CNN Tanks as Dem Debate Fails to Draw Viewers - Ratings Sink to New Low for 2019
News network viewing figures take nose dive
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CNN's Democratic primary debate on Tuesday has been the lowest-rated so far this election cycle, according to reports.
During the three-hour telecast, the network landed an average of 8.3 million views.
The figures marked a dip from its previous two-part debates in July, which saw 10.7 million viewers.
CNN's debate saw an almost 50-percent drop from the first debate hosted by NBC News back in June, which saw 15.3 million viewers.
Additionally, 449,000 viewers watched live streams on numerous platforms from The New York Times and CNN.
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The fourth debate featured 12 presidential candidates:
- Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts
- Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont
- South Bend, Ind
- Mayor Pete Buttigieg
- Sen. Kamala Harris of California
- Tech entrepreneur Andrew Yang
- Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey
- Former Rep. Beto O'Rourke of Texas
- Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesotaormer
- Julián Castro
- Rep. Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii
- Tom Steyer
During and after the debate, both CNN and The Times faced a torrent of criticism.
The hosting news outlets received backlash for not asking the 12 candidates about subjects, including Trump's trade war with China, Hong Kong protests, and the NBA controversy.
CNN Whistleblower Comes Forward, Says Network’s “Pumping Out Propaganda”
— Neon Nettle (@NeonNettle) October 15, 2019
READ MORE: https://t.co/ONsE3burIh
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Even the candidate slammed the debate hosts.
Cory Booker went after moderators of the debate, saying that a question about former Vice President Joe Biden and Ukraine was “offensive.”
“I just want to say, as a great New Jerseyan Yogi Berra said, I am having Déjà vu all over again. I’m having Déjà vu all over again first of all, because I saw this play in 2016’s election," Booker said.
"We are literally using Donald Trump’s lies, and the second issue we cover on this stage is elevating a lie and attacking a statesman,” he added.
Castro blasted the debate hosts for not asking questions about climate change.
But Gabbard had the most aggressive attack:
"The New York Times and CNN have also smeared veterans like myself for calling for an end to this regime-change war," she said, apparently gesturing toward the moderators.
"Just two days ago, The New York Times put out an article saying that I'm a Russian asset and an Assad apologist and all these different smears. This morning, a CNN commentator said on national television that I'm an asset of Russia -- completely despicable."
Neon Nettle reported in July that CNN has seen its ratings and credibility took a nosedive.
According to Forbes, CNN’s second-quarter viewership average was 18 percent lower than in 2018.
