OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.
When CNN named Kaitlin Collins to permanently take over a prime time slot once held by Chris Cuomo, network executives believed that she would be able to revitalize the timeslot.
But that hasn’t happened, and according to a Wednesday report, they’re not happy with the way things are going with their young star.
“The latest reporting from inside CNN, the basement-rated fake news outlet that will almost certainly be sold for parts within the next few years, suggests that the outlet’s leadership is not pleased with Kaitlan Collins, nor with the ratings of The Source,” which is the name of her show, Breitbart News’ John Nolte wrote in a column.
Nolte was referencing a RadarOnline.com report which quoted network insiders who are saying that six weeks into her new gig, Collins isn’t resonating with viewers, and her show is getting dismal ratings — which mirrors most of CNN’s programming.
The RadarOnline report added:
In the latest development to come as the already struggling network continues to reel from Chris Licht’s departure from CNN in June, the network’s newest bosses reportedly questioned why Licht promoted Collins to the coveted 9 PM primetime timeslot.
Other CNN insiders reportedly questioned how long Collins can remain in the 9 PM timeslot – particularly as the 31-year-old fledging star still struggles to grow her audience nearly two months into the new role.
“Kaitlin Collins will go down as Chris Licht’s original sin,” a veteran news source told Puck on Sunday. “She was the perfect high-visibility White House Correspondent for the Trump years and a rare American in coastal network media.”
“She is blameless. She was in the perfect job for her,” the industry insider noted further before pointing out how Licht allegedly was always “unable to recognize when an employee is doing what they were meant to do.”
Collins, 31, was promoted to her current position shortly after she moderated a town hall-style event featuring former President Donald Trump. RadarOnline noted that several CNN personalities were “pea green with jealousy” over the promotion.
Licht, the former CEO of the network, was fired just two days after Collins started her new gig.
Amy Entelis, Virginia Moseley, Eric Sherling, and David Leavy stepped in to assume leadership roles, forming a “four-pronged leadership structure” following Licht’s departure until a permanent successor is found.
“There’s a clash of philosophies about what makes for good television,” another CNN source told RadarOnline.com. “In Virginia’s opinion, it’s all about ‘breaking news,’ which is obviously one aspect of it.”
“But there are others: personality, performance, range,” the source added. “When there’s no final decision maker, it’s inevitable that there will be confusion.”
Puck added that The Source “has shown little substantive growth” since its launch in early June and that Collins “draws roughly a third of the audience that Rachel Maddow and Alex Wagner average on MSNBC.”
The outlet also noted that Collins barely garners one-fourth of the audience that legacy Fox News host Sean Hannity reaches.
For his part, Trump responded after the ratings came in for his mid-May town hall event.
The event was hosted live at a venue in New Hampshire, where the first GOP primary will be held early next year. Trump, so far, is the dominant frontrunner in the Republican field of declared and undeclared candidates.
Liberals and left-wing Democrats were angry at CNN for giving Trump air time, but by any measure, it was a ratings hit for the network, which regularly places third behind Fox News and MSNBC.
According to The Hill, the town hall drew in more than 3 million viewers, which was more than three times the normal viewership for the prime-time slot.
Trump, on the other hand, praised CNN on his Truth Social platform, writing: “People are criticizing CNN for giving me a Forum to tell the TRUTH. I believe it was a very smart thing that they did, with Sky High Ratings that they haven’t seen in a very long time. It was by far the biggest Show of the night, the week, and the month!”
