If you follow our regular cable news ratings posts, you know very well about CNN's ratings woes. That being the case, CNN's Jonathan Klein would rather worry about Facebook and Twitter instead.
CNN is more concerned about competition from social networks than other cable news networks, CNN U.S. president Jonathan Klein said here Wednesday.
""The competition I'm really afraid of are social networking sites," he said in a keynote interview at Bloomberg BusinessWeek's Media Summit New York. They provide "an alternative that threatens to pull people away from us."
After all, Facebook friends and Twitter members are "trusted news sources," Klein explained.[...]
Asked whether it bothers him that CNN came in third in U.S. ratings last year, Klein said those rankings are based on prime time figures, but he likes to take a broader view across day parts. For example, he argued that CNN drew 100 million viewers for all of February, which was ahead of Fox News' 91 million. CNN sells the overall reach of the network rather than one show or day part, he added.
Klein did acknowledge though that Fox News' viewers stay longer, and "we would like ours to stay longer."
via Hollywood Reporter.
I don’t think I’ll ever understand the point of Twitter
I don’t think I’ll ever understand the point of Twitter
Facebook and Twitter arent going to pay the bills. What difference does reach make if people arent watching long enough to see ads that pay the bills? CNN can only run on its legacy for only so long before advertisers decide they are wasting money.
Klein is basically putting lipstick on a pig. What else can he do? Well he could change CNNs programming but he isnt going to do that as George Soros would get very angry at him.
Facebook and Twitter arent going to pay the bills. What difference does reach make if people arent watching long enough to see ads that pay the bills? CNN can only run on its legacy for only so long before advertisers decide they are wasting money.
Klein is basically putting lipstick on a pig. What else can he do? Well he could change CNNs programming but he isnt going to do that as George Soros would get very angry at him.
CNN just doesn’t have the talent. From 5pm until 11pm, Fox News has talk show hosts who editorialize and give very strong opinions that resonate with many Americans (whether you agree with those opinions or not). CNN has Larry King who should have been put out to pasture years ago. Sometimes I think he isn’t even paying attention to who he’s interviewing.
When a catastrophe like the Haiti Earthquake occurs I turn to CNN for real news. I still think CNN’s web of reporters around the globe and their ability to gain access to newsworthy people dwarfs Fox. The problem is that in 45 minutes I can watch all the real news of the day on CNN and then turn to Fox for entertainment. Why watch Wolf Blitzer’s monotone delivery of the same news stories, when I can watch Glenn Beck cry and accuse Obama of being a Communist.
CNN just doesn’t have the talent. From 5pm until 11pm, Fox News has talk show hosts who editorialize and give very strong opinions that resonate with many Americans (whether you agree with those opinions or not). CNN has Larry King who should have been put out to pasture years ago. Sometimes I think he isn’t even paying attention to who he’s interviewing.
When a catastrophe like the Haiti Earthquake occurs I turn to CNN for real news. I still think CNN’s web of reporters around the globe and their ability to gain access to newsworthy people dwarfs Fox. The problem is that in 45 minutes I can watch all the real news of the day on CNN and then turn to Fox for entertainment. Why watch Wolf Blitzer’s monotone delivery of the same news stories, when I can watch Glenn Beck cry and accuse Obama of being a Communist.
Wolf- you have it right. Social media is not economically viable yet as a reliable revenue generator, and it may never be. At best, it is marketing, brand reinforcement, a driver to their web and TV channels, and perhaps customer retention; along with the digital equivalent of a “fan club” for on-air talent.
Klien is a moron trying to put a positive spin on his declining brand, and for citing social media as a “trusted news source.” I guess he thinks Wikipedia is 100% accurate as well. If Facebook and Twitter are “reliable news sources,” then I weep for this nation and the future of civilization.
Wolf- you have it right. Social media is not economically viable yet as a reliable revenue generator, and it may never be. At best, it is marketing, brand reinforcement, a driver to their web and TV channels, and perhaps customer retention; along with the digital equivalent of a “fan club” for on-air talent.
Klien is a moron trying to put a positive spin on his declining brand, and for citing social media as a “trusted news source.” I guess he thinks Wikipedia is 100% accurate as well. If Facebook and Twitter are “reliable news sources,” then I weep for this nation and the future of civilization.
@Carl – you should check out the Cable news posts (http://tvbythenumbers.com/2010/03/09/cable-news-ratings-for-monday-march-8-2010/44432#more-44432). Larry King is still the highest rated thing CNN’s got (by a pretty decent margin)
As for real news and people tuning into CNN that’s true but here’s something to consider: There aren’t any ads during those times. News stations can’t cut away from breaking news and go to commercial. So it’s a nice bragging point but not worth much.
@Carl – you should check out the Cable news posts (http://tvbythenumbers.com/2010/03/09/cable-news-ratings-for-monday-march-8-2010/44432#more-44432). Larry King is still the highest rated thing CNN’s got (by a pretty decent margin)
As for real news and people tuning into CNN that’s true but here’s something to consider: There aren’t any ads during those times. News stations can’t cut away from breaking news and go to commercial. So it’s a nice bragging point but not worth much.
