It's been another interesting week for CNN. Kiran Chetry moving on, Piers Morgan getting more press for the hacking scandal and prime time ratings still in free fall. So there you have our jumping off points for a discussion. Feel free to come up with a few of your own.
Saturday, July 16, 2011
Your Views on the News 7/16/11
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41 comments:
CNN needs a plan and to stop doing the same
thing over and over again. Name one show on
CNN that says fresh. TSR was suppose to be
old/new media yet they fired both internet
reporters and it's pretty boring. Frustrated CNN
viewers go out and get those keyboards that
permit you to watch your computer on your tv.
That way you can stream real 24/7 news networks
like BBC, Al Jazeera and NPR and whatever news
you chose. CNN needs to be out of business for
dissing viewers.
Interesting week at CNN and HLN. After weeks of domination for HLN with Casey Anthony, they are coming back to earth a little bit. Real winner is Dr. Drew who finally got sampled and will undoubtedly keep many of those viewers because he's actually an inciteful broadcaster. Advice to CNN - move Dr Drew from HLN to CNN at 10 pm. Erin Burnett to Anderson Cooper to Piers Morgan to Dr Drew is a pretty great schedule.
Kiran got no support ever from cnn. I remember her coverage from Virginia Tech was brilliant. The fact that she had to work with that condescending wet noodle Jon Roberts for four years must have been tough. She is still young and used to the grind so she should do well. Now CNN needs to blow up that show and put on something entertaining.
I looked up when Piers Morgan was editor of "news of the world" and it was almost 20 years ago. They didn't even have cell phones then so I seriously doubt he had anything to do with the hacking scandal. His show has gotten much better as the Bill Maher and Billy Ray Cyrus interviews proved. I think his ratings are going up and it doesn't hurt that his NBC show is the top thing on tv forvthe fifth straight year. I bet he starts to go after the hacking scandal on CNN.
I honestly see CNN U.S. shutting down a few years from now, and CNN International taking over. Anderson Cooper 360ยบ would be the only show continuing onto CNN International. It would seem like the best thing to do.
@anonymous 11:26, Piers time at The Daily Mirror is what is in question and that was as recent as 2004. Please read our previous posts on the story and follow the links for further information.
My dream CNN lineup :
Toure at 7 pm.CNN has got to get some of
the younger hip/up and coming journalists.
Go with a hipster news show.
AC 360 at 8 pm. He has CNN's top rated
show and has earned this spot. He is the
best of his generation and he can handle
breaking news and the big stories.
George Strombo at 9 pm. CNN needs a daily
nightly show that will bring in viewers on a
slow news day. Have him do a live news show
with a studio audience.CNN needs a Daily Show
like news program.
Erin & the ladies at 10 pm. CNN needs to
have diversity in prime time.An ethnically
diverse group of CNN female reporters who
are smart,beautiful and can hold their own.
This is long overdue in cable news.
During dayside drop the 2 hr format. it just
is not working. From 9-4 . Come up with
hours of different shows. The current format
makes it seem like the anchors just read all
day long. Perhaps an hour of CNN International
and a daytime Nightline. Try to come up with
a real time format. Go for more unscripted,
let viewers see the news unfold all day long
Also, an anchor free hour in which stories
would air like you are watching CNN.dot.com.
I say this lineup because CNN must find
a way to bring in more viewers who are 50
and under. CNN has to at least look like it
is evolving. Get a group of shows going that
can find huge DVR audiences. Besides this is
continuity. They all do news one way or another.
CNN will not get viewers to flip from Fox &
MSNBC go find your own audience. Don't let
those viewers 50 and under get away. You
need to try to get viewers as young as 13 to
get accustomed to watching CNN.
Piers Morgan has not business on CNN.
The days of hourlong celebrity interviews
are over. CNN needs anybody but him on
at 9 PM. Really CNN tabloid hires. The
trend in ratings for Piers Morgan are in
free fall. He is so far back that both Sean
and Rachel don't even think about him.
Most nights he can't even get 200,000
in the demo. Bad hire, Get rid of him.
