CNN and NBC News to lay off employees

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   Readmikenowposted 3 months ago

   It appears that people aren't buying into the nonsense at CNN and NBC news anymore.
   
   CNN and NBC News to lay off employees, CNBC reports
   
   Jan 22 (Reuters) - CNN, a unit of Warner Bros Discovery (WBD.O), opens new tab, plans to lay off hundreds of employees on Thursday, as it refocuses the business around a global digital audience, CNBC reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the matter.
   The job cuts come as CNN looks to rearrange its linear TV lineup and build out digital subscription products, CNBC said, adding that the move will help CNN lower production costs and consolidate teams.
   
   Some shows produced in New York or Washington may move to Atlanta, where production can be done more cheaply, the report added.
   NBC News, owned by Comcast (CMCSA.O), opens new tab, is also planning job cuts later this week, according to the report. While there is no exact number, the layoffs will be well under 50.
   Comcast and Warner Bros Discovery did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comment on the report.
   
   The Washington Post, owned by Amazon.com (AMZN.O), opens new tab founder Jeff Bezos, said earlier this month it would lay off about 4% of its workforce or less than 100 employees in a bid to cut costs, as the storied newspaper grapples with growing losses.
   In November, the Associated Press said it would cut about 8% of its workforce as it looks to modernize its operations and products.
   
   https://www.reuters.com/business/media- … 025-01-22/
   
   MEANWHILE PEOPLE ARE FLOCKING TO FOXNEWS
   
   Nielsen live plus same-day data for the week of Jan. 13 saw FNC average 2.994 million total viewers and 363,000 A25-54 viewers during primetime. The network was up in total viewers by +18% and +20% in the A25-54 demo relative to the week prior.
   
   Fox News also averaged 1.991 million total viewers and 236,000 A25-54 viewers in total day viewing for week-to-week gains of +11% in the former category and +4% in the latter.
   
   Among all basic cable networks, Fox News rose to first place in total primetime viewers and finished as the No. 2 position in the primetime demo. In total day, it remained No. 1 in total viewers and took second in the demo.
   
   MSNBC’s primetime lineup averaged 758,000 total viewers and 64,000 viewers in the A25-54 demo for week-to-week gains of +5% and +16%, respectively.
   
   During total day, MSNBC averaged 523,000 total viewers and 46,000 A25-54 viewers. It was down in total viewers by -3% but up +12% in the demo compared to previous week.
   
   Among all basic cable networks, MSNBC remained in third place in total primetime viewers and moved from No. 31 to No. 28 in the primetime demo tied with the Paramount Network. During total day, MSNBC remained third in total viewers and went from No. 27 to No. 22 in the demo.
   
   CNN averaged 448,000 total primetime viewers and 93,000 A25-54 viewers in the demo for week-to-week declines of -11% and -15%, respectively.
   
   In total day, the network saw 379,000 total viewers and 66,000 viewers in the demo for respective drops of -17% and -18% relative to the week prior.
   
   On the basic cable charts, CNN fell from seventh to 13th place among total primetime viewers, but moved up two spots to the No. 10 position in the primetime demo. During total day, it remained fourth with total viewers and fell from sixth to 10th place in the demo.
   
   When looking at these networks’ performance during the same period a year ago (the week of Jan. 15):
   
   During primetime, Fox News was up by +43% in total viewers and +52% in the A25-54 demo. During total day, the network saw gains of +50% in total viewers and +48% in the demo.
   MSNBC was down by -30% in total viewers and -38% in the demo. During total day, the network was down -30% in total viewers and -39% in the demo.
   CNN, in primetime, fell by -17% in total viewers and -24% in the demo. During total day, CNN was down by -13% in total viewers and -20% in the demo.
   
   https://www.adweek.com/tvnewser/week-of … s-ratings/

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      Sharlee01posted 3 months agoin reply to this

      Just my view, but you've laid out the sources, and I don't think anyone can deny the declining ratings of CNN and several other left-leaning cable networks. They tried to play a nasty game, pushing propaganda and pounding hate and negativity, and it was pretty clear that this kind of media would implode. Their bubble was burst, just like the Democratic Party's balloon. My faith has always been in the American people, knowing they'd snap out of it eventually… LOL. I mean, really, who in their right mind wants to keep either wringing their hands or spinning around with their hair on fire? LOL. I’m feeling pretty good about how America has bounced back, with most people returning to using common sense again.

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         Readmikenowposted 3 months agoin reply to this

         I wonder if the left will realize their networks are floundering while FoxNews is always at the top.
         
         Maybe that would be too much reality for them.

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            Sharlee01posted 3 months agoin reply to this

            I have pointed out for instance CNN's falling ratings Which I have watched tank month after month in the past few months it has become obvious they are all but done.
            
