CNN’s once-mighty cable news dominance has crumbled, with July Nielsen ratings placing the network 14th in overall viewership.
Averaging just over 500,000 viewers, CNN now trails far behind Fox News’s 2.6 million and NBC’s nearly 4 million.
CNN ranked below the Food Network, highlighting a shift in viewer preferences toward lighter, non-political programming.
CNN was once a dominant force in cable news, regularly ranking among the top three networks in total viewership.
The network saw peak ratings during major news events like the 2016 and 2020 presidential elections, when millions tuned in, according to CNN’s own data.
However, in recent years, CNN has faced steady erosion of its audience share amid intensifying competition and changing viewer habits.
The decline comes after CNN CEO Mark Thompson instructed producers earlier this year to soften the network’s coverage of President Donald Trump’s legal cases.
Anchors were advised not to “pre-judge” Trump’s actions, signaling an editorial shift aimed at moderating the network’s tone.
Despite these efforts, CNN’s ratings continued to slide amid increasing competition and a polarized media environment.
CNN’s credibility has also taken hits due to on-air controversies.
Erin Burnett faced backlash after inaccurately describing the Manhattan shooter’s race, damaging viewer trust.
Correspondent Jeff Zeleny openly questioned the network’s focus on the revived Russia investigation, stating on air, “I’m not sure that we should spend that much more time on it.”
These incidents have fueled concerns about inconsistent editorial standards and bias, Trending Politics reports.
White House correspondent Kaitlan Collins has also drawn criticism for contentious exchanges with President Trump and accusations of disrespect toward military personnel during briefings.
Conservative audiences have particularly seized on these moments as evidence of CNN’s journalistic failures, even as the network retains a loyal liberal base.
Further complicating CNN’s struggles was a recent broadcast featuring a medical school graduate who implied she was a practicing physician while commenting on Trump’s health.
The network did not clarify her credentials, leading to questions about CNN’s editorial oversight and fact-checking processes. Critics argue this episode highlights broader lapses in journalistic standards.
Experts note that shifting viewer preferences contribute heavily to CNN’s ratings decline. Increasingly, cable audiences favor programming that offers escape rather than political conflict.
Networks like the Food Network have capitalized on this shift, growing their audiences while politically charged news outlets face diminishing numbers.
As CNN’s ratings continue to decline, it is important to understand how television viewership is measured and what these figures represent.
Nielsen ratings serve as the primary standard for tracking TV audiences across the United States.
These ratings provide detailed data on the number of viewers and their demographic profiles, information that is critical for both television networks and advertisers in making programming and marketing decisions.
The ratings for July carry particular weight because they capture viewing patterns during the summer months, a period when audiences may fluctuate due to seasonal changes in habits.
Networks and advertisers closely analyze these summer numbers to inform their strategies for the fall television season, including scheduling, content development and advertising placements.
The post CNN Hits New Low as Food Network Surpasses It in Latest Nielsen Ratings appeared first on Resist the Mainstream.
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Author: Gloriel Howard
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