CNN’s ratings bump from airing the presidential debate dropped faster than President Biden’s approval ratings.
The embattled network’s primetime ratings cratered 92% the day after the debate between former President Donald Trump and the current commander-in-chief on June 27, according to Nielsen data.
In the advertiser-coveted 25-to-54 demographic, the ratings plummeted a jaw-dropping 96%, the data found.
CNN, which announced layoffs and a major restructuring on Wednesday, had the exclusive broadcast rights to the first debate — where Biden’s disastrous performance has since led to calls from many in his own party to step aside because of questions about the 81-year-old Democrat’s cognitive skills.
Moderated by CNN anchors Dana Bash and Jake Tapper, the debate was simulcast across other networks, drawing nearly 50 million viewers — with CNN garnering 8.7 million.
However, those looking for their politics fix quickly flipped channels the next day, plunging CNN back to its cellar-dwelling position behind rivals Fox News and MSNBC.
For the week of June 28 to July 7, CNN’s primetime ratings fell 93% to 500,000 total viewers, and 97% in the key demo, to 83,000 viewers, according to Nielsen.
Fox News, meanwhile, reeled in 2.3 million total primetime viewers and 270,000 in the demo during the same week — more than double the 1 million viewers at left-leaning MSNBC, which drew 88,000 in the demo.
The floundering ratings come as CNN chief Mark Thompson rolled out a five-point plan Wednesday that included slashing 100 jobs — his first major move since taking the reins last fall.
Thompson, a former New York Times and BBC executive, plans to consolidate news operations and bolster CNN’s digital business.