            CNN's primetime ratings have experienced a significant decline in recent years. Take this week, January 13, 2025, the network averaged 448,000 total viewers in primetime, marking another dive-- 11% decrease from the previous week.
            
            This downward trend is not new. In November 2024, CNN's viewership dropped from 754,000 to 398,000, reflecting a substantial decline.
            
            It is clear viewers are deserting CNN. and one can only surmise these folks have turned to another network, and that would most likely not be another left-leaning network...  One only needs to check Fox's stats to see where they ended up.
            
            "Notably, "The Five" led the week with an average of 4.3 million viewers and 382,000 in the 25-54 demo. Other top-performing programs included "Special Report with Bret Baier" at 6 PM/ET with 3.3 million viewers and 307,000 in the 25-54 demo, "The Ingraham Angle" at 7 PM/ET with 3.1 million viewers and 332,000 in the 25-54 demo, "Jesse Watters Primetime" at 8 PM/ET with 3.9 million viewers and 437,000 in the 25-54 demo, and "Hannity" at 9 PM/ET with 3.2 million viewers and 391,000 in the 25-54 demo"
            
            I feel they realize it, and many as stats show have the intelligence to jump ship. Those that are hanging in--- oh well what can one say...

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               tsmogposted 3 months agoin reply to this

               Interjecting, Oops! Does Fox News or CNN actually have an influence on the public at large? I mean Thursday Night Football has a viewership of 14 million. Supposedly 60% of households watch prime time TV.

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                  Sharlee01posted 3 months agoin reply to this

                  I think the analogy between Fox News/CNN and something like Thursday Night Football is a bit off. The two serve such different purposes that it’s hard to compare them directly. Football is primarily about entertainment, and people tune in to watch the game, while news outlets like Fox and CNN are trying to inform and shape public opinion, especially around important issues like elections or national crises. Of course, both attract large audiences, but the type of influence they have is different. News networks can impact long-term political and social narratives, whereas sports events, while drawing massive viewership, are more about short-term entertainment. So, I’d say while they both grab attention, the depth and kind of influence they have on the public is what really sets them apart.

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                     tsmogposted 3 months agoin reply to this

                     There was no analogy. Forgive me if I wasn't clear. The point is both Fox News and CNN viewership at most is only 4% of households during prime time. Thus, the question, "Does Fox News or CNN actually have an influence on the public at large?"

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                        Readmikenowposted 3 months agoin reply to this

                        Good Question!
                        
                        I would guess that it influences people who want to be influenced by it.  Liberals used to support CNN no matter how awful its reporting.  Conservatives have usually flocked to Foxnews. 
                        
                        I think the shift away from CNN and the liberal news outlets to Foxnews is telling.  Does it mean more people on the left are fed up with the left's view of the news?  Does it mean more people want to see the conservative take on the news?
                        
                        Do people believe Foxnews does a better job at unbiased reporting of the news?
                        
                        I do wonder why CNN is faltering and Foxnews remains at the top of news reporting world in the United States.

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                        Sharlee01posted 3 months agoin reply to this

                        I completely agree that cable news doesn’t command the majority of TV viewers. It tends to attract those who feel a need for it—whether it’s the ongoing rhetoric, the commentary, or the personalities of the hosts, which often resonate with people who share a similar mindset. In my view, many people might like cable news because it offers a sense of connection to current events, provides affirmation of their beliefs, or even delivers a kind of drama and urgency that can be engaging. For some, it’s not just about staying informed but about feeling part of a larger conversation or movement.

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                           tsmogposted 3 months agoin reply to this

                           I can agree with that and appreciate that perspective. I asked the question in a casual sense of awe. I mean that in the sense of a realist view. Fox News has one could say an immense influence particularly within conservative circles. But, so does CNN.
                           
                           There were over 152 million votes cast by informed citizens (?), of which over 77 million were for Trump. What, at most between CNN, MSNBC, and Fox News there are 4 million viewers for cable news on a given night prime time no matter what show they watch.
                           
                           However, Fox News' online website gets 278 million visits per day. The average time spent per visit is 6 minutes while the reader will look on average at 4 different articles. Their global ranking is #159. For their category rank they are #5.
                           
                           CNN online website gets 497 million visits per day. The average time spent per visit is 3 minutes with the average viewer looking at 2 articles. Their global ranking is #112. For their category they are #3.
                           
                           I guess what I am driving at is I have always been baffled with who is the leading cable news outlet. Does it matter if it is Fox or CNN when it comes down to reaching the voting public? To me it kind of falls under the look here and not there approach. But, then that is me.
                           
