CNN’s recent attempt to feature NBA legend Charles Barkley falls flat
Desperate CNN’s Latest Stunt with NBA Legend Charles Barkley is Major Flop
So just how toxic is CNN as a media (it would be a stretch to call them “news”) company in 2023?
Apparently, they are so toxic that not even one of the most beloved living NBA legends this side of Michael Jeffrey Jordan can help with the network’s flagging ratings.
Barkley, the former star Philadelphia 76er, Phoenix Sun and Houston Rocket, has built quite a brand for himself in his post-playing days for being an outspoken voice unafraid of angering both the left and right.
CNN was clearly banking on that brand paying dividends in terms of viewership for some time, given Barkley opened up that he was being courted by the network way back in February.
That courtship clearly went according to plan for CNN, as Barkley and co-host Gayle King debuted the first episode of “King Charles” on Wednesday (the show was announced in April).
However, the fact that it debuted appeared to be the only thing that went to plan for the embattled news network.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, “King Charles” drew a paltry 501,000 viewers for the show’s debut — a figure that was good for a “distant” third-place finish.
Now, a third-place finish isn’t necessarily a bad thing per se, especially with cable news heavyweight Fox News still on the airwaves (yes, even a diminished, post-Tucker Carlson Fox News consistently beats its cable peers).
But the added context from THR isn’t going to make anyone involved with “King Charles” feel any better.
First, THR noted that the debut episode co-starring Barkley and King wasn’t “really moving the needle from CNN’s recent averages in the hour.”
So, the big (and surely expensive) name wasn’t “moving the needle” for CNN. Not a great sign, to say the least.
Second, THR added even more context to the context, and in one sense, “King Charles” did technically have a historic debut.
It just made the wrong kind of history as the show brought in “the smallest audience of any of CNN’s primetime debuts this year.”
Indeed, the debut of Abby Phillips’ “NewsNight” drew 645,000 viewers in October, the debut of “The Source With Kaitlan Collins” drew 540,000 people in July, and “Laura Coates Live” debuted to 535,000 viewers in October.
Oh, and to circle back to that “distant” third-place finish … even that adjective might be underselling it.
“King Charles” was competing with MSNBC’s “Last Word With Lawrence O’Donnell” and Fox News’ “Gutfeld!” and it wasn’t even close.
MSNBC’s show drew in 1.57 million viewers, according to THR. “Gutfeld!” didn’t have ratings readily available, but typically draws in two million viewers.
And that first-second-third finish actually reflects the grander November primetime trend — which is undoubtedly bad news for CNN.
According to Deadline, Fox News averaged 1.73 million viewers in primetime, MSNBC averaged 1.136 million viewers, and CNN — just like “King Charles” — finished in a distant third by averaging just 540,000 viewers.
Yet, it’s not all good news for the news networks.
Fox News’ viewership was down 29 percent year-over-year, MSNBC was down 5 percent, and CNN was down 28 percent.
Ironically enough, that last tidbit might actually be the smallest of silver linings for the beleaguered CNN because the numbers speak for themselves — cable news, as a whole, is at an all-time low in terms of public perception, and the viewership reinforces that.
TV Ratings: CNN’s ‘King Charles’ Premiere Flops https://t.co/dtukyQffR1
— The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) November 30, 2023
For that reason, CNN can find the smallest modicum of comfort in the fact that “King Charles” flopped: Everything is sort of flopping these days.
But can you blame the average American consumer for turning that television knob off?
Cable news was always headed for this cliff the instant Tucker Carlson — perhaps one of the few voices brave enough to challenge the establishment media on a consistent basis — was unceremoniously ousted from Fox News back in April.
If Fox News is the emperor of cable news (which it is), Carlson’s firing was the proverbial revelation about the emperor’s clothes.
And that ripple effect is clearly being felt all across cable news … and not even “King Charles” appears to be able to stem that tide.
The post Desperate CNN’s Latest Stunt with NBA Legend Charles Barkley is Major Flop appeared first on The Western Journal.
What were the factors that contributed to the low viewership of CNN’s “King Charles” debut episode with NBA legend Charles Barkley?
Surprise that CNN’s latest stunt with NBA legend Charles Barkley was a major flop. The network, known for its biased and sensationalist reporting, has been struggling with declining ratings for quite some time. They hoped that Barkley, with his outspoken and controversial personality, could help revive their viewership. However, the debut episode of “King Charles,” co-hosted by Barkley and Gayle King, drew a paltry 501,000 viewers, placing it a distant third in the time slot.
While a third-place finish may not be disastrous, especially considering the competition from Fox News, it certainly isn’t a good sign for CNN. The Hollywood Reporter revealed that the show did not perform any better than CNN’s recent averages in the same time slot. This means that even a well-known and expensive personality like Barkley failed to make a significant impact on CNN’s viewership.
Furthermore, “King Charles” made the wrong kind of history by becoming CNN’s primetime debut with the smallest audience this year. Previous debuts such as Abby Phillips’ “NewsNight,” “The Source With Kaitlan Collins,” and “Laura Coates Live” all garnered more viewers. Essentially, Barkley’s show had the lowest ratings of any CNN primetime debut in 2023.
To make matters worse, “King Charles” was not even close to its competitors in the time slot. MSNBC’s “Last Word With Lawrence O’Donnell” drew 1.57 million viewers, while Fox News’ “Gutfeld!” typically attracts around two million viewers. CNN finished a distant third, reflecting the overall trend of November’s primetime ratings. Fox News averaged 1.73 million viewers, MSNBC averaged 1.136 million viewers, and CNN trailed behind with just 540,000 viewers.
This latest failure only adds to CNN’s perception as a toxic and untrustworthy news network. With their biased reporting and desperate attempts to attract viewers, it is no wonder that they are losing ground to their competitors. Barkley’s involvement was supposed to bring some excitement and controversy to the network, but it appears that even he couldn’t save CNN from its downward spiral.
In conclusion, CNN’s latest stunt with NBA legend Charles Barkley turned out to be a major flop. With low ratings, poor performance compared to previous debuts, and a distant third-place finish, “King Charles” only highlights the network’s ongoing struggle to regain its viewership. As CNN continues to prioritize sensationalism over reliable journalism, it is no surprise that their desperate attempts fall flat.
" Conservative News Daily does not always share or support the views and opinions expressed here; they are just those of the writer."
*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases
Now loading...