Where Did Everyone Go? CNN Loses Two-Thirds Of Primetime Viewers

Once the titan of cable news, CNN is currently grappling with a historic collapse in primetime viewership, with its audience eroding by nearly two-thirds over the last ten years.

“The decrease, from roughly 1.3 million in 2016 to 553,000 now, is fueling rumors of a possible network sale,” The Daily Mail reported.

The downward trajectory is even more stark when examining specific windows of time. While CNN experienced a substantial ratings spike during Donald Trump’s 2016 rise, those gains have not only evaporated but have reversed into a deep deficit. In the all-important 25-54 age demographic — the group most coveted by advertisers — the numbers are particularly grim. By early 2025, CNN had slumped to just 118,000 primetime viewers in this category.

The decay is not limited to the evenings. Daytime programming, once propelled by stalwarts such as Wolf Blitzer, has seen its audience decline from 752,000 to 433,000. Compared with the same period in 2021, the network has experienced a 71% drop in primetime and a 73% decline during the day.

This ratings freefall has occurred against a backdrop of executive instability. Following the departure of its president, Jeff Zucker, and the brief, tumultuous tenure of Chris Licht, current CEO Mark Thompson has been tasked with stopping the bleeding. Thompson’s strategy involves a painful pivot away from the network’s “seminal TV division” toward a digital-centric model.

Key developments in this restructuring include: More than 200 staff members were terminated in early 2025 to reallocate resources toward digital ventures; a shift toward mobile-friendly content, allowing users to “flick” through news stories using their thumbs; a new streaming push launched in late 2025, following the high-profile failure of CNN+ years prior; and plans for a $70 million investment in subscription-based food and fitness content.

While CNN insiders argue that the decline is a symptom of a broader industry shift toward “alternative means” of news consumption, the success of rivals suggests otherwise. In January 2025, The Daily Mail reported, “Fox News, however, has continued to fly high — capturing more than 70 percent of cable news’ audiences during primetime since (the 2024 election), as well as nearly 50 percent overall.”