CNN town hall with de Blasio, Bullock marks ratings low for network

CNN’s town hall featuring 2020 Democratic presidential candidates Montana Gov. Steve BullockSteve BullockNew poll finds Biden, Warren in virtual tie in Iowa Gabbard drives coverage in push to qualify for October debate Partisan divisions sharpen as independent voters fade MORE and New York City Mayor Bill de BlasioBill de BlasioPatagonia says to shut stores for a few hours during Global Climate Strike Nearly 60 US mayors pen op-ed backing Buttigieg's 2020 bid Gabbard drives coverage in push to qualify for October debate MORE on Sunday night registered just 402,000 total viewers, including 82,000 in the coveted 25-54 demographic, according to early Nielsen Media Research.

The Bullock-de Blasio event marked an all-time ratings low for town hall events on the network in 2019. Viewership was down 25 percent overall and 38 percent in the younger demographic compared to CNN's 2019 average for Sundays from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

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Fox News finished first during that time slot, averaging 873,000 total viewers. MSNBC was second, with 664,000 viewers to CNN's 402,000. 

 

In the key 25-54 demographic, Fox News took in 121,000 in the category, followed by MSNBC with 84,000 and CNN with 82,000. 

De Blasio, who is struggling in the polls, averaging just 0.5 percent in the RealClearPolitics (RCP) average, appeared on Fox's "Hannity" for an extended interview on Aug. 7, which delivered 3.3. million total viewers and 546,000 in the younger demographic. 

 

Bullock is averaging just 0.7 percent in the RCP index. 

 

CNN's highest-rated town hall among the Democratic field was one featuring Sen. Kamala HarrisKamala Devi HarrisTwo former Congressional Black Caucus chairmen back Biden Strippers, 'Hustlers' and the Democratic debates 2020 Dems honor Emily Clyburn MORE (D-Calif.), which delivered nearly 1.9 million viewers back in January shortly after she announced her candidacy.