CNN Throws In the Towel; Moves Away from News

[Locutus]

CNN appears to be throwing in the towel, at least when it comes to being a cable news channel. With its ratings and reputation sinking, CNN announced Friday that the third-place network will be investing heavily in everything except serious news-gathering. This new focus will be towards "a variety of unscripted formats, including other travel shows, and 'immersive' nonfiction programs." This also includes documentary films like "Blackfish." CNN still says that its "bread and butter" will always be breaking news. But it is in that arena that the network has been hit hardest. Once upon at time, even when Fox News dominated in the ratings, CNN would still come in first when big news broke. America was still turning to CNN when it mattered.

Today, Fox News not only dominates the everyday ratings but retains that domination during big news events, such as the Boston Marathon bombing and this week's off-year elections. Moreover, during big news, CNN is now losing to low-rated MSNBC.

The writing on the wall is clear: CNN simply will not survive if it attempts to continue on as a cable news network. Years of left-wing bias have cost the network its "Most Trusted Name In News" status, as has a series of factual bungles during big news events. During the Trayvon Martin story, both of these liabilities came out in full force.

CNN's desperation move to reinvent itself as something closer to the Discovery Channel is going to come at a huge price in the last remaining area CNN can boast about: profits. Despite its low ratings, CNN has always been hugely profitable. That is about to change. CNN is now in a position where it must go all in:


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CNN Throws In the Towel; Moves Away from News

 

[Toro]

That's sad.

Reality TV is like a cancer that just spreads throughout the body, infecting and killing everything in its wake.

 

[Locutus]

I hate that crap...from 'stranded' hipsters to cooking, to driving, boinking, moonshinin', singin', biddin'.....whatever.

I smell more dr Phil-ish type crap around the corner though. They can hep us.

 

[Nuggler]

the great dumbing down has arrived. We need wait no longer.

"behind Faux News"

Hie on and shoot thyself.8O

 

[Sons of Liberty]

Those numbers are for cable channels, ABC & NBC swap each other every other week as the highest rated news during prime time with a combined total viewership of over 16 million, if you add CBS in the pot that's 24 million viewers. The cable channels drool over those statistics.

 

[Angstrom]

Cable? Who the **** cares. Only retards pay for a brainwashing service.

 

[petros]

SUNk is next. Nobody sinks lower than SUNk

 

[karrie]

. .....

Today, Fox News not only dominates the everyday ratings but retains that domination during big news events, such as the Boston Marathon bombing and this week's off-year elections. Moreover, during big news, CNN is now losing to low-rated MSNBC.

Years of left-wing bias have cost the network its "Most Trusted Name In News" status, as has a series of factual bungles during big news events. During the Trayvon Martin story, both of these liabilities came out in full force.

I'm going to set aside the gimme of a right wing news source criticizing a left wing news source for being biased. It's too easy.


But, what I will say is this....

News has been eroded immensely by the 24 hour format, on all sides of the political spectrum. It has been compromised in a 24 hr dash for rating that have to be on the air quicker than the competition, which means NOW, before they can be verified. The 24 hr format has a seen a surge in the amount of op/eds passing themselves off as news, to the point where journalists on either side of the political spectrum, really truly do not understand the difference between the two anymore, and feel the need to inject opinion and political rallying into way too much of their reporting.

A channel with clean blocks of news, is still the most trustworthy place to turn. They have taken the time to vet their news stories. They do not have to fill time with rambling about their own views.

Will CNN accomplish a good news program? Who knows. But damn is this ever a step in the right direction to accomplish it.

 

[skookumchuck]

SUNk is next. Nobody sinks lower than SUNk

Amazing that you never appeared to have a problem with CBC, they wrote that book. ;-)

 

[petros]

You watch CBC to compare?

 

[Locutus]

Don't know how this becomes a left/right in this case but have at it ya nutters...:lol:

It's just a story linked to the original story about how a once noted news channel has become a low-info news wasteland and is whoring itself out to reality, food and travel fare.

 

[petros]

If things don't change for SUNk, Brian Lilley will be doing BBQ.

 

[damngrumpy]

No Lilly will be on the bq if it gets worse. The fact is news is not news
it is entertainment. Shooting, floods and ever small wars are filmed to
entertain more than inform. It used to be the "show the picture of how
great our soldiers are," Now we have electronic games that have imaginary
hero's for the young that the kids can manipulate at the push of a button.
Reality will soon no longer exist and that is demonstrated in the lack of interest
in the news itself. CNN is no longer worth watching like so many others.
CBC CTV BBC will soon be the leaders because everyone else will have
people singing and dancing and helping you chose the paint colour for your
house. That is after you've been entertained by room designers after the
flood.
We are creating our own reality and our enemies around the world are preparing
a reality party that we will be invited to within a generation. What will our young
folks fight to defend? Our reality the Real Housewives of Orange County and
the Kardashians. Makes you wanna get right out on the battlefield don't it?

 

[petros]

20 years ago News was a community service that had cheesy local ads. Then came the Gulf War and nothing has been the same since.

 

[damngrumpy]

Before that it was Watergate, and a host of disasters and crime stories.
What happened with cable period is we got five hundred channels. The
problem is 300 of them are duplicates and the other two hundred are a
collection of nothing
The news was what was really happening now its entertainment watching
other peoples misery.
Remember when Wrestling was shunned because it was play acting?
Now we have a dozen channels with reality that is not reality. I am beginning
to believe the only real show is Jerry Springer what does that say about our
society

 

[mentalfloss]

If things don't change for SUNk, Brian Lilley will be doing BBQ.

And Sue Ann Levy will be there for BJs.

 

[WLDB]

Less and less people have cable now. Its not surprising that they are losing viewers as a result. I doubt any change will bring people back.

 

[petros]

I watch one program once on a cable news channel and it's not a news program. it's a true reality show about automobiles and there is no fluff, no deadlines, no big "reveals", no tattoos or Corporate projects and name dropping.

 

[damngrumpy]

How the mighty have fallen Blockbuster video came and went like the 8 track.
we saw all kinds of improvements then the CD came along really a retread of
the old 45 rpm record. Netflix did in blockbuster and now the satellite channels
are going to destroy cable and oh God the American companies are bringing
old record presses back from Asia, cause the digital sound is not as good as
records. It clearly demonstrate reality is not reality progress is not progress
and I am going to invest in the horse and buggy business they will return when
the price of fuel goes higher.
What the hell is happening with these weird changes, is it global warming, oh
that's not real either. What will living in Alice and Wonderland be like? I guess
we can ask Rob Ford he already lives there. with all this any wonder why CNN
can't compete

 

[petros]

Cable isn't going anywhere. Fibre optics and TV over the power system. Soon you'll plug your TV into the wall and no other hook-ups will be needed. Some goes for phone and internet.