CNN And MSNBC Ratings Slashed In Half, Collapse To Their Lowest Levels In Nearly 30 Years With Billionaires Circling
The political media landscape is undergoing a dramatic shake-up. CNN and MSNBC, two of the biggest cable news networks, are facing historic ratings declines, with their viewership slashed nearly in half since the recent presidential election. Both networks struggle to retain their audiences, collapsing to levels not seen in nearly 30 years. Meanwhile, Fox News has held steady, dominating the cable news space.
Viewership in Freefall
MSNBC’s prime-time audience has taken a staggering 53% hit, dropping from 1.34 million viewers before the election to just 632,000. CNN hasn't fared much better, losing 47% of its prime-time viewers, down to 398,000. On some nights, these networks aren't just losing to Fox News – they're losing to lifestyle channels like the Food Network, where more viewers are tuning into shows like Chopped than CNN's Anderson Cooper or MSNBC's Jen Psaki.
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While it's normal for political news viewership to dip after a major event like an election, Forbes reports that this drop is unusually severe. Fox News, by contrast, has barely felt the effects, with only a minor decline in its prime-time audience, holding strong at around 2.63 million viewers.
What Went Wrong?
The collapse of CNN and MSNBC isn't just about a postelection lull. Analysts and critics say it's about trust – or a lack of it. Many viewers feel these networks failed to prepare them for what was coming and didn't offer a compelling vision for the future. MSNBC spent months criticizing Trump but lacked urgency in its coverage of the election's aftermath. And the network faced backlash when Morning Joe hosts Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski met with Trump at Mar-a-Lago, despite years of calling him a “fascist.”
CNN, on the other hand, has struggled with its identity. It attempts to appear neutral while airing segments that many find inconsistent or disingenuous, like undecided voter panels that later turn out to feature obvious Trump supporters. The result? A growing number of viewers no longer trust the network.
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Independent Media Rises
As left-leaning audiences tune out from CNN and MSNBC, many turn to independent media for their news. Platforms like The David Pakman Show and Secular Talk are seeing audiences stabilize or grow as viewers seek more authentic voices. Unlike corporate media, independent outlets don't have layers of executives and advertisers influencing their content, which resonates with disillusioned viewers.
David Pakman himself has noted that the current collapse of CNN and MSNBC reflects a broader trend: “Increasingly, they are turning to independent media where they feel they can get honest, genuine coverage from people that they can trust.”
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Fox News, meanwhile, has kept its audience engaged by framing Trump's victory as the start of a new fight. According to Pakman, its viewers treat politics as a 24/7 cultural battle, which has kept them loyal and energized. With a steady stream of outrage-driven coverage, Fox News has maintained its position as the leader in cable news, holding onto nearly all its viewers postelection.
The big drop in MSNBC and CNN ratings has caught the attention of some high-profile names. Billionaire Elon Musk recently teased the idea of buying MSNBC, asking on social media, "How much does it cost?" Comcast, MSNBC's parent company, has denied any plans to sell but is reportedly spinning off its cable news assets into a separate company. This move raises questions about MSNBC's future direction and even its survival in the long term.
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