@JPtheTVguy – “Klien is a moron trying to put a positive spin on his declining brand, and for citing social media as a “trusted news source.†I guess he thinks Wikipedia is 100% accurate as well. If Facebook and Twitter are “reliable news sources,†then I weep for this nation and the future of civilization.”
Actually he’s pretty smart you’re just smarter than the people he’s aiming at.
What he’s doing is trying to re-frame the debate as CNN vs. Social Networks because he can claim to beat social networks and no one can dispute that claim. For people who are dumb enough to think Twitter is the future of news (there are a lot of them) it’s a compelling argument and makes CNN look like a winner rather than a loser.
@JPtheTVguy – “Klien is a moron trying to put a positive spin on his declining brand, and for citing social media as a “trusted news source.” I guess he thinks Wikipedia is 100% accurate as well. If Facebook and Twitter are “reliable news sources,” then I weep for this nation and the future of civilization.”
Actually he’s pretty smart you’re just smarter than the people he’s aiming at.
What he’s doing is trying to re-frame the debate as CNN vs. Social Networks because he can claim to beat social networks and no one can dispute that claim. For people who are dumb enough to think Twitter is the future of news (there are a lot of them) it’s a compelling argument and makes CNN look like a winner rather than a loser.
Tom, I look at Klein’s PR in a slightly different way.
In TV ratings he is getting measurably, and publicly, beaten. But in his battle vs. “social media” there can be no definitive measured winners or losers, so he can’t lose!
Tom, I look at Klein’s PR in a slightly different way.
In TV ratings he is getting measurably, and publicly, beaten. But in his battle vs. “social media” there can be no definitive measured winners or losers, so he can’t lose!
Things CNN needs to get rid of ASAP to save their network:
-Obsession with Twitter and viewer commments on Twitter (it’s like “Talkback Live” 24/7)
-Rick Sanchez
-Wolf Blitzer (TERRIBLE journalist/host, just physically looks the part for gravitas. See any interview/hosting of his, plus Jeopardy appearance)
Things CNN needs to get rid of ASAP to save their network:
-Obsession with Twitter and viewer commments on Twitter (it’s like “Talkback Live” 24/7)
-Rick Sanchez
-Wolf Blitzer (TERRIBLE journalist/host, just physically looks the part for gravitas. See any interview/hosting of his, plus Jeopardy appearance)
@Tom, Larry King is still losing to Hannity by a 3 to 1 margin. While his numbers may be good for CNN it doesn’t seem very competitive in the market as a whole.
I do agree, the network isn’t gaining much during their ‘breaking news’ without selling advertising. But Im sure they spin those numbers when the ratings spike during those breaking news periods to bump up advertising fees for the rest of their programming. “Hey we had 5 million people tune in during the Haiti coverage between 2 and 5pm and half of them stuck around for Wolf Blitzer”
Klein’s logic is ridiculous though. Twitter isn’t any more newsworthy than this comment Im making through the internet. Its unfiltered, unverified crap. He seems ridiculous even making the comparison.
@Tom, Larry King is still losing to Hannity by a 3 to 1 margin. While his numbers may be good for CNN it doesn’t seem very competitive in the market as a whole.
I do agree, the network isn’t gaining much during their ‘breaking news’ without selling advertising. But Im sure they spin those numbers when the ratings spike during those breaking news periods to bump up advertising fees for the rest of their programming. “Hey we had 5 million people tune in during the Haiti coverage between 2 and 5pm and half of them stuck around for Wolf Blitzer”
Klein’s logic is ridiculous though. Twitter isn’t any more newsworthy than this comment Im making through the internet. Its unfiltered, unverified crap. He seems ridiculous even making the comparison.
Exactly, Bill.
By framing the debate the way he wants, in a venue where “success” is not precisely nor objectively measured, he can try to claim some victory. I wasn’t stating that Klien’s strategy was stupid- merely his quote about trust and the Internet (two words which should rarely be used together.
)
Klien further reveals his stupidity, however, in that between Fox/NewsCo’s ownership of several Social Media ventures and numerous Web sites and their ratings victories, Fox could easily out pace and outstrip any claim by CNN of owning the Twitter twits and Facebook farts.
Instead of worrying about losing viewers to Social Media, Klein should worry about losing viewers because his programming and talent are either too old, too tired, too dull, or too stupid (see: Rick Sanchez) to matter anymore.
Exactly, Bill.
By framing the debate the way he wants, in a venue where “success” is not precisely nor objectively measured, he can try to claim some victory. I wasn’t stating that Klien’s strategy was stupid- merely his quote about trust and the Internet (two words which should rarely be used together.
)
Klien further reveals his stupidity, however, in that between Fox/NewsCo’s ownership of several Social Media ventures and numerous Web sites and their ratings victories, Fox could easily out pace and outstrip any claim by CNN of owning the Twitter twits and Facebook farts.
Instead of worrying about losing viewers to Social Media, Klein should worry about losing viewers because his programming and talent are either too old, too tired, too dull, or too stupid (see: Rick Sanchez) to matter anymore.