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How to fix CNN

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radioandtventhusiast
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How to fix CNN

Post by radioandtventhusiast » Sun Dec 29, 2019 2:17 pm

For many years, CNN was one of the best news outlets. For the last few years, when Jeff Zucker took over, it's becoming more sensationalism for ratings. It started with the missing Malaysian flight, but now it's all about Trump 24/7. CNN still has a lot of decent journalists, but the network is quite a bit behind in the ratings compared to MSNBC. I think people are getting tired of the talking heads over on CNN. MSNBC, however, doesn't use this strategy and instead uses more actual journalism instead of pundits. Watching CNN from Desert Storm and 9/11 seems vastly different from the CNN of today. So the question is, How could CNN get better ratings, and how should the network be fixed?



bmw
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Re: How to fix CNN

Post by bmw » Sun Dec 29, 2019 2:40 pm

While I disagree with your assertion that MSNBC has journalistic integrity (they're almost as bad as CNN, IMO), I absolutely agree that CNN's Gulf war coverage and even 9/11 coverage were vastly superior to anything they're putting on the air these days.

CNN will always be a distant 3rd in cable news ratings with Zucker at the helm. They need a significant house cleaning, from the top-down, to have any chance of improving. Problem is the CNN brand is already tarnished, possibly beyond repair.



Deleted User 4520

Re: How to fix CNN

Post by Deleted User 4520 » Mon Dec 30, 2019 8:47 am

Needs to be actual unbiased reporting and no news magazines or talk shows with pundits. And not milking the politics thing 24/7. It's just Trump this, Trump that, or Pelosi this and Pelosi that...ick!



fuzzpower
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Re: How to fix CNN

Post by fuzzpower » Tue Dec 31, 2019 8:11 am

CNN should focus on hard news. Leave the Trump bashing to MSNBC and the Trump praising to Fox News.



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MWmetalhead
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Re: How to fix CNN

Post by MWmetalhead » Tue Dec 31, 2019 6:46 pm

Here's what I want to see on CNN:
- Lots of on-the-scene reporting from both the U.S. and around the world;
- A news oriented talk show with a studio audience in the 4PM hour.
- A financial markets wrap-up show in the 5PM hour.
- A politics show in the 6PM hour.
- A good, honest newscast in the 7PM hour.
- Something rather entertaining in the 8PM hour. If I were CNN, I'd bend over BACKWARDS to hire either (i) Jon Stewart or (ii) John Oliver. I would also make overtures to Greg Gutfeld of Fox News.
- Bring an interview-focused show back to the 9PM hour. No more than two guests per show. Take viewer phone calls, just like Larry King used to do.
- Another good, honest newscast in the 10PM hour.
- 11PM: repeat the show from 8PM.
- Midnight: repeat the show from 9PM.

The air talent at CNN sucks. Don Lemon and Wolf Blitzer both bore me to tears. Fire Lemon and demote Blitzer. Anderson Cooper is boring when he anchors solo. Move him to mornings and pair him with a good female co-anchor.

If I were CNN, in terms of building a stable of credible on-camera journalists, the first person I'd try to lure over is Jeff Glor of CBS News.

The second person I'd try to lure over is Shepard Smith, formerly of FOX News.



JackAttack FM
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Re: How to fix CNN

Post by JackAttack FM » Wed Jan 01, 2020 12:50 am

radioandtventhusiast wrote:
Sun Dec 29, 2019 2:17 pm
...how should the network be fixed?
Fix what?!?!

CNN has doubled its annual profits to $1.2 billion under Zucker.
This with the ratings down 8% YTY but, expected to rise with next year's election.
The network makes hundreds of millions off cable carriage fees. Its documentaries and Original Series' bring in ratings and have become lucrative shows to be sold to streaming services.

I'm not a big fan of what Zucker did to NBC primetime but, he's got a business model that's working for CNN.



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MWmetalhead
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Re: How to fix CNN

Post by MWmetalhead » Wed Jan 01, 2020 7:36 am

MSNBC in 2019 had more daily viewers than even ESPN, was #2 among all cable networks (trailing only Fox News), and is ahead of CNN by a nearly 2:1 margin!

https://deadline.com/2019/12/cable-rati ... 202817561/

(Hallmark Channel is #6...really?!?! Old ladies must watch that network in droves!)

2019 was NOT a good year for either AMC, FX, Disney Channel or Adult Swim.



