CNN ratings sink to all-time low in vital demographic for advertisers as left-leaning networks plummet after Trump win

Ratings-challenged CNN plummeted to a new all-time low in the most coveted demographic for advertisers — a downfall exacerbated by viewers tuning out left-leaning networks following President-elect Donald Trump’s overwhelming election win.The cable news pioneer — which is in the midst of a major overhaul that will reportedly include mass layoffs — averaged 92,000 total day viewers in the key 25-to-54-year-old demo this year, a 1% drop from the previous rock bottom of 94,000 it notched last year, according to Nielsen data first reported by Mediaite.CNN suffered a 52% decline in its primetime demo since the election, pulling in a measly average audience of 77,000, according to Nielsen.Its overall primetime viewership shriveled by 45% this year to 405,000 viewers, the data showed.Just 11% of cable news viewers tuned in to CNN’s primetime shows after Trump’s election win — lagging behind left-leaning rival MSNBC’s 16%.

Meanwhile, conservative network Fox News drew a staggering 72% of all eyeballs in primetime, according to Nielsen. CNN attempted to paint a rosier image of its freefall.“On television, CNN ranked again as a top 5 network in all of cable in Total Day among [people age 2 and over] for the 5th consecutive year and in the top 10 among [the 25-to-54 demographic],” the network said in a press release.Fox’s primetime viewership has grown 7% since the election compared with its October average, according to Nielsen data earlier cited by the Hollywood Reporter.The network also extended its reign as the No.1 cable news channel in total viewers and the key 25-54 demographic for the ninth year in a row.“I am extremely proud of our entire team for proving once again why we are the nation’s most-watched network as we outpaced the competition in covering the stories that mattered most to everyday Americans,” Fox News Media CEO Suzanne Scott said.MSNBC took second place for average total day viewers but fell behind CNN in the 25-54 demo ami...