As CNN trails competitors Fox News and MSNBC in ratings and faces decreasing profit projections, new president Chris Licht is switching up the network’s schedule and advertising revenue streams to compete—here’s a look at how CNN stacks up.
CNN announced Thursday its schedule leading up to the midterm elections, moving Jake Tapper into prime time at 9 p.m.; Alisyn Camerota and Laura Coates taking over from 10 p.m. to midnight on CNN Tonight; and Don Lemon hosting the 10 p.m. slot until October 7, then moving to morning programming, with Licht saying, “We will advance and expand on that coverage, creating something complimentary and compelling in primetime.”
In August, Fox News had nine of the top ten cable news shows across all broadcast times; the most popular cable news show was Fox’s The Five, which airs weekdays at 5 p.m. and received an average of 3.39 million average viewers.
MSNBC had the No. 5 most-watched cable news program across all broadcast times, Rachel Maddow Tonight, with 2.27 million average viewers.
The most-watched CNN show, Anderson Cooper 360, was the No. 25 most-watched cable news program across all broadcast times, with 950,000 average viewers.
During prime time in August, Fox averaged 2.34 million viewers, MSNBC averaged 1.29 million viewers, and CNN averaged 733,000 viewers.
S&P Global Market Intelligence projected CNN’s 2022 profits will be $956.8 million, the first time since 2016 it’s dipped under $1 billion, the New York Times reported last month.
Top 10 Cable News Prime Time Shows
In August 2022, according to Nielsen.
- Fox News, Tucker Carlson Tonight (8 p.m.), 3.31 million average viewers
- Fox News, Hannity (9 p.m.), 2.91 million average viewers
- MSNBC, The Rachel Maddow Show (9 p.m.), 2.72 million average viewers
- Fox News, The Ingraham Angle (10 p.m.), 2.48 million average viewers
- MSNBC, Last Word With Lawrence O’Donnell (10 p.m.), 1.68 million average viewers
- MSNBC, MSNBC Prime (9 p.m.), 1.56 million average viewers
- MSNBC, Alex Wagner Tonight (9 p.m.), 1.55 million average viewers
- MSNBC, All In With Chris Hayes (8 p.m.) 1.44 million average viewers
- CNN, Anderson Cooper 360 (8 p.m.), 950,000 average viewers
- CNN, CNN Tonight (9 p.m.) 726,000 average viewers