{"id":1174341,"date":"2021-12-31T01:19:18","date_gmt":"2021-12-31T06:19:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=1174341"},"modified":"2021-12-31T01:19:26","modified_gmt":"2021-12-31T06:19:26","slug":"sex-scandals-sinking-ratings-cnn-imploding-on-eve-of-streaming-launch","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/sex-scandals-sinking-ratings-cnn-imploding-on-eve-of-streaming-launch\/","title":{"rendered":"Sex Scandals, Sinking Ratings: CNN Imploding on Eve of Streaming Launch"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">22<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fsex-scandals-sinking-ratings-cnn-imploding-on-eve-of-streaming-launch%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=1174341&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p class=\"subheading\">CNN is betting big on its new digital streaming service CNN+ that will debut in early 2022, calling it the&nbsp;most important launch since Ted Turner introduced the cable network more than four decades ago. But a string of shocking internal scandals is threatening to steal the spotlight on the eve of the big reveal.<\/p>\n<p>With ratings continuing to plummet to embarrassing levels, the Jeff Zucker-led network is facing what could be its biggest crisis in years. A looming merger of parent company WarnerMedia with Discovery only adds more uncertainty, with Discovery CEO David Zaslav set to run the combined media giant.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"D-ROS-B1\" class=\"a8d\"><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"M-ROS-B1\" class=\"a8d\"><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"gmxrevmore\" class=\"H\"><\/figure>\n<p>Two high-ranking CNN producers recently resigned following scandals that both involved pedophilia. Rick Saleeby, who was a senior producer for CNN\u2019s \u201cThe Lead with Jake Tapper,\u201d <a href=\"https:\/\/www.breitbart.com\/the-media\/2021\/12\/28\/fairfax-county-police-confirm-jake-tapper-producer-investigated-child-exploitation-squad\/\">is under criminal investigation<\/a> following a Project Veritas investigation alleging Saleeby solicited sexually explicit photos of an underage girl.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_19313682\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/jaketapperRickSaleeby1.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-19313682\" src=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/jaketapperRickSaleeby1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1440\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><em>Kirk Irwin\/Getty Images for SiriusXM\/Twitter via New York Post<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>John Griffin, who worked as a senior producer on Chris Cuomo\u2019s show, was arrested this month on child sex trafficking charges. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges, which include allegations that he used Kik and Google Hangout to \u201cpersuade parents to allow him to train their daughters to be sexually submissive.\u201d<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">.<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/ChrisCuomo?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@ChrisCuomo<\/a> says he can get me blessed by <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/PopeFrancis?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#PopeFrancis<\/a> thanks to my &#8220;giant baby head.&#8221; Let&#8217;s try it, shall we?? <a href=\"http:\/\/t.co\/2Eed5dlySF\">pic.twitter.com\/2Eed5dlySF<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 John Griffin (@JGriffNYC) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/JGriffNYC\/status\/647879860522733568?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">September 26, 2015<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<figure id=\"M-ROS-B2\" class=\"a8d\"><\/figure>\n<p>Prosecutors claim that in one instance, Griffin arranged for a nine-year-old girl to travel from Nevada to his Vermont residence where she was \u201cdirected to engage in, and did engage in, unlawful sexual activity.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The scandals come shortly after Cuomo himself departed CNN in disgrace after it was revealed that he used his position at the network to help his brother, former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D), to fight sexual harassment accusations.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_19313706\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/GettyImages-684183562-2.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-19313706\" src=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/GettyImages-684183562-2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1280\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><em>(Mike Coppola\/Getty Images for Turner)<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>CNN\u2019s PR nightmare comes as the network is preparing to launch CNN+, its subscription streaming service that is expected to debut during the first quarter of 2022. The service is CNN\u2019s attempt to staunch the exodus of viewers who have either abandoned the network for its competitors or who have cut the cord and no longer have cable.<\/p>\n<p>As former President Donald Trump predicted, CNN has seen its ratings collapse since he left office in January, regularly coming in at a distant third place behind Fox News and MSNBC. The network\u2019s Trump bump has vanished as viewers flee in droves.&nbsp;In one recent week this month, the network averaged a mere 585,000 total viewers in primetime, putting CNN in 17th place among all basic cable networks.<\/p>\n<p>As Breitbart News reported,&nbsp;CNN went seven straight days in August without reaching one million views each day.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"M-ROS-B3\" class=\"a8d adSo\"><\/figure>\n<p>CNN\u2019s biggest stars, including Brian Stelter, sometimes come in behind reruns of favorite sitcoms like <em>The Golden Girls&nbsp;<\/em>on TV Land, or kids shows like <em>Paw Patrol<\/em> and <em>Spongebob&nbsp;<\/em>on Nick Jr.<\/p>\n<p>CNN+ is the network\u2019s attempt to capture younger viewers, but so far, little is known about the content it will feature. Former \u201cFox News Sunday\u201d host Chris Wallace will have his own show, while veteran CNN personalities are also expected to figure, though in what capacity remains unclear. One <a href=\"https:\/\/www.adweek.com\/tvnewser\/report-cnn-could-launch-in-march-cost-5-99-per-month\/496135\/\">unverified report<\/a> claimed the service will cost $5.99 a month.<\/p>\n<p>The streaming service comes after Fox News launched its own streaming service, Fox Nation, in 2018.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_19313738\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/GettyImages-505307976-scaled.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-19313738\" src=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/GettyImages-505307976-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1920\" height=\"2880\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><em>(Frederick M. Brown\/Getty Images)<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"attachment_19313714\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/donlemonjussiesmollett1-640x480-1.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-19313714\" src=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/donlemonjussiesmollett1-640x480-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><em>Matt Sayles\/Invision\/AP, File\/Mike Coppola\/Getty Images<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>Other scandals that plagued CNN this year include the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.breitbart.com\/news\/jeffrey-toobin-returns-to-cnn-after-zoom-call-incident\/\">firing and re-hiring<\/a> of contributor Jeffrey Toobin, who was caught masturbating during a Zoom conference call. &nbsp;Actor Jussie Smollett\u2019s recent criminal trial revealed that CNN anchor Don Lemon was aiding the Hollywood star by&nbsp;notifying him that the Chicago Police Department was doubting&nbsp;his alibi.<\/p>\n<p><em><strong>Follow David Ng on Twitter&nbsp;<a class=\"x5l\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/HeyItsDavidNg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener external\">@HeyItsDavidNg<\/a>. Have a tip? Contact me at&nbsp;<a class=\"c-link x5l\" href=\"mailto:dng@breitbart.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener external\">dng@breitbart.com<\/a><\/strong><\/em>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>CNN is betting big on its new digital streaming service CNN+ that will debut in early 2022, calling it the\u00a0most important launch since Ted Turner introduced the cable network more &#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":22,"featured_media":2315279,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1174341","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1174341","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/22"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1174341"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1174341\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2315279"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1174341"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1174341"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1174341"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}