No more Piers or pundits. Become the
network where journalism lives and
the news drives the day. Before Casey
Anthony HLN ratings were below the
radar. Once this dies down. They will
be low yet again. No one on the HLN
prime tine lineup should be on CNN.
CNN should become the NPR of cable news.
CNN can do news and make money. Trying
to be a combo of FNC and MSNBC won't do.
CNN needs distinction. Something that makes
it standout. I am not to sure management gets
it. CNN is making a mistake cutting back the
hours of live news. CNN is already playing a
game of catch up.
Good lineup 12:58. Not sure that would ever
happen. Does anyone other than me find the
CNN response to Piers Morgan a little strange.
CNN seems to be saying that is him problem
not ours.It would not surprise me one bit if
he is out before the year is over. I am going
out on the limb here but something just is
not right with this. What do they know that
we don't . I think there is some stuff going
on behind the scenes that we don't know
about but will come out soon.
I have been a viewer of AC360 for years. I can't believe how it has gone down hill.
There is no way that his ratings will be any better at 8 up against Bill O'Reily.
Don't see how he can do 2 shows and still stay fresh and focus. It is really disappointing for me and other viewers.
if Friday night's 360 is what CNN has planned
for 8 PM, all I have to say is total flop. 30 mins
of talking heads at the beginning of 360. News
is what made the ratings for 360 soar. It brought
in those younger viewers from the demos. Mark
my words CNN brass will ruin 360 by insisting
pundits be on 360. This is exactly what I was
worried about. Don't mess up a good thing.
When you look at what is happening the USA
Women's Soccer Team, it may not be a bad idea
to have a women's news show.
I came up with this idea just now while looking
at Don Lemon. Hire ordinary citizens as news
contributors to CNN. In this day and time we mostly
have multiple recording devices. Ordinary folks can
put together some amazing news stories just by
going out in their communities and recording events.
Last semester in my community some colleges
kids organized a huge Zombie weekend on
Face Book. Perhaps 50-100 dollars. If someone
goes out and shoots a decent doc, $ 500. Just
about anyone would be able to participate.
CNN should have a daily tech,science and
new media show. Each night at 6 Bloomberg
does this. It really hurts that they let Nicole
go. She would be perfect or even Daniel
Sieberg who used to do a show like this on
CNN on weekends. I would like to see 3 hrs
of international news on Sunday. Let us see
Back Story, Inside Africa and and the show
that Kristi Lu Stout does. Why can't we see
more of CNN International. On a daily basis
give us highlights of some of the shows from
CNN International.
4 words for CNN :
GEORGE MARK PAUL STROUMBOULOPOULOS
Please, CNN
You are both correct about 360 and the pundits...boring!
And what isn't messed up is being messed up by the anchor who has decided to reinvent himself.
Please AC we liked you the way you were and now you choose to experiment? Wrong time, my friend, wrong time.
@5:40PM: You are absolutely right.
One commenter here said AC was the best of his generation and I agree with them, however, why is he making himself into a comical figure?
He is throwing away his talent for doing hardnews so he can become everyones talkshow host. Why?
What purpose does this serve and does it serve him?
Some personalites are born to do certain things and he was born to do hardnews. Leave newslite for people like Wendy Williams, those who can't do anything else.
AC can't compete with Jon Stewart and Bill Maher, so what in the world is he doing with his career?
To list all of the issues and concerns plaguing CNN would require far more space than this page will allow me.
As viewers, we complain when management fails to make changes. And then we continue to complain when changes are made.
The time change regarding Anderson, I think will work. Anderson has a core group of fans that will no doubt follow him. Why not put your strongest show at 5pm (the primetime main slot, the prestigious slot?) Even though his show is CNN's best as far as ratings, let's not overlook the fact his show regularly comes in last place amongst the three. In my opinion he will actually gain a larger audience. You have one show in the primetime lineup that has adequate numbers. Can management continue to sacifice the other shows just for the sake of one? When these changes are made and even if CNN remains in the ratings seller, that may be temporarily acceptable as long as these changes bring the respect and crediblity back to CNN.
