CNN the new HLN?

[seatownmedia]

Yes, they are owned by the same company. But while HLN covers the George Floyd trial during daytime, they revert to old programming during the evening and night, mostly “Forensic Files”. Now CNN has made this trial their main story and are spending about 60 to 70 percent of their airtime on this. For example AC360, Cooper this evening spent the entire first half hour on the case. Fox spends about 5 percent in comparison. I find this interesting and wonder if it is a political move or a ratings ploy. Perhaps both?

 

[KeithE4]

It's CNN, therefore it's a political move by definition. They threw away any pretense to objectivity at least a decade ago.

I would watch a Twin Cities news source for coverage of this trial before I'd watch any newscast, broadcast or cable, that is based on the East Coast.

 

[seatownmedia]

It seems to me that CNN’s game plan for the last couple of years is to gear down on one or two major stories and ignore everything else, with perhaps a 60 second rundown of other news at the end of the hour. I guess if that works for them, more power to them. Frustrating for this viewer.

 

[TheBigA]

I find this interesting and wonder if it is a political move or a ratings ploy. Perhaps both?

My take is it's this generation's OJ trial. The public is fascinated by trials, they're cheap and easy to cover, and it fills a lot of airtime. And according to the NY Times, it is leading to strong ratings for CNN:

Nielsen data shows strong viewer interest in the Derek Chauvin trial. (Published 2021)

An audience of 3.7 million watched a former supervisor of Mr. Chauvin’s testify last week on CNN, MSNBC and HLN.

www.nytimes.com

It seems to me that CNN’s game plan for the last couple of years is to gear down on one or two major stories and ignore everything else,

I agree. But that's been the game plan for all three of the news channels. They're taking a page from the music radio playbook, that smaller playlists get better ratings.

 

[seatownmedia]

Yes, but I flip around a lot and Fox doesn’t really do this. They tend to cover about five times more stories. But I don’t align politically with them.

 

[TheBigA]

Yes, but I flip around a lot and Fox doesn’t really do this. They tend to cover about five times more stories. But I don’t align politically with them.

They spend most of their time talking about the border situation and Georgia voting law. MSNBC covers one or two more stories than Fox. But neither of them cover as many stories as Sheppard Smith on CNBC. He is the only one I've seen (other than Newsy or Cheddar) who cover the news in the traditional way.

As I said, narrowing the focus on one or two stories seems to be working for CNN, because when they do it, they beat Fox.

 

[Mikey Radio]

If HLN (formerly CNN Headline News) has no plans to report news headlines and stories except for a few short hours in the early mornings, they should perhaps rebrand the channel. HLN has morphed into something very different than it was when it was "Headline News", in much the same way MTV started out as true "Music Television" with music videos at all times, same as VH-1 (Video Hits-1) and I don't think I've seen a music video shown on either channel in decades.

 

[TheBigA]

If HLN (formerly CNN Headline News) has no plans to report news headlines and stories except for a few short hours in the early mornings, they should perhaps rebrand the channel.

I hate to point this out but there are a bunch of cable channels in need of rebranding. Consider the Travel Network. which really should be renamed The Paranormal Channel.

 

[Don CT]

It seems to me that CNN’s game plan for the last couple of years is to gear down on one or two major stories and ignore everything else, with perhaps a 60 second rundown of other news at the end of the hour. I guess if that works for them, more power to them. Frustrating for this viewer.

Have you been watching Fox News lately? It's border crisis all the time.

 

[Y2kTheNewOldies]

It seems to me that CNN’s game plan for the last couple of years is to gear down on one or two major stories and ignore everything else, with perhaps a 60 second rundown of other news at the end of the hour. I guess if that works for them, more power to them. Frustrating for this viewer.

There's your local news, CBSN, BBC News and Al-Jazeera if you want to listen to stories that CNN, Fox News, MSNBC, Newsmax and OAN won't cover because they have to please a certain audience (most specifically the politically interested) as their niche.

 

[AbrahamJSimpson]

If HLN (formerly CNN Headline News) has no plans to report news headlines and stories except for a few short hours in the early mornings, they should perhaps rebrand the channel. HLN has morphed into something very different than it was when it was "Headline News", in much the same way MTV started out as true "Music Television" with music videos at all times, same as VH-1 (Video Hits-1) and I don't think I've seen a music video shown on either channel in decades.

