CNN CEO Jeff Zucker is not letting the dwindling numbers get him down as he released a memo declaring CNN’s success for 2014, but viewership is declining. While Zucker said the station ended 2014 in its “best shape journalistically, financially and competitively, ” and boasted that sister station HLN, formerly Headline News, was outperforming MSNBC, viewers of CNN in the essential demographic of 25 to 54 year olds has declined, as reported by mrc NewsBusters. Ratings hit an all time low of 516, 000 viewers, with viewers in the main demographic falling to 126, 000.
MSNBC is feeling pain too with a 17% loss in its viewers, totaling 590, 000 with 169, 000 in the demographic. Nevertheless, this wouldn’t be obvious from Zucker’s memo, which said CNN’s journalism has “defined the year” praising coverage of Ferguson, Ukraine, Kobani, North Korea, Iraq, Caracas and Liberia. He said, “CNN’s worldwide newsgathering sources and people are unmatched.” Los Angeles Times reporter, Stephen Battaglio said CNN is struggling to reach a younger audience, something that would have more appeal to advertisers.
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Jeff Zucker became head of CNN in 2013 and was formerly CEO of NBC. He was born in Homestead Florida to an observant Jewish family. His father was a cardiologist and his mother was a schoolteacher.
