Comments on All Things CNN: This Weekend's Programming 1/14/12

@12:06: "smartest, coolest, hippest," ar...

2012-01-17T19:52:54.441-05:00

@12:06: "smartest, coolest, hippest," are you for real?"
Anderson Cooper wants to be a brand all of his own.
He doesn't want to be amongst the 2
others you have named.
He wants to be the only one and thus have no co-anchor because he thinks he's already, the "smartest, coolest hippest," without any help, thank you very much.
Only the viewers know he's, well, dull.

The latest programming failure brought to you by ...

2012-01-17T13:48:01.698-05:00

The latest programming failure brought to you
by CNN is Starting Point . CNN's got pundits and
has decided they should have their own show. We
just put Soledad on the show to try in an effort to
fooling viewers that it is a news show. We are CNN
you don't really need to find out what is going on.

We specialize in creating bad shows like Out Front,
Early Start, PMT and our we thought would work
show In The Arena. We are losing viewers. That is
our ultimate goal since we know they really don't
matter. Viewers who needs them. We don't need
reporters we make up the news and create bad
television. This commercial is brought to you by
CNN. The network that specializes in terrible
shows. Thanks for the shout out Jon Stewart.

CNN is a part of a huge media giant aka as Time Wa...

2012-01-17T13:05:53.937-05:00

CNN is a part of a huge media giant aka as
Time Warner. The old men running these
corporate media giants don't have a clue.
SOPA shows how out of touch they really
can be. Trying to kill off the internet will
backfire big time.

I worry that CNN is forgetting about content, stor...

2012-01-17T12:06:04.418-05:00

I worry that CNN is forgetting about content,
story-telling,photography, production, studio
shots,. You name it. Where is the conversation
with viewers. Funny you guys mention Mark
Kelly. I have a confession I watch 360 and the
livestream of Mark Kelly. I love the way the man
opens his show. It is like a letter to his viewers.
Mark found a quote from the captain of the
Italian cruise ship that is just unbelievable.

I have gotta say that Anderson Cooper, Isha
Sesay and George Stroumboulopoulos would
be the hippest/coolest prime time line up in
cable news history. You could go with Mark
Kelly at 7 and Stroumboulopoulos at 9 .

George would force Stewart and Colbert
up their game and he could be on CNN.
CNN could go with Mark Kelly at 7, 360
at 8, George at 9. For 4 hours you would
have an alternative to the same old sane
old tired news formulas that are so not
working for CNN. That is a very strong
240 minutes of news but an eclectic mix
of styles. You have 3 hours of political
news with TSR and John King. Give your
viewers something different in prime time.

Mark Kelley, Anderson Cooper, Isha Sesay
and George Stroumboulopoulos will widen
your viewer pool, gets you most likely the
top DVR'ed news shows and brings traffic
to the CNN website for you to watch live
or catch full episodes you might miss.

Keep 360 on at 10. It's the flagship show.
If CNN can get at least 1 million 18-49 yr
olds to watch 3 hours of prime time that
would be an advertisers dream.

Facebook and Twitter show if you build it,
they will come but it must be something for
the masses and a really good product. The
greatest advertisement you will ever get is
word of mouth . Those promos at CNN don't
register. Unless you have memorable ads
like Geico or the CIti ad that everyone talks
about, you don't capture viewers attention.

I say this as a CNN fan but Jon Stewart is right.
CNN is terrible. Pundits don't have conversation
with viewers. Your anchors and reporter do.
That is their job the art of communications.
When you use pundits as heavily as CNN you
end up of ignoring your viewers. I thought the
news was for viewers but CNN seems to think
it is a showcase for pundits.

Anderson Cooper & Isha Sesay rock. I DVR 360 a...

2012-01-17T10:21:53.149-05:00

Anderson Cooper & Isha Sesay rock. I DVR
360 at 8 & 10 PM. I just skip the parts I
don't like. The chemistry with Anderson &
Isha is great. They play off each other well..

The Gumby segment was all freestyle. You
have to have the personality and timing to
pull something like this off. That goes for
Kevin as Gumby as well. Bring back the fun
skits on 360. Stop making 360 dull with
pundits.. I definitely skip the pundits.

You have to wonder what is going on at CNN. The P...

2012-01-17T09:20:51.138-05:00

You have to wonder what is going on at CNN.
The Piers Morgan anniversary silliness is
making CNN a laughing stock. Stunts like
this makes CNN look stupid. Why would you
want Piers Morgan to be the face of a 24/7
news channel. That's a slap in the face to all
of the real journalists at CNN. Where is the
promo for Starting Point or News Room.

Jan. 15, 2012 - 2:46 ..... you are soooo right. ...

2012-01-16T21:25:16.070-05:00

Jan. 15, 2012 - 2:46 ..... you are soooo right. As a woman, it bugs me that they think they can lure more women by assigning any girl as tv anchor. Please. Using Burnett is a blantant attempt to bring over middle-aged, cigar smoking, back slapping, Wall Street loving muckity-mucks who will watch her show with the sound off. She does not appeal to women because we see right through her - that flirty stuff doesn't fly with us. Most of her panelists and guests are men who are just enamoured with her and she knows it. Isn't CNN supposed to be the worldwide leader in news? The CNN execs that thought she would be great were not thinking with their brains. Burnett, GO BACK TO CNBC!!

