CNN is going down ( conspiracy )

submitted by ReddittRefugee

In the ratings charts, anyways:

http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2017-07-06/cnns-rating-collapse-prime-time-shows-draw-less-viewers-re-runs-yogi-bear

are they going to crash & burn?

Well, ratings are what keep a TV network alive. CNN can look like idiots and have all the rest of the MSM try to cover for them, but ratings declines hit them in the wallet. Rates advertizers are willing to pay are directly proportional to ratings levels, and shareholders care about income, not image.

The parent company of CNN, Time-Warner, is up for sale, and the prime bidder AT&T is getting restless:

http://nypost.com/2017/06/28/cnn-boss-in-crosshairs-if-att-time-warner-merger-approved/

and the shareholders are outright pissed off:

http://dailycaller.com/2017/06/15/time-warner-shareholders-rebuke-cnns-jeff-bewkes-for-networks-trump-bashing/

Don't be surprized if CNN ceases to exist in its present form if AT&T gets approval to go ahead with the purchase. ATT&T shareholders would be right to hold their board of directors responsible if they don't "do something" about the CNN millstone around Time-Warner's neck . . .

ditch-digger

John Stankey

CEO – AT&T Entertainment Group

John Stankey, CEO – AT&T Entertainment Group, leads strategy, marketing and operations for AT&T’s consumer entertainment offerings including its video offerings and content development, its mobility and high-speed Internet products, plus its advertising business.

John previously served as Chief Strategy Officer, where he led the company’s corporate strategy, M&A, and business development initiatives.

Before that, John served as President and CEO of AT&T Business Solutions, where he was responsible for serving AT&T's business customers worldwide and all of AT&T’s shared services including capital planning, engineering, network operations, information technology, supply chain and corporate real estate.

In his three-decade career, John also has served as President and Chief Executive Officer of AT&T Operations, Inc. and as Group President-Telecom Operations, where he was responsible for the company's former five regional telecom units. His responsibilities also have included Chief Technology Officer, Chief Information Officer, President and CEO of AT&T's Southwest Region, and President of Industry Markets.

John is on the Board of Advisors at the Anderson Graduate School of Management at UCLA. He also serves on the board of directors of UPS.

A native of California, John earned a bachelor's degree in finance from Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles in 1985 and a master's degree in business administration from UCLA in 1991.

How much do you really think it will change?

ReddittRefugee

You're right. I think the company entertainment insiders would like to cover for CNN, but if this rises to the board of directors level, guys like Stankey won't be able to do anything to prevent the overhaul.

ditch-digger

Inside of a major buy like this John would be in the middle of it. He's probably watching reports and seeing how it goes. I've been reading a couple of examples of how the guy operates as he's in charge of direct TV I'm guessing that he's either happy that viacom is taking a dip and will be easier to buy, or is discouraged because he would not be able to recover the damage to the brand. Who knows.

ratsmack

You can bet that there is a lot of discussion going on behind closed doors on this. I don't believe they will fire Zucker right away because that would just inflame an already bad situation. But if the race toward the bottom accelerates, they won't have any choice but to step in and make some adjustments.