Remember when MSNBC was considered the joke cable news outlet? Now that CNN has taken that title, we need to see more replacements and modifications.
As for Kiren's impending departure, I was not a fan of her anchoring abilities, and do not feel her exit will be of any great loss. With that said, I truly hope her upcoming projects work out.
But that change alone won't save American Morning. Dire modifications are still needed. That can also be said in regards to dreadful lineup of CNN Newsrooms. You have one anchor that as a reporter, was awesome. As an anchor of special events and special coverage, she is intelligent, interesting, inciteful and engaging. Yet her daily two-hour show is as dry and uninspiring as burnt toast.
You have another anchor during the half-way point of her show, runs wall size posters of herself as if she is some high fashion model on a photo shoot.
Are you kidding? I thought the news was the star.
In regards to Piers and the hacking scandal... If I were passing judgement, then I would say he seems the type to be involved in something like this. With all the ongoing and pending investigations, if evidence is found, then Piers needs to man up and take his lumps.
Do I think that Piers needs to address the allegations on his show, I certainly do. His silence is quite deafening.
Anderson has always been serious AND funny and this goes all the way back to his time at World News Now. I think it's just a large part of who he is. He's established himself as a fine reporter and now he wants to stretch his muscles and go in a different direction. Maybe he just doesn't want to be tied down to only one thing and I don't see anything wrong with that. He's well rounded and versatile and that is a plus for him, IMO.
I'm not a fan of Drew Griffin, but if he REALLY wanted to do a significant investigative report, he'd be looking into the shameful efforts of Republican governors across the country to make it difficult for certain people to vote. This form of voter suppression is UN-American and against democracy. Frankly I think Griffin would fit right in at Fox, but if he were to do a report like this, I'd almost forgive him for his shoddy/biased ACORN reporting.
Anon 11:50 you are right . We could never list
all of the problems plaguing CNN. The 2 hr News
Room won't work because it is too repetitive. I
say beginning at 8 AM CNN should offer a wide
range of news shows from global news, tech
and new media,anchor free, Just have 1 hour
with Kyra,Suzanne and Brooke, and yes she is
not on a photo shoot. It only works if you take
pictures in real time of the show that show
her conducting interviews,talking with reporters
or studio shots. AM is just a disaster. Come up
with a different format and stop doing the same
thing for 3 freaking hours. Cut it back to 2 hrs.
For goodness sake stop going with annoying.
Boring is an understatement about pundits.
They add nothing to the equation and make
CNN look lazy. Let go of the pundits. Their
time has long passed. Viewers don't relate
to them. They have no business creeping into
news shows let alone politics. I thought CNN
said they have the best political team. Well
prove it. If your political reporters actually
did their jobs and were the best as you say,
why do you need pundits. CNN we are a
media savvy society. Jerry Springer is were
people go for fireworks and fights. It is
dumb for CNN to be heavily in the left vs
right man made faux debate. Keep it real.
As in real news, real reporting, real story-
telling and making real connections with
viewers and really fixing content.
360 needs to pick up the pace and no more
pundits. That is what drew me to 360 in the
first place. The stories that no one else had,
the music from the Joy Division to The Clash.
Somewhere down the line CNN decided to
bore down 360. Maybe now that Anderson is
on at 8 PM. CNN can re-edit the show for
10 PM to make it more like the classic 360
and it wont look like repeats. Heck they have
2 hrs that is plenty of time for re-cutting the
show for CNN viewers. I remember when the
lead story on 360 would be the lead story
for Brian Williams the next day.Williams has
editorial control of the Nightly News.
That is a million dollar question : who has
editorial control of 360 ? You would be surprised
at how management will control the content
of all of the shows on CNN.If they say they want
to see politics every hour, it will happen. I hope
that the network brass will give their employees
the freedom to experiment with individual shows.
When you have all of the shows on CNN doing
the same old thing all day long, it is an edit
from the top. What works for Wolf Blitzer won't
work for John King. Come up with a format
that is unique to each host.
