CNN loses to Food Network as network's primetime viewership languishes

CNN finished No. 17 among cable stations during primetime last week amid a news cycle that included the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson and the ensuing manhunt for his killer, a slew of news related to President-elect Donald Trump's Cabinet picks, the fallout from President Biden announcing he would pardon his son, Hunter, and a rebel alliance's challenging Bashar al-Assad in Syria.  

Despite the busy news cycle, CNN's bleak audience was smaller than TNT, Food Network, Freeform, Discovery, INSP, Hallmark Mystery, TLC, TBS, History, HGTV, USA, MSNBC, Paramount, Hallmark Channel, ESPN and Fox News. 

It was even worse for CNN's primetime lineup among the advertiser-coveted demographic of adults age 25-54, as the network managed only 67,000 average demo viewers to finish No. 26 in cable. 

TV Land, MTV, Nick at Nite, Comedy Central and Adult Swim were among the networks to jump CNN in the critical category. By comparison, Fox News Channel averaged 280,000 demo viewers during primetime last week to crush CNN's dismal average. 

CNN's has had a rough time and had its lowest-rated week among total viewers since June 2001 during the week of November 25, averaging only 268,000 compared to 1.4 million for Fox News Channel.