                           Similar Web Fox News
                           https://www.similarweb.com/website/foxn … /#overview
                           
                           Similar Web CNN News
                           https://www.similarweb.com/website/cnn.com/#overview
                           
                           Note: I think you get 5 views at their website before they ask you to create a free account.

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                              tsmogposted 3 months agoin reply to this

                              I came back much later noticing I put visits per day for the websites. Oops! Its visits per month.

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                              Sharlee01posted 3 months agoin reply to this

                              I see what you're saying, and I can definitely appreciate that perspective. I think it's fascinating how the conversation often revolves around cable news ratings when, in reality, their online platforms have such a massive reach. Your point about the "look here, not there" approach really resonates—maybe the focus on who leads in cable news is more of a distraction than anything else, given how many voters are likely engaging with news through digital means instead. It definitely makes me think about how influence is measured and whether we're looking at the full picture.

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   Sharlee01posted 3 months ago

   Mike, I read this article this morning and felt it shed light on your OP. It goes to show that there was bias during the 60 Minutes Kamala Harris interview. I summed up the article that was a bit long.
   
   Paramount Global executives have reportedly discussed the possibility of settling a lawsuit filed by President-elect Donald Trump over CBS News’ interview with Vice President Kamala Harris. The lawsuit stems from allegations that CBS edited Harris’s 60 Minutes interview in a way that favored her just before the election. Paramount, which owns CBS, is eager to finalize its merger with Skydance Media but now faces obstacles due to Trump’s lawsuit and concerns from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), led by Trump-appointed chair Brendan Carr.
   
   The FCC’s approval is crucial because the merger involves transferring broadcast licenses held by CBS-owned stations. Although there’s no sign that Paramount has reached out to Trump’s team about a settlement, executives are considering ways to ease tensions with the incoming administration to ensure the merger moves forward. One source described the discussions as “informal,” with no formal plans or proposals yet.
   
   At the heart of the dispute is Trump’s $10 billion lawsuit against CBS, which accuses the network of election interference. He claims CBS edited out Harris’s “word salad” response about the Israel-Hamas war, airing different versions of the interview on 60 Minutes and Face the Nation. Trump is demanding CBS release the full transcript, but the network has refused, saying it edited the segment for clarity.
   
   Reports of settlement talks come on the heels of ABC News settling a defamation lawsuit brought by Trump. ABC’s parent company, Disney, agreed to pay $1 million in legal fees and contribute $15 million to Trump’s future presidential foundation or museum after its anchor, George Stephanopoulos, falsely stated that Trump had been found liable for rape.
   
   Amid growing concerns over media bias, Paramount and Skydance executives are considering changes at CBS News, including increasing oversight of editorial operations and possibly releasing the full Harris interview transcript. CBS recently appointed longtime producer Susan Zirinsky as interim executive editor to oversee journalistic standards.
   
   Meanwhile, Brendan Carr has publicly criticized the national media, recently sending a letter to Disney CEO Bob Iger, stating that Americans no longer trust mainstream news to report fairly and accurately.
   
   It's indeed ironic that media companies, often criticized by conservatives for their perceived liberal bias, are now contributing to President Donald Trump's Foundation.

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   Sharlee01posted 3 months ago

   Mike,   latest on Trump lawsuit against CBS    "President Donald J. Trump is committed to holding those who traffic in deception and fake news accountable. CBS and its parent company Paramount deceived the American People by unlawfully tampering with their interview of Kamala Harris, and then hiding the transcript from the public in an attempt to save the failing, and now failed, Harris campaign, all in desperate commercial pursuit of increased profit and viewership.
   
   "CBS News announced it would comply with the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) demand that it turn over the transcript of a "60 Minutes" interview with former Vice President Kamala Harris that is the subject of President Trump’s lawsuit against the company.
   
   The FCC, led by Trump appointee Brendan Carr, sent a letter of inquiry to the news company on Wednesday, requesting the "full, unedited transcript and camera feeds."
   
   "We are working to comply with that inquiry as we are legally compelled to do," a CBS News spokesman said in a statement on Friday. " Fox News
   
   Finally this unedited transcript of Harris's interview with 60 minutes.

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      Readmikenowposted 3 months agoin reply to this

      I think the reality of what CBS 60 minutes did was to engage in election interference.  That is something the democrats have to stop.

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         Sharlee01posted 2 months agoin reply to this

         I agree, it was the same old story—like fixing a horse race. I've seen the same kind of tactics used by the Democrats time and time again. It seems like they’ve polished up the Harris interview to make it appear more plausible. It really makes me wonder what she might have said that needed to be hidden from the public, or maybe how she was acting. It will be interesting to see the unredacted version of the interview. In my view, this type of media manipulation is unacceptable and borders on propaganda—only allowing us to hear what they want us to hear.

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