CNN’s primetime lineup struggled to attract viewers last week, falling behind several cable networks, including the Food Network.

The network ranked 17th in primetime ratings during a busy news cycle, which included the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, developments surrounding President-elect Donald Trump’s Cabinet picks, Joe Biden’s controversial pardon of his son Hunter, and international news from Syria.

CNN just lost in the ratings to…Food Network!! The news outlet finished in 17th place among all cable stations last week in primetime.

It wasn’t like it was a slow news cycle either. There was the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, the manhunt for the killer, the… pic.twitter.com/pPXiU2Xi7I

— Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) December 11, 2024

Celebrate Trump's Historic 2024 Victory with the Exclusive Trump 47th President Collection!

From December 2 to December 8, CNN’s primetime shows—Anderson Cooper 360, The Source with Kaitlan Collins, and CNN NewsNight with Abby Phillip—averaged just 367,000 total viewers during the 8-11 p.m. timeslot.

This pales in comparison to Fox News Channel, which drew an average of 2.5 million total viewers in the same period.

Despite covering high-profile stories, CNN’s audience numbers were eclipsed by networks such as TNT, Food Network, Discovery, Freeform, HGTV, and the Hallmark Channel.

OMG! CNN and MSNBC ratings have lost out to Hallmark. Hallmark has more viewers than CNN or MSNBC.
pic.twitter.com/wWehMvTSJv

— Juanita Broaddrick (@atensnut) November 24, 2024

In the key demographic of adults aged 25-54, which advertisers prioritize, CNN fared even worse.

The network finished 26th among cable channels, averaging only 67,000 viewers in the coveted demo.

By comparison, Fox News dominated with 280,000 viewers in the same age group.

Even channels such as TV Land, MTV, Comedy Central, and Nick at Nite surpassed CNN’s primetime audience in the key demographic.

CNN’s ratings woes come on the heels of its worst weekly performance in over two decades.

During the week of November 25, CNN averaged just 268,000 total viewers—the network’s lowest rating since June 2001. In contrast, Fox News averaged 1.4 million viewers during that same week.

The network’s struggles have led to questions about its programming strategy and ability to compete in an increasingly crowded media landscape.

As ratings crater, CNN is set to ‘axe top stars in layoffs that’ll see hundreds fired’ per Daily Mail.

Here, CNN’s Brian Stelter and Abby Phillip explain to viewers that tanking public trust in media isn’t the fault of the media —

— it’s the fault of Americans believing lies… pic.twitter.com/X3zVxTfjUm

— Western Lensman (@WesternLensman) November 12, 2024

Critics have pointed to a lack of compelling content and diminished trust among viewers as contributing factors.

Adding to CNN’s challenges, the network is facing a defamation lawsuit from a U.S. Navy veteran.

The lawsuit stems from a 2021 segment aired on The Lead with Jake Tapper, which the veteran claims damaged his reputation and business.

The case is set to go to trial next month, potentially adding further strain to CNN’s operations.

CNN’s primetime performance continues to lag significantly behind its competitors, particularly Fox News, which remains a ratings powerhouse.

The network faces mounting pressure to revamp its programming and regain audience trust as it navigates legal challenges and declining viewership.

Whether CNN can reverse its fortunes in the competitive cable news market remains to be seen.

The opinions expressed by contributors and/or content partners are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of LifeZette. Contact us for guidelines on submitting your own commentary.