From what I have seen of Strombo Tonight,
you guys are on to something. Talk about the
right fit for a cable news network. It is already
on a news channel in Canada. This type of show
is the future and is going to bring in viewers.
It is very hard not to like this guy . Besides he
has no baggage. The man has even done docs.
I think you guys are right. It is time for a live
audience news show. The Daily Show and
Colbert get this. The thing I like about the
Strombo guy is that the show covers a wide range
of stories and his ability to connect with viewers.
Don't change anything about the show. His
fashion style is who he is. The show could make
it to air rather quickly.
CNN needs to change the culture of cable news.
It is simple; end the style of just looking at each
and everything as political. No more pundits.
Cable news shows are too cozy with pundits.
The news is suppose to be for the masses not
just a select few. Rebuild CNN as the world's
largest news source you can have everyday in
your home just go to the channel.
If CNN were to hire Toure, put him on in the
afternoon maybe right before Wolf Blitzer.
Put him on at 3 PM in place of Brooke Baldiwin.
It does come across as CNN is trying to sell
her as a sex symbol. It is a big turnoff.
Anderson Cooper and George Strombo would
be great back to back shows. Anderson already
has a following and it will likely grow with him
coming on at 8. I say go with Strombo because
he is 38. That is the big way for CNN to bring
in viewers who are 18-29,18-34 & 18-49 or
even the teens from 13-16.DVR show for sure.
He is like your dad's cooler young brother. The
only way CNN can possibly beat Rachel at 9 is
to have someone of a similar age group. This
show has big ratings written all over it. Think
about the demos for these 2 back to back;
that is powerful stuff.CNN tops FNC in the
demo easily. CNN has to develop the mindset
of beating FNC & MSNBC not being them.
Gamechanger = Strombo. Think about the
possibility of 360 topping BOR in the demo
either because viewers will tune in for the
full hour or catch the final 10 minutes of 360
so they won't miss any of Strombo.IMHO he
is more newsier that Stewart or Colbert.
Prime time ends with the ladies. It just is
more strategic at this time. Nancy is on HLN,
Greta is on FNC, and a male is on MSNBC.
Going with a group of diverse female journalists
is a checkmate move. Game over. They each
can bring their journalistic/fashion style to
the show. A news show . You don't even have
to be a mom for those maternal instincts to
kick in when you hear what happened to the
8 yr old boy in New York. Like it or not
women react differently to news events than
men. Keep politics off the show. Definitely
no pundits. Let them have a conversation
on the big news stories and stories women
relate to. I like the music idea as well. I have
my own personal playlist. Maybe on Fridays
the viewers can choose the songs and you
get a shout out.CNN should give women a
full hour of prime time.
This is a killer prime time lineup and one that
would make me consider actually leaving the
tv or setting the DVR for all 3 hrs of CNN in
prime time. Really original, This does not exist.
PMT is not the right fit. CNN think about this :
if it does not fit , you gotta split. Maybe move
PMT to weekends. That is one boring dude.
I hope the management at CNN does take
a look at this blog from time to time to see
what viewers think. There are some really
good ideas that CNN needs to consider.CNN
has it work cut out for it. They are in 4th
place. Not a good place to be.
I have a theory. Moving 360 to 8 PM will hurt
CNN. Yes AC has a following but after 360
why would anyone watch CNN. 360 viewers
are not going to watch Piers Morgan. They
already know he is there. Since the demo
goes up at 10 that likely means they don't
want to watch him. I am just speaking for
me, myself and I but as a loyal 360 viewer
I will never watch Piers Morgan. As soon as
Anderson finishes up I am setting the DVR
for Rachel even if I am sitting in front of
the television.CNN has no right to bring
this sleaze into my living room.
This scandal in England grows. The top
cop has just resigned. Cameron is under
too much pressure. If you think for 1 sec
that only News Of The World is going to
be the only tabloid brought down, think
again. The Daily Mirror is going to feel
the heat. Jude Law thinks he was hacked
while in the United States. Here comes
another CNN blunder.CNN needs to end
this before it goes deeper. Earlier the
editor was arrested.
