Wide World of Women

Yes, I have to agree with you there. Mea culpa from me but you're right on the other things they could do that are more in line from what we "specialize" in on this board. I agree with you on Ashleigh.

When big. breaking news happens, like last year's tsunami in Japan, people still seem to go to CNN
But on everyday news, CNN is just boring
One reason KIran failed, I believe, is CNN took her personality away, though I must confess, I quit watching it after a while, so I don't know if that improved or not
I think Erin made a mistake leaving CNBC
She was a star there and she knew her stuff on business news
Her CNN stint has exposed a lot of shallowness and a lack of depth
I think the late Mark Haines helped Erin more than we'll ever know

When was the last time CNN let go a high profile hire because she wasn't pulling in the ratings?

Erin Burnett really had not other option, if she wanted to move to something higher profile. Her tryout on the Today Show showed she wasn't really a good fit for that.

I think CNN's ratings problems started around the Gulf War of 1990-1991----CNN decided they wanted to go global, not just in reporting the news but in attitude as well. CNN stopped caring about news that matter to the American audience, and the institution cared more about presenting the news from other countries, from the viewpoint of those countries, than about America and the viewers. CNN, in reaching out to the world (remember the tag-line from Bobby Batista "We're in tuned to the world"?),has distanced itself from America, and the head honchos at CNN were actually PROUD of it. CNN has been paying the price in ratings ever since, in the form of Rodger Allies and FOX News

It's not just the beautiful blondes/brunettes and the gorgeous legs (although it certainly helps! )---FOX News understands their American audience, and rather than looking down on it, it compliments it. Every so often, the American audience gets to hear about the disdain the likes of Arnett and Amanpour have for the American audience, and that was the sentiments of the bigwigs of CNN. As a result, it didn't even matter much how lovely Daryn Kagan or Heidi Collins looked in their 'leggage'----not when you had ED Hill, Karen Chetry and vixens of FOX News. Even now, Erin Burnett is suffering the same 7PM slump that Paula Zahn had during her time during the Clinton era.

Consider HLN, CNN's sister network. When Robin Meade started, it was just 3 hours. But her morning show contains news that the American audience cares about, particularly the plight of American troops and their families. Robin is reaching the American audience with her morning show, and look at the results---her show-time now 6 hours! Who's complaining? (Certainly not I! ) Compare that to CNN and their morning shows---how long will the Ashleigh-Zoraida show last?

It's a truism that sex appeal sells. But if the one that's doing the selling despises the consumer and the consumer KNOWS it, even sex can lose it appeal. It's all well and good so set outlets in Angola and Azerbaijan---CNN will will continue to sink in the ratings as long as it has problems reaching out to the American audience.

alienates most of his target audience? with what? intelligent and thought provoking discussions? I guess he has to "dumb" it down for the audience, so they can understand

CNN should be glad in going global when they did, news flash! we live in a global age! As for FOX they're a joke, they only cater to a certain segment of the American audience..backward thinking, rigid right wing ideology that never bends. And any network that strictly caters to an American audience ends up being and endless dose of tabloid trash, scandal etc.

So why is CNN having such rating troubles?

It's atitudes like that that is the heart of CNN's troubles----they think they're too good for the American audience, and they marvel why they don't get any!

Well said brave ulysses!

I'll try this again, at the risk of crossing the line:

For ANYONE to assume that the American TV audience (particularly that segment that watches TV news) is dumbed down is condescending and quite frankly insulting. America does have its share of problems, but my issue with Zakaria and Morgan is they are presenting foreign ideals that have been proven failures in their own lands, and then CNN has the nerve to give them air time to talk down to American audiences. To build on ulysses' point, CNN's "global" brand has been off-putting for years and that bill has finally come due.

Zakaria and Morgan are hardly alone, they are merely the "exchange student" wing of CNN's problems.

It is not the fault of the American audiences if CNN's on-air personalities (male or female, sex appeal notwithstanding) cannot connect with their viewers. Television is a results based industry with many choices. If the audience doesn't like what you have, no matter how "smart" you are, they will take their business elsewhere.

