Larry King and CNN Getting Clobbered in Ratings

By PopEater Staff Posted Mar 30th 2010 11:15AM

More bad news for CNN: According to the NY Times, the most trusted name in news experienced yet another ratings hiccup during the first quarter of 2010, with headline programs like 'Larry King Live' and 'Anderson Cooper 360' down about 50 percent in viewers.

'Larry King' in particular saw its worst quarter ever, averaging a measly 771,000 viewers, down from 1.34 million viewers in 2009. The long-running news program, which will celebrate its 25th anniversary in June, was even beat by HLN's 'Joy Behar Show' a whopping 21 times at 9PM.

Meanwhile, Anderson Cooper was hit by a similar, though not quite as drastic, decline in the ratings. His 10PM program was down 42 percent in viewers and almost 50 percent in the 25-to-54 demo -- a troubling sign, considering that Cooper is one of the networks most lauded and recognizable faces -- not to mention one of its highest paid. (Recently, Cooper was said to be eyeing an anchor position at CBS News, a report that was quickly shot down by CNN.)

But Cooper and King aren't the only ones suffering from bad ratings: 'Campbell Brown' was down at 8PM, as was the network's morning news program, 'American Morning,' which fell behind MSNBC's 'Morning Joe' for the first time ever, according to the report.

What these numbers mean for the future of CNN remains to be seen. But if the network is looking to improve its audience, it may want to take a page from its biggest rival, Fox News Channel. The network is coming off of its biggest quarter ever, with shows like 'Bill O'Reilly' and 'Glenn Beck' up 28 and 50 percent, respectively.

Perhaps it's time for CNN to start courting Sarah Palin.

Tags: anderson cooper, anderson cooper 360, larry king, larry king live, ratings

Comments

(89)

Tuesday 30 March

By Howard

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The fact that more people are tuning in to Fox lately is a reflection on the audience, not the broadcasters (can you imagine Glen Beck getting a Pulitzer? Puh-leeze!). Fox panders to the same people who buy supermarket tabloids and think the moon landing was faked. Legitimate news organizations may need to market themselves better to be heard above the ranting, but they should never lower their standards just for better ratings.

By Andy

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Wrong, Howard! If CNN would stop pushing a liberal agenda, then maybe people would watch.

By jb

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Howard you are a clown from some other planet.. You obviously have no clue on what you just wrote.. You ignorant fool.. I feel sorry for your arse...

By Save America

Well, Fox is more honest than other news stations, and liberals are sleeze bags and they like the sleeze these stations offer them.

By Mr. Leo

I bounce back and forth between CNN and FOX. Many pompous twits on FOX, but it never ceases to amaze me how many REAL stories CNN glances over or just ignores all together. There is a LOT of nonsense happening in DC and CNN does not report much of it--too busy kissing the big O's butt.

By linjack39

It's unfortunate, but Larry King appears to be very unprepared for his shows. He constantly mispronounces his guests names and also does not appear to be up to speed on the subject matter. Maybe it's age, but he's just not with it.
As for Anderson Cooper, LOVE HIM!!!!

By debbie

I personally think King has Alzheimers....when MIchael Jackson died, the same day as Farrah Fawcett, he forgot Farrah's name and referred to her as "the other person who died today." It was so sad.

By Mark

Seriously...the show is "Larry King, BARELY ALive"...does CNN seriously expect to succeed in the ratings game hitching its wagon to this anymore? I don't mean to make fun of the aging process, but let's be realistic - his time is passed.

By tony

yeah bring on mrs palin it will be nice to see some good looking people for a change on cnn

By Ralph Zuccaro

Donald Duck would be much better than watching Larry King DEAD

By tuffpaw

Yeah! Because good-looking politicians who quit in the middle of their terms in office and who tell infantile, sarcastic quips about the oposition always tell "truthiness" when reporting the news.

By LOU

CNN = "the Young & the Restless". What are they doing over there?
My "only news network" is loosing it's touch ! I LOVE these guys.
Larry King: he's so "tired", people are bailing on him !
Anderson: more & more poeple know he's gay: they're bailing too
(and have you seen his "drunken news cast"? what a shame !)
I won't bail on either of these guys or the network...
The alternatives are like watching "The ENQUIRER" live! FOX et.al

By bribabylk

What does Anderson Cooper's being gay have to do with anything? If you watch or don't watch a particular news presenter based on what gender they're dating, the future of even-handed, well-reasoned, intelligently presented issue coverage is doomed.

By marty lowing

Yes I think Larry should think about moving on to something else,like maybe a rocking chair..As for Anderson I didn't know he was gay!!Oh well that doesn't matter to me and I dont know why anyone should care!!

Wednesday 31 March

By stefentx

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Let's face it, CNN is just BORING.

By Tilly

If Anderson is gay, I'd sure like to try to change his mind!

By paulz

They used to do real news on CNN, now it's all BS, you should have bad ratings when you have Nancy Disgrace, Larry the fossil King and Anderson silver spoon Cooper as your main players

By AJ

Bad Journalism Leads to credability problems and people turn the channel... there's no reason anyone should be suprised...

By angel

Larry King hasnt really had any guests on for the last few months that screamed for me to tune in and watch.

As for AC360: Anderson needs to decide if he wants to be a celebrity or a NEWScaster. I have quit watching his show about 90% since NY's Eve TWO years ago. kathy griffin really screwed up his "respectability" trait w/ me. Also, CNN claims they are fair and unbiased, but you can hear it in AC's voice: his displeasure, disgust or agreeability and HIS OPINION. Cnn thinks they are ALL THAT just because they say it, but they are not even doing what they claim they are.

CNN: why you losing so many newscasters? WHY DID YOU FIRE LOU?
What did you think would happen??? Are you trying to be the biggest minority cable channel? : )

Lastly: the LAST PLACE WE WANT TO SEE AC is on the Nat'l Enquirer. nope. Anderson: as a pretend psychic: for the next year: when in doubt DONT. And you will be in doubt ALOT.

By mikio067

I don't watch any of them (nor does anybody else, apparently) so I don't care. I ONLY care that Billo continues to clobber the insufferable Keith Olbermann (and it's about to make KO goes absolutely, stark raving NUTS!! He he he!

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