Ha ha. Down goes TEA NN. the FOX news wannabes. CN...

2012-01-16T14:10:44.010-05:00

Ha ha. Down goes TEA NN. the FOX news
wannabes. CNN alienated viewers and they
are not coming back. When Obama starts
getting in full swing viewers will go with
MSNBC. CNN is arrogant and ignorant.

Ron Paul supporters are right. CNN is a bunch of h...

2012-01-16T13:11:28.786-05:00

Ron Paul supporters are right. CNN is a bunch
of hypocrites. How can you question someone's
past and ask questions about behavior when
CNN has Piers Morgan. Phone hacking means
nothing to CNN. Does CNN have a different
set of standards for Piers Morgan. How CNN
say the words they need to answer questions
or people need to know. If you are living in a
glass house, don't throw stones. CNN is really
getting killed online. Men don't like OutFront
either. A bad show is a bad show.

Can Toure do the morning show on CNN ? CNN needs ...

2012-01-16T12:40:08.651-05:00

Can Toure do the morning show on CNN ?
CNN needs to find a David Rhodes. Do they
understand it is 2012. What worked 5 years
ago won't work now. CNN find your visionary,
someone who can revolutionize your network
and find new and inventive ways to present and
cover news. Left vs right is not news. Talking
head TV died last century.CNN is a decade late
to the 21st century.

CBS learned it's lesson after the Katie Couric
fiasco. CNN does not learn from mistakes, they
keep repeating them.

CBC is a top notch news organization. CNN
would be a step down for Strombo or Kelley.
CNN is the Titanic.

So basically nothing has changed for CNN.360 is th...

2012-01-16T11:20:39.233-05:00

So basically nothing has changed for CNN.360
is the best thing CNN has going or it. Anderson
& Isha are the only ones who make CNN watchable
in prime time. They need to be in the same studio.
I also miss the interaction with the 360 crew.

When CNN announced the hirings of Eliot Spitzer
& Piers Morgan, I decided never to watch either
show and I never will watch PMT. You don't get
someone like that to replace Larry King.

First and foremost CNN has got to get back to the ...

2012-01-16T09:04:16.643-05:00

First and foremost CNN has got to get back to
the basics. CNN needs to be more news oriented.
Where are the original repots, interviews,interesting
people. I have not seen the kid who they think has
come up with a cure for cancer on CNN. The blah,
blah, blah is making CNN boring. There is nothing
you will see on CNN that leaves you with the this
is CNN feeling. CNN is so caught up in ideology
that they are missing and not covering news. The
Morning Joe knockoff is not a good move either.
CNN can't even come up with their own band of
news shows. When they do, it's pathetic. They
also have to work on restoring their image, CNN
is no longer considered to be prestigious. if I
can find hundreds of stories at the click of a
mouse, why can't CNN.

Thank goodness for Isha Sesay being on 360. I'...

2012-01-15T14:46:10.573-05:00

Thank goodness for Isha Sesay being on 360.
I'm bothered by OutFront. It is an insult to
college educated/professional women. She
is no longer at CNBC playing cute for middle
aged businessmen . Not long ago there was a
report that CNN had the most female viewers.
Not for much longer. Why is CNN afraid to have
an intelligent female who is well informed and
knows how to conduct interviews and does not
come off as a complete airhead.CNN's depiction
of women is troubling. It makes you wonder,
what type of men are running CNN ?

CNN needs to start looking at CBC for talent. Mark...

2012-01-15T13:55:06.143-05:00

CNN needs to start looking at CBC for talent.
Mark Kelley & George Stoumboulopoulos are
finding stories in America that CNN seems to
be missing and they are in Toronto. Connect
with Mark Kelly is similar to the original 360;
It could be a way for CNN to have an evening
newscast to compete with the big 3 networks.

Stormbo does a news/interview show with a
live studio audience. Strombo aired a Haiti
doc this week as well.CNN needs to repair
it's image before it is too late. By hiring these
2 CNN does not have to worry about developing
shows. They know what to do and you don't
end up being a laughing stock. Seriously , go
to CBC's website and watch these shows and
your find yourself saying, why can't this be
CNN ?

So Kevin was in the Gumby suit. I love Anderson &a...

2012-01-15T12:25:19.695-05:00

So Kevin was in the Gumby suit. I love Anderson
& Isha. Team 360 rocks. 360 is the best show on
CNN. Like Wolf Blitzer too. Loved Friday's show.
Barbara Starr , Jill Dougherty 's insights on Iran
made for a smart conversation with Anderson.
Same thing for Martin Salvidge. He is in MS and
was able to track down one of the convicts. You
can't get that with pundits. The discussions on
Iran needs to handled carefully. 360 is seen all
over the world.

