CNN’s ratings have in free fall in its ratings since Donald Trump left the White House, but the network enjoyed a massive boost following the former president’s appearance on its Town Hall on Wednesday.
Trump’s Town hall also helped CNN obliterate its competition, crushing the likes of Fox News and CNN.
The event, which offered Trump a forum to speak to voters, drew in more than 3 million viewers.
But ratings aside, the event was not so good for the network’s base as left-wing moderator Kaitlan Collins could not keep her bias in check.
CNN also drew criticism from liberals and high profile leftwing radicals like Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who reacted angrily to the network giving Trump a platform.
But the main problem for liberals was that Trump could speak totally unfettered.
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However, the reactions were irrelevant when you consider CNN’s ratings with Trump.
As The Western Journal reported:
Citing early Nielsen data, Mediaite reported the CNN town hall attracted 3.1 million viewers. That number will grow when the network gets a better grasp on those who watched on varying digital streams.
But Wednesday’s 3.1 million viewers was good enough to wallop the competition on Fox News and MSNBC in both total viewers and in the 25-54 age demographic that is most sought after by advertisers.
Hosting Trump in Anderson Cooper’s 8 p.m. ET hour — Carlson’s old time slot — put CNN on top.
“Fox News Tonight” attracted a mere 1.41 million total viewers, while “All In with Chris Hayes” brought in 1.37 million viewers for MSNBC.
CNN also drew 703,000 viewers in the key demo Wednesday.
On Tuesday, the night before the town hall, Cooper’s show attracted just 700,000 sets of eyeballs.
MSNBC has pretty much cornered the far-left audience, while Fox News is struggling amid the fallout of its decision to boot Carlson from its lineup.
Therein lies a golden opportunity for CNN, which has nothing to lose.
It could double down on antagonizing Trump and conservatives and maintain its credentials with the left, or it can come back to reality and treat the former president and his millions of supporters with some respect.
If the network invited Trump back frequently and dropped its tired “insurrection” and contrived racism talking points, it would benefit greatly.
Collins and her ilk would have to shed their old narratives and learn to behave like journalists.
But a pivot could bring CNN back to relevancy and keep its hosts getting paid.
After all, companies are in the business of making money.
CNN CEO Chris Licht needs to decide if his sinking ship wants to float or if the network now exists to placate the loudest voices in the Democratic Party.
WATCH: Most Incredible Moment of Trump’s CNN Town Hall Appearance Was When Cameras Stopped Rolling
