CNN last in TV news on cable

From yesterday's New York Times.

CNN, which created the all-news cable network almost 30 years ago, hit a new competitive low with its prime-time programs in October, with three of its four programs between 7 and 11 p.m. finishing fourth and last among the cable news networks.

It was the first time that the programs had ever performed that poorly against their news network competitors. October was also the third month in the last year that CNN as a network finished fourth behind the three other cable news networks in prime time with the audience that the networks rely on for advertising sales.

For the month, CNN averaged 202,000 viewers, ages 25 to 54. That was far behind the dominant leader, Fox, which averaged 689,000. But it also trailed MSNBC which had 250,000 viewers in that group and HLN, which had 221,000 viewers.

I've been forced to watch CNN in the mornings and sometimes in the afternoon over the past few months (that's the only cable news network I can get at work ... blech), and it's shocking how horribly bad that network has become. I've always enjoyed Kiran Chetry, but her move from FOXNews to CNN was a major mistake (Come back, Kiran! Come back!). And the likes of Rick Sanchez are beyond putrid. I've literally had to mute that guy on more than one occasion. It's almost painful.

And what's up with their endless series of "Being Black in America," or "Being Latino in America"? I mean, really.

Anyway, interesting numbers. My how the times have changed.