CNN enough. Those Piers Morgan promos are annoyin...

2012-01-15T11:01:49.873-05:00

CNN enough. Those Piers Morgan promos
are annoying. That is why I can't watch CNN
during the day. I watch MSNBC until 360 is
on CNN. Is that really necessary. Great way
to show why CNN is so terrible. The promos
make you turn the channel. I am trying to
enjoy GPS with Fareed Zakaria. Now I have
to keep hitting the jump button because of
that annoying promo.

360 has a small loyal following because viewers li...

2012-01-15T10:08:26.178-05:00

360 has a small loyal following because viewers
like Anderson Cooper. Adding Isha Sesay is also
a plus. Both have likable personalities. Viewers
have to like you to want to spend an hour with
your show. What's up with Greta and TLW ?

Here are more numbers for the major shows on CNN. ...

2012-01-14T16:42:10.450-05:00

Here are more numbers for the major shows
on CNN. TV BY THE NUMBERS is the data source.
The sequel is for how CNN shows are faring this
early in Jan 2012. We get the complete picture
in 2 weeks.

360 is averaging 553,000/181,000 at 8 &
571,000/226,000 at 10 PM. 360 might be
able to get CNN a split decision for a couple
of hours. ED & TLW take the totals. 360 gets
the demos for CNN. Out of an entire day,
one CNN show gets a split decision.

PMT is averaging 583,000/177,000. The big
question : is he doing better than Larry King ?
We can't say for sure but we are guessing he
is not faring any better opposite Sean Hannity
and Rachel Maddow. Will CNN stick with him ?

TSR at 5 is averaging 551,000/134,000. We
will see if his numbers rise in 2 weeks.

JK, USA is averaging 438,000/138,000

Out Front is averaging 417,000/141,000

CNN can't be pleased with those numbers.
What happens if Out Front dips below 400
thousand and does CNN stick with John King ?

CNN's dayside ratings are not helping . CNN is
averaging 429,000/137,000. Is this affecting
TSR ? It is kinda of scary to see the ratings for
Starting Point. 1 day they had 88,000 in the
demo and the show is in the low 200,000's
Morning Joe has 2X the viewers. So CNN is in
a viewer/demo deficit right from the start. We
are wondering if there is a point during the
day when things tighten.

We end with this caveat ; not 1 CNN show is
averaging at least 600,000 viewers. How
much longer can 360 keep holding CNN up ?
This could change in a couple of weeks but
that is not good news.

We thought it would be a good idea to post
solo numbers for CNN shows only. All 3 will
see things they do not like for Jan 2012.

Stay Tuned.

If CNN is going to do a music show, they should ge...

2012-01-14T09:39:43.223-05:00

If CNN is going to do a music show, they
should get Toure. He does this on Fuse.
There are music journalists. This could
easily be a weekly show. Music discovery
is really big right now.

It looks like CNN is trying some new things this w...

2012-01-13T22:43:41.117-05:00

It looks like CNN is trying some new things this
weekend. We will see how things turn out.

We ran some numbers for Monday- Thursday for
this week. We have some surprises.TV BY THE
NUMBERS is the data source.

At 8 PM, 360 is averaging 595,000/197,000

ED is averaging 1,015,000/187,000

BOR is averaging 3,048,000/652,000.

On Wednesday, 360 gained 227,000 total
viewers from Out Front. On Thursday it was
250,000. That is unusual for CNN at 8. Is
this real, who knows ?

As you have noticed Anderson & Co are ahead
by 10,000 in the demo, It all comes down to
tonight. We are giving 360 the edge with Iran
& the interview with the convicted murderer
pardoned by Haley Barbour. 360 even had
Gumby drop by for Isha Sesay's birthday.

At 10 PM 360 is averaging 557,000/241,000

TLW is averaging 830,000/185,000

OTR is averaging 1,552,000/332,000

We can say that 360 has already topped TLW.
There is only a difference of 91,000 demo
viewers between Anderson & Greta. Keep an
eye on Greta's demo.

PMT is averaging 585,000/175,000

TRMS is averaging 1,055,000/242,000

Hannity is averaging 1,956,000/445,000

We noticed that 360 at 10 PM could top
Rachel Maddow this week. if 360 starts
getting higher demos at 8 & 10 than RM,
that is significant. PMT goes down. He is
getting a bump from 360 at 10. 360 is
driving up the ratings for CNN in prime
time. MSNBC has a 360 problem at 8 &
10. if 360 starts getting better demos
that top Rachel by a good margin at 8 or
10 , MSNBC is in trouble. 360 is a repeat
at 10 .It is possible trouble for FOX at 10.
Greta keeps getting closer to 300,000 in
the demo. Not good news. Real or fluke ?

CNN is averaging 714,000/248,000 in PT.

MSNBC is averaging 998,000/215,000

FOX is averaging 2,203,000/496,000

We can't necessarily call any of this trends.
6 weeks from now we have more data and
can judge if things are still moving in the
same direction.

Stay Tuned.