was the unrivaled leader in cable news, a trusted source for breaking stories and global events. Today, however, the network appears to be in the throes of a full-blown crisis as its viewership numbers continue to nosedive.
Ever since Donald Trump’s 2024 election victory, CNN’s ratings have plummeted to historic lows, raising serious questions about its relevance and ability to compete in an increasingly crowded media landscape. Recent developments have left many wondering if the network is on its deathbed.
CNN’s struggles have become glaringly apparent in its primetime ratings. According to a report from Fox News Digital, CNN ranked a dismal 17th among cable stations during primetime hours, losing out to channels like Hallmark, HGTV, and the History Channel. For a network that once prided itself on being the go-to source for breaking news, this is nothing short of a major fall from grace.
Primetime shows such as “Anderson Cooper 360,” “The Source with Kaitlan Collins,” and “CNN NewsNight with Abby Phillip” averaged just 367,000 viewers during the week of December 2. To put this in perspective, Fox News averaged a staggering 2.5 million viewers in the same timeframe, further cementing its dominance in the cable news space.
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The election may be over, but it’s not like the news cycle has been slow. Between the Hunter Biden pardon, the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson and the capture of his killer, and Trump’s assembling of his new administration, there has been plenty of news to garner the public’s interest. The problem is that viewers are not going to CNN to hear about them, and now CNN’s audience is not only smaller than the audience of Fox News but also TNT, Food Network, Freeform, Discovery, INSP, Hallmark Mystery, TLC, TBS, History, HGTV, USA, MSNBC, Paramount, Hallmark Channel, and ESPN.
The week of November 25 marked an especially grim milestone for CNN, as the network suffered its lowest-rated week since June 2001. The dramatic drop in total viewership underscores a long-term trend of declining relevance, even during a politically charged and event-filled news cycle.
And this isn’t merely because there is more competition among left-wing networks. CNN isn’t alone in its struggles. Other left-wing networks such as MSNBC are also experiencing sharp viewership declines. Despite the ongoing drama of a busy news cycle, flagship shows like “Inside with Jen Psaki” and “Alex Wagner Tonight” hit all-time lows. Psaki’s show averaged 651,000 viewers, while Wagner’s managed only 595,000 viewers. These numbers suggest that the broader progressive media landscape is losing its grip on audiences.
Perhaps it’s time for Elon Musk to step in and shake things up. There were already rumors that he might buy MSNBC. Maybe he should buy CNN and rebrand it as XNN. Though it may sound like a joke, given Musk’s track record of buying Twitter and making it a true free speech platform, he is well-positioned to reshape the media landscape and bring balance back to journalism.
CNN’s struggles reflect a network at a crossroads, urgently in need of reinvention. Its failure to compete effectively with both news and entertainment platforms, paired with its waning appeal among younger audiences, underscores the severity of its challenges. Without a bold course correction, CNN risks fading into irrelevance, a relic of cable news’ past glory. CNN has tried to change course in the past few years with no success. I wouldn't mind seeing CNN go away, but I also wouldn't mind seeing Musk buy the network and change it into something better.
