CNN Suffers 24-Year Low In Ratings As Mass Layoffs Loom

Once a dominant force in cable news, CNN is now grappling with a historic slump in ratings, facing its lowest viewership in 24 years and raising the specter of mass layoffs. The network’s decline in viewership comes as it struggles to navigate a changing media landscape dominated by streaming platforms, social media, and a fragmented audience.

On November 11, CNN saw a significant dip in viewership, attracting just 61,000 viewers aged 25-54, marking its lowest Tuesday audience since June 27, 2000, during Bill Clinton’s presidency. According to Fox News, the network’s daytime programming recorded its poorest performance in ten years, with an average of only 60,000 viewers from the same demographic between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET, the worst non-holiday weekday viewership since 2014.

Since Election Day, CNN has trailed significantly in viewership, averaging just 403,000 total day viewers compared to Fox News’s 2.2 million. In the primetime slot of 8-11 p.m. ET, CNN’s struggles continue, drawing only 483,000 total viewers since the election, while Fox News has attracted a robust 3.4 million.

In terms of viewers from the key demographic, CNN’s performance remains low, with an average of only 86,000 during the total day and 112,000 during primetime, starkly contrasted with Fox News’s 321,000 and 496,000, respectively. CNN’s election night performance was also lackluster, as it fell behind not only Fox News Channel but also MSNBC, ABC, and NBC in covering the year’s most significant news event.

The network’s struggles have triggered discussions of cost-cutting measures, including potential layoffs. CNN has been put in a precarious financial and operational position. According to sources close to the network, these upcoming changes reflect a larger strategy to redefine CNN’s programming approach and restore its competitive edge in an increasingly fractured media landscape.

CNN’s CEO Mark Thompson is set to roll out a sweeping transformation plan for the network—one that includes substantial layoffs, potentially affecting hundreds of staff. Many of CNN’s journalists, who were taken aback by Trump’s decisive victory, now face a harsh reality: their own positions may not be secure in Thompson’s ambitious reshaping of the organization.

“CNN will implement another round of layoffs that will impact hundreds of employees across the organization, including those whose TV production talents won’t necessarily be needed in the new digital-first landscape,” Puck News reported last week. “Reporters and correspondents will be asked to assume more of the responsibilities once handled by teams of producers and production assistants, redundant assignments will be nixed, and various divisions will be reduced or even eliminated.”

“Some of the on-air talent are also likely to be affected. At the same time, CNN plans to create new positions across the organization that will service Thompson’s new digital-first business. One source posited that the transformation might even result in a net gain of employees. We’ll see. A network spokesperson declined to comment. Meanwhile, insiders describe an atmosphere of high stress and high anxiety.”

The latest stirrings reveal that high-profile CNN stars, including Anderson Cooper, still collect hefty paychecks—Cooper at $20 million annually—even as ratings continue to dip. Erin Burnett and Kaitlan Collins are reported to earn $3 million and $6 million each. Meanwhile, longtime anchors Jake Tapper and Wolf Blitzer reportedly had requests for raises declined, despite their substantial salaries of $3 million and $7 million. On Monday, veteran journalist Chris Wallace announced he would depart CNN after years with the network and a reported salary of $8.5 million.