@4:00PM: I feel that you are absolutely right.
The move to 8PM will not enhance the ratings for 360. It is false hope.
AC is not only up against BOR, but all network programming from DWTS to Idol begins at 8PM.
Yes, he has a following, but it isn't large enough to push him over the top at 10 PM where there is less competition and he still comes in last.
The Ed Show has been beating him up lately and let's face it. Ed is not handsome or young, and his yelling can drive you right up the wall. But he has integrity and he stuck to it when it came to defending the "little guy" and they remembered. Good for him.
And Rachel has stayed true to her viewers as well. She has a definite following of loyal supporters and neither has changed their stance, their personality, or their values.
Bravo, and Bravo to MSNBC for seeing two talented professionals and giving them a chance to enlighten us.
How can you not lead with the Women's
World Cup ? You have to wonder why CNN
is in trouble. That is a no brainer. The lead
story all night long has to be the USA women's
soccer team. I am 100 % certain that Americans
care about soccer more than Murdoch tonight.
Where did LZ Granderson come from ? If you
take a good look at The Last Word the demos
are not that great. It is the weakest show on
MSBNC. 360 will be just fine. Somehow I don't
think that DWTS and 360 have the same viewers.
You do know that more people are moving to
cable due to superior shows. Did you see the
Emmy nods ?
The scandal with News Corp is also going to
expand to bigger media companies like Time
Warner, Disney, Viacom & Comcast. There are
now questions as to wether of not it is a good
idea for basically 5 media companies to control
all of the media. It will definitely lead to more
distrust of media. There is a lot of buzz about
the Murdochs being pushed out of News Corp
and the company possibly getting out of the
news business including FNC because there is
a school of thought that says without the
Murdochs it become an entertainment company
and sell of the news properties in the UK and
US. This is being called the UK's Watergate
because it involves the press and politicians.
The point being these companies are too
connected to politicians who made the rules
for them to own everything. If CNN were to
get rid of the pundits that would be a big
way to change the culture of cable news.
Recently, there has been a lot of talk about
the big media companies not adjusting to
the new media landscape. Time Warner and
CNN has to move in that direction. By making
CNN shows accessible anywhere to satellite
and cable customers. As well as streaming
their shows live on the internet and offering
full episodes by midnight. There is no such
thing as traditional media anymore. It is
all about multiplatforms and that involves
television,DVRs and the internet and mobile
devices. The big media companies just don't
get it.
Ok there is a long list of what is wrong with CNN
these days, but I must say kudos the CNN Presents.
I am really digging this show. CNN should do this
on the weekend with 2 new episodes. When they
get a full hour go with that but I like this format
and style. This is one thing that CNN is getting
right. Good work Team CNN. Not sure how long
it takes to put something like this together but
it's good journalism and that is CNN's bread and
butter. I am going to DVR this at 11 PM.
I have always wondered why some of the the
material from CNNGO, i-LIST, ECO SOLUTIONS,
INSIDE AFRICA and tons of video from CNN 's
INTERNATiONAL website never make it to air
This is original reporting that neither FOX or
MSNBC will have.
I know that some of us are really unhappy
with CNN these days but let's see what they
come up with. They seemed to have changed
the style of CNN PRESENTS. This is what JS
means. You are CNN and don't your forget it.
Got to get back to Kaj Larsen on the sub
adventure.
PLease..........please.....all you CNN International fans. Don't mention it too frequently here lest CNN management decide to get involved and screw it up too. CNN International is a fabulous channel with superb anchors, reporters, news quality, and much more professionally delivered than the infotainment on CNN domestic. Let it run in stealth mode so we can continue to enjoy it!
Anon 8:50 you are so right about CNN I.
Hands off of the network that is everything
CNN Domestic should be.
By the way has anyone seen any ads about
360 moving in August.If Anderson Cooper
does the kind of journalism we have come
to respect from him, he will be fine. It is
nice that there are light-hearted moments
on 360. The Ridiculist is a good way to
end the show.