Deleted User 4520

Re: How to fix CNN

Post by Deleted User 4520 » Wed Jan 01, 2020 8:57 am

CNN needs to go back to 24/7 news instead of airing other programming like on Sunday nights and other times when they do those prison shows.



radioandtventhusiast
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Re: How to fix CNN

Post by radioandtventhusiast » Wed Jan 01, 2020 4:21 pm

MWmetalhead wrote:
Tue Dec 31, 2019 6:46 pm
Here's what I want to see on CNN:
- Lots of on-the-scene reporting from both the U.S. and around the world;
- A news oriented talk show with a studio audience in the 4PM hour.
- A financial markets wrap-up show in the 5PM hour.
- A politics show in the 6PM hour.
- A good, honest newscast in the 7PM hour.
- Something rather entertaining in the 8PM hour. If I were CNN, I'd bend over BACKWARDS to hire either (i) Jon Stewart or (ii) John Oliver. I would also make overtures to Greg Gutfeld of Fox News.
- Bring an interview-focused show back to the 9PM hour. No more than two guests per show. Take viewer phone calls, just like Larry King used to do.
- Another good, honest newscast in the 10PM hour.
- 11PM: repeat the show from 8PM.
- Midnight: repeat the show from 9PM.

The air talent at CNN sucks. Don Lemon and Wolf Blitzer both bore me to tears. Fire Lemon and demote Blitzer. Anderson Cooper is boring when he anchors solo. Move him to mornings and pair him with a good female co-anchor.

If I were CNN, in terms of building a stable of credible on-camera journalists, the first person I'd try to lure over is Jeff Glor of CBS News.

The second person I'd try to lure over is Shepard Smith, formerly of FOX News.
I like a lot of these ideas. Do something different that other general news networks don't do.

I think I'd give the financial show to Erin Burnett, as she was popular with CNBC's audience when she was there, plus she knows a lot about the markets. I'd give her a good male co-anchor too. I don't know if CNN could hire away a CNBC or Bloomberg anchor.

Jon Stewart or John Oliver could definitely increase ratings over there. That would be fun to watch!

I think the studio audience show should have a Q&A session so audience members could ask whoever's hosting questions about the news of the day.

DEFINITELY agree that Jeff Glor would be great over at CNN. CBS screwed him over when his audience started to warm up to him. Norah O'Donnell's ratings are even worse now than Glor's ratings at the end. Shep would be a decent fit too.



bmw
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Re: How to fix CNN

Post by bmw » Wed Jan 01, 2020 5:08 pm

I can't imagine Jon Stewart or John Oliver wanting to work at CNN. Stewart is no fan of cable news and Oliver I'm sure is content doing what he's doing for HBO. Plus, both of these comedians' humor would be a bit too risque for a mainstream cable news network. MAYBE a weekend program, but again, I doubt either would be interested. If CNN is looking for a younger face to bring onboard for this type of show, my vote would be for someone like Lee Camp from Redacted Tonight on RT.

Instant ratings boost? Bill O'Reilly. 8 PM. Their ratings in that time slot would at least double, instantly. He could give Tucker Carlson a run for his money.

On the entertainment side, I would try to get someone like Jay Leno to do a once-a-week Saturday night program with a half-hour monologue and a half-hour newsmaker or or politician guest interview.

I'll echo what others have said about Glor. CNN should have been pursuing him the moment he was let go from CBS. He could easily anchor a serious news program.



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MWmetalhead
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Re: How to fix CNN

Post by MWmetalhead » Thu Jan 02, 2020 8:03 pm

I can't imagine Jon Stewart or John Oliver wanting to work at CNN. Stewart is no fan of cable news and Oliver I'm sure is content doing what he's doing for HBO. Plus, both of these comedians' humor would be a bit too risque for a mainstream cable news network.
Stewart's contempt for cable news is exactly the reason why CNN should pursue him! They need a disruptor. The network needs to make a splash in prime time, and they should make every effort to increase the network's appeal to relatively young viewers (i.e. those under the age of 50).



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audiophile
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Re: How to fix CNN

Post by audiophile » Fri Jan 03, 2020 9:12 am

TNT!


Ask not what your country can do FOR you; ask what they are about to do TO YOU!!

matt1
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Re: How to fix CNN

Post by matt1 » Sat Jan 04, 2020 2:28 am

Since March of 2005 during late night, CNN Headline News was on 24 hours a day. I guess that the cable channel changed their mind that March of 2005!!



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Calvert DeForest
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Re: How to fix CNN

Post by Calvert DeForest » Sat Jan 04, 2020 9:23 am

audiophile wrote:
Fri Jan 03, 2020 9:12 am
TNT!
Wrong network. :razz


Shortwave is the ORIGINAL satellite radio.

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audiophile
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Re: How to fix CNN

Post by audiophile » Sat Jan 04, 2020 2:40 pm

I was wondering if someone would catch that. :lol

CNN is T-BS!


Ask not what your country can do FOR you; ask what they are about to do TO YOU!!

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