Well said!!

Check out the FIVE on FOX---as well as looking beautiful, the female co-hosts---Dana, Kimberley, and Andrea---actually share MY views---and they the views of a majority of Americans that are simply ignored by the likes of CNN. That these FOX ladies (and others) are gorgeous to look at it an added PLUS!

CNN might want to diversify their view point---by getting a CONSERVATIVE or two to host a show! Put a conservative show on at 7PM---then see what happens to the ratings at that time!

Ever since 9/11 I felt that CNN has ignored the rest of the world until about two years ago unless it was "related" in some way to terrorism and our wars. They used to be better before with better international coverage. Heck, I remember when they had on CNN International on at noon. It was good. It brought you stories that you wouldn't see on other news channels. Now we have so much more variety when it comes to tv but still I felt that way for a long time. In fact, I think I pinpointed that as a jump the shark moment. CNN was at their best in the summer of 2001 and then went downhill starting with those idiotic tickers that everybody else started to mimic.

Come on boys, arguing political philosophy is going to get this thread locked down. I would recommend that everyone try to step back and look at this in an objective way, i.e., your beliefs or my beliefs are not necessarily what the majority of Americans believe. Over the years, studies have shown that Americans are pretty much centrists with maybe a little leaning to the right. That means that neither Fox nor MSNBC represent most Americans. They're niche networks. Niche marketing is one approach, which has been successful for both of the aforementioned networks. Broad appeal marketing is another and that seems to me to have been CNN's strategy over the years. If CNN decides that their broad-based approach isn't going to be successful, moving to a niche strategy is probably risky too since the two sides are well represented by the entrenched combination of Fox and MSNBC. I think their only choice is to go back to the objective hard news approach that they started with, and if you believe that Americans are not as dumb and sensationalistic/celebrity focused as many have said, a good solid dose of world news wouldn't hurt. Technology is making the world smaller every day and it's about time that Americans got on board. Commentary must be balanced, not right wing dominated like Fox and not left wing dominated like MSNBC. Now that would be a CNN I would watch every day.

I certainly agree. CNN has been a victim of the polarization of the American populace more than anything. They are maintaining the general strategy as you say. Perhaps for too long now. Maybe MOR doesn't work anymore for these things. Yes, that sounds good. Hard news. Enough of this silly baloney they do. Yes, I agree with you there. We have more than enough sources for the sensationalistic stuff. While for our purpose on this board, the new CBS morning show is not good, I do admire them for taking that chance. If only it were on at a better time for Denis to watch! But the Today Show has been increasingly silly over the years. GMA has tried to copy them as well. Enough with "news" on the Kardashians et al...if I want that then I'll switch to E!

Excellent point. While I'd rather have the ain't-never-gonna-happen dream of 100% babes,
a guy can at least make himself useful if he's a good foil for the chick to play off of, and
Haines certainly was that for Erin.... unlike John Roberts for Kiran. Another example
on the good side was Dave Schwartz on TWC with Hillary Andrews. The more relaxed and
comfortable a babe is, the more her natural hotness will shine.

then consider me condescending...the American audience is dumbed down...and going downhill

sharing the Five's views...thats scary

I hate see my girl Erin getting flak for CNN's problems. CNN was a sinking ship long before she got there.

How’s Erin Burnett Doing Almost 8 Months in on ‘OutFront?’

http://www.mediabistro.com/tvnewser/hows-erin-burnett-doing-almost-8-months-in-on-outfront_b127271

The idea that CNN is somehow in the middle or balanced is laughable. If you think that's the case, then it is only because you believe as some have written here, that if you believe anything that could be considered conservative, or to the right then you are an idiot, not worth of consideration. There is no middle with network news anymore..yeah Fox is to the right, but that hardly balances CNN, ABC, CBS. NBC (MSNBC) which are in increasing stages to the left, with MSNBC being full blown Socialist.

that last remark just contradicted your argument, which is anything that could be considered liberal or to the left is labeled a "socialist"