ClearLh thus far it’s not been an issue, as many people aren’t so hung up on ”what used to be.”

 

[Will_H_69_9]

My take is it's this generation's OJ trial. The public is fascinated by trials, they're cheap and easy to cover, and it fills a lot of airtime. And according to the NY Times, it is leading to strong ratings for CNN:

Nielsen data shows strong viewer interest in the Derek Chauvin trial. (Published 2021)

An audience of 3.7 million watched a former supervisor of Mr. Chauvin’s testify last week on CNN, MSNBC and HLN.

www.nytimes.com

I agree. But that's been the game plan for all three of the news channels. They're taking a page from the music radio playbook, that smaller playlists get better ratings.

not only is it this generation's OJ, it's also this generation's Rodney King as well as Rodney King getting violently assaulted by cops and it being caught on camera caused violent and destructive riots that lasted for days. i bet more riots break out if the outcome of the trail is not the outcome the black community or social justice warriors wanted to see.

 

[drt]

There's your local news, CBSN, BBC News and Al-Jazeera if you want to listen to stories that CNN, Fox News, MSNBC, Newsmax and OAN won't cover because they have to please a certain audience (most specifically the politically interested) as their niche.

Just my personal preference, but I've been watching CNN less and less and BBC World News more often and for the most part in the St.Petersburg/Sarasota/Tampa market, local news has a lot more fluff and promotions for whatever shows that particular station is airing that night and less real news.

 

[Megatron]

Court TV is covering the trial I just get the highlights from Vinnie Politan as I'm not crazy about trials. I know HLN use to air trials a decade ago but they stopped airing trials, Jody killing her BF was the last until now. I know Warner media sold Court TV's name to Kratz Network which Scripps owns. HLN has needed a name change for years now.

 

[Mr Tony]

i bet more riots break out if the outcome of the trail is not the outcome the black community or social justice warriors wanted to see.

regardless of the outcome there will be riots.

 

[Y2kTheNewOldies]

not only is it this generation's OJ, it's also this generation's Rodney King as well as Rodney King getting violently assaulted by cops and it being caught on camera caused violent and destructive riots that lasted for days. i bet more riots break out if the outcome of the trail is not the outcome the black community or social justice warriors wanted to see.

Protesters Clash With Police In Brooklyn Center After Deadly Officer-Involved Shooting

Brooklyn Center police say an officer fatally shot a man Sunday during a traffic stop, leading to clashes between protesters and law enforcement in the midst of the Derek Chauvin trial in neighboring Minneapolis.

minnesota.cbslocal.com

Minnesota Just got hit with another allegation of Police Brutality and its more escalated given that this other person killed by police. Minnesota is confronting the same issues that sparked distrust against the LAPD 3 decades ago.

 

[Don CT]

Red Sox/Twins game postponed.

 

[Y2kTheNewOldies]

not only is it this generation's OJ, it's also this generation's Rodney King as well as Rodney King getting violently assaulted by cops and it being caught on camera caused violent and destructive riots that lasted for days. i bet more riots break out if the outcome of the trail is not the outcome the black community or social justice warriors wanted to see.

Its Crazier than we think we have to look back at Rodney King 3 decades ago.

The officer who fatally shot Daunte Wright just resigned, as did the chief of police. (Published 2021)

In a letter sent to city officials on Tuesday, Officer Kim Potter said she was resigning immediately, her union said.

www.nytimes.com

 

[seatownmedia]

Tonight I am watching CNN as they breathessly wait for violence in Minnesota. As it didn’t really happen you see them slowly retreat. I am certain they were hoping for violence. This is what is what is wrong with CNN today. Very little objectivity and pursuit of chaos, IMO. I never thought I would say this, but CNN has stepped over the line for this viewer. I think they actually may be encouraging unrest.

 

[TheBigA]

This is what is what is wrong with CNN today. Very little objectivity and pursuit of chaos, IMO.

I don't see that as a recent thing. I recall Anderson Cooper's coverage of Katrina, the Baghdad bombing, or some of their other disaster coverage, and there is a certain kind of energy that comes from covering a live news event. It doesn't hurt that CNN tends to benefit from these kinds of things in the ratings. People who don't watch news regularly tend to tune to CNN first when a disaster happens. So that's what's on their minds. One other reporter observed that there were more media people there than demonstrators. That's a sign that local police have things under control, and maybe it's time for the media to head back to the hotel.