CNN: Have Democrats gone too far to the left?

[Shogun]

In 2017, MSNBC had its best year ever, increasing its prime-time viewing by 550,000 viewers compared with the previous year. In 2017, MSNBC was the third-most-watched cable network in prime time. In the first quarter of 2018, MSNBC was the second-most-watched cable network in both prime time and broadcast day. CNN also ranks in the top 10 with audience delivery among cable networks.

Traditional television is facing competition from streaming video, social media and other platforms, so you can expect television to be all-in on all things Trump for the foreseeable future because that's where the viewers are.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/gradso...in-forces-to-create-opportunity/#463e73067758

Fox News finished 2017 as the most-watched cable network in all of TV for the second consecutive year, with an average of 1.5 million viewers, up 8% over last year. MSNBC finished third among all cable competition with 890,000 viewers, up 48% to a new high, while CNN finished sixth with 783,000, up 4%.

Most impressively, all three news networks improved on the record viewing levels achieved in 2016, a year bolstered by an epic presidential election campaign. Cable news channels traditionally expect an audience decline following an election year, but the unpredictability of the Trump White House generated interest, passion and anger that kept audiences tuned in throughout 2017.

“The polarization of the Trump administration has turned people who might not have followed the news quite as deeply or quite as long into news junkies,” said former CNN President Jon Klein, who is now chief executive at online video company TAPP Media. “You can’t outdo the Trump era for drama. The real world is now delivering what every screenwriter can only hope to deliver.”

The addictive don’t-blink-or-you’ll-miss-something narrative of the Trump White House was powerful enough to pull viewers away from the general entertainment cable networks.

Most of top cable entertainment networks — including USA Network, TNT, TBS, AMC, FX, Freeform, Lifetime, Spike and SyFy — saw their audiences decline compared with last year, according to Nielsen data.

“Everybody was massively surprised at the strength of news ratings this year,” said Howard Shimmel, chief researcher for Turner, the Time Warner division that operates TBS, TNT and CNN.

“Based on the norms of every other post-election year there should have been a decline of 15% or 20%,” he said. “It’s no doubt that for some demographics news is almost original reality programming and its popularity is eroding other genres. We’ve never lived through the times that we’re currently living through.”

MSNBC gained ground by serving as the home for viewers dedicated to resisting Trump’s policies, led by its progressive prime-time star Rachel Maddow. The NBCUniversal-owned channel saw a staggering 51% year-to-year audience increase in prime time, lifting the average to 1.6 million viewers.

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[Dr. Acula]

MSNBC for the first time placing first in ratings because of Trump. You think the owners disagree with Trump or just see their product doing really well because of Trump?

Trump is a God send for those of all political stripes whose first concern is money. For corporate Democrats he is great because he brings in donations from people upset with him. Doesn't mean they're going to make any noticeable challenges to the status quo.

I'd be willing to bet that, in the back rooms, no major media news outlet is anti-Trump. He's a cash cow for them in every way.

 

[Shogun]

MSNBC for the first time placing first in ratings because of Trump. You think the owners disagree with Trump or just see their product doing really well because of Trump?

Trump is a God send for those of all political stripes whose first concern is money. For corporate Democrats he is great because he brings in donations from people upset with him. Doesn't mean they're going to make any noticeable challenges to the status quo.

I have no idea what any of their personal politics are...from anchors to owners. I certainly don't pretend I know because of the character they play on TV. The only thing I do know, objectively, is that they're in the business of getting high ratings and, very specifically because of Trump, ratings are good.

The overwhelming trend in mass electoral politics is that people vote based on their personal economic interests (or what they think are their interests).

Maybe your favorite cable news anchor is the exception, but it's unlikely.

 

[Harry B]

The Democrats are obviously moving to the left in these day and age of widespread populism, I'm even shocked that there isn't more far left thing going on out here to counterbalance the far right. If it's too far is a subjective question. It's often been said that the left in the US has still been more right than the right of European nations. Which is not the case anymore in a general sense.

Personally I believe that you need to steer slowly when you have a huge ship, it's easier to manage, more realistic changed will take place and people will agree after shorter time.

 

[Jhoon]

The Democrats are obviously moving to the left in these day and age of widespread populism, I'm even shocked that there isn't more far left thing going on out here to counterbalance the far right. If it's too far is a subjective question. It's often been said that the left in the US has still been more right than the right of European nations. Which is not the case anymore in a general sense.

Personally I believe that you need to steer slowly when you have a huge ship, it's easier to manage, more realistic changed will take place and people will agree after shorter time.

More pragmatist progressivism?

 

[Harry B]

More pragmatist progressivism?

Not saying that it's the right way, It's just what I believe is the best strategy when you have a huge decentralized and "free" country. To move quicker with such a huge nation we would need Communist Party of China type of powers. But then again, I might be completely wrong

 

[Jhoon]

Not saying that it's the right way, It's just what I believe is the best strategy when you have a huge decentralized and "free" country. To move quicker with such a huge nation we would need Communist Party of China type of powers. But then again, I might be completely wrong

Yeah. Maybe you are.

 

[Fenian]

Democrats as they are aren’t even left wing to begin with so no they aren’t too far left at all.


America has a centre right party and a crazy far right party currently being led by a retarded fascist. Whole political landscape over there is a fukking mess.

 

[feelosofer]

No. The Democrats are a centrist party at best. The party doesn't want to move too far to left because a lot of them are in the pockets of large corporations and banks and too far a removal from the status quo would affect their bank accounts.

 

[Secure Da Bag]

Whether you vote Establishment Democrat or Progressive in the House or Senate, you're gonna have to demand that the Democrats move farther to the Left. You can't just vote and leave them be anymore.

 

[NkrumahWasRight Is Wrong]

Whether you vote Establishment Democrat or Progressive in the House or Senate, you're gonna have to demand that the Democrats move farther to the Left. You can't just vote and leave them be anymore.

People will get complacent as soon as Trump is gone

 

[Secure Da Bag]

People will get complacent as soon as Trump is gone

That means people didn't learn their lesson. That means people want some terrible shyt to happen to them. No avoiding that at this point. We've had two blatant periods of racism within 60 years. There's no need reason for us to be complacent aka stupid at this point.

 

[NkrumahWasRight Is Wrong]

That means people didn't learn their lesson. That means people want some terrible shyt to happen to them. No avoiding that at this point. We've had two blatant periods of racism within 60 years. There's no need reason for us to be complacent aka stupid at this point.

Then the democrats need to start promoting their platform more and more rather than focusing on trump. Talking and tweeting about Trump all day and night isn't a recipe for long term success

 

[THE MACHINE]

Then the democrats need to start promoting their platform more and more rather than focusing on trump. Talking and tweeting about Trump all day and night isn't a recipe for long term success

Sure isn't. Dems just don't realize that the party will accept whatever they promote as their platform, but the farther left they go the more the voters will be inspired. You want more voters, go farther left. Nothing else will excite new voters.

 

[NkrumahWasRight Is Wrong]

Sure isn't. Dems just don't realize that the party will accept whatever they promote as their platform, but the farther left they go the more the voters will be inspired. You want more voters, go farther left. Nothing else will excite new voters.

Yeah

For instance, people like Lieu and Schiff and want them to potentially run in 2020 but what have they done other than go hard at Trump? What do they actually believe in? Someone enlighten me