What is being offered for the hour will
determine the ratings more than anything.
Anderson & Team 360 better bring their
A game.I think CNN is trying to find out if
it's most popular show will get a huge
bump at 8 PM like O'Reilly does for FNC.
I agree about Lawrence. Those are not
Countdown demos. For the first time CNN
will have a show that people might watch
if the don't like what is going on with the
others. They could not get that from In
The Arena. 360 does not have to be the
tops in viewers just in the demo or come
awful close. The demo is how CNN makes
their money. 360's ratings will be way
higher than In The Arena.
The Ed Show has sadly been beating 360 in the demos for more than two weeks now.
And Greta, think about it, not pretty, conservative, always beat AC, and Chris Matthews is up for it, believe me, he's well liked and ready. Trust me. AC is in for the fight of his life, especially if he only half pays attention to 360, because of his other pursuit dayside.
Trouble has already begun at 10PM.
Watch the numbers slide.
MSNBC has a proven record that is hard to beat.
If I were a betting person....
Nothing has worked at 8pm for CNN, so even if Anderson "fails", they may as well keep him there. He DOES have a following and is well-liked even if he's not a big ratings draw like Ed, Greta, Lawrence. I still don't know who CNN could get to bring in big enough ratings to have an impact on Fox or MSNBC at this point.
The 1st 2 shows in CNN prime time are
trailing badly it is not possible or 360
to make up the difference. 360 will fare
a lot better than you think. It is much
better to have Rachel Maddow as a lead
in look at the total numbers in prime
time. It is amazing that 360 gets those
ratings. For goodness sakes E.D. Hill
was on CNN most of last week at 8.
CNN can't just put anyone on in prime
time. They still have yet to figure this
out. The ratings will go up at 8 with
Anderson Cooper. There is no way he
will be lower than Spitzer.
W0w.CNN finally woke up,at least as far
as CNN.dot.com is concerned, you can
get live streams of CNN shows online
if you pay for it already. Only problem
if you have satellite you are out of luck.
I agree that AC360 is the best primetime show for CNN. However it is still very low in the ratings, and sometimes comes in dead last among the 4 cable networks. I don't think moving 360 to 8 p.m. is going to help it or CNN. Plus Anderson's attention and time will be focused on the daytime show and also on 60 Minutes. Some may think it sounds pessimistic, but the ratings tell me that AC360 won't be around much longer.
Well if 360 is on its way out, at least it had a pretty good run on CNN for 7 years. That says a lot about it. It has its flaws and is not perfect, but when they get it right, they are one of the best. Still I see no other show or anchor who can do much to improve things at the 8 pm hour - success there seems out of reach for CNN, no matter who they put in that time slot.
Piers Moron is an idiot. How could he go on
CNN to defend Murdoch. Plus his denial was
doublespeak.CNN get rid of the clown before
it is too late. So far the consensus is that he
is lying. No mention of the Daily Mirror, Things
that make you go hmm, Too bad there is video
of News Of The World employees admitting this
was going on and is why there have been some
resignations at Scotland Yard. CNN looks bad
for hiring this clown.CNN needs to end this now.
Not even FOX news people use their network
to defend Murdoch.
Since I make it a habit of NOT watching his program, I did not see Piers defending Murdoch. Sounds to me like things are getting too close for comfort for Piers...any day now, any day.
And before we give CNN cudos for live streaming, their "guest of honor" needs to show up on 360.
Do we know why he was a no show again?
Other plans interfered perhaps.
Get used to it folks. 360 is in for a rough ride.
Guess what the face of Piers Morgan is all
over the new CNN.dot.com. That is not too
smart on CNN's part. Memo : CNN your brand
is news. Got it.
360 is going to be around for quit some time.
It is basically the flagship show of CNN, Anderson
will be doing his show in the same building, I have
seen anchors do this before it is really nothing new,
NBC is doing the same thing with Brian Williams.
Oh boy Piers Morgan came up. CNN has a problem.
CNN end this now.
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