Piers Morgan's CNN show receives lowest ratings in 21 years

Loss of target audience despite prime time slot.

By Helen Robb Published 29 June 2012

Piers Morgan has experienced low ratings despite advertising. Photo: Getty Images

Piers Morgan’s American talk show has brought in the lowest viewer ratings recorded on the CNN prime time slot in 21 years.

Morgan took over the 9pm slot from Larry King in January 2011, launching the show with a huge advertising campaign. The debut show received an audience of 2.1m viewers, which has since fallen by 25 per cent. More worrying for the UK television personality, the key audience of 25 to 54 year olds has fallen further. Having received an initial audience of 521,000 viewers, Morgan was watched by only 39,000 25-54 year olds in May, down 32 percent.

The show has hosted popular guests, with celebrities including Charlie Sheen and Glee's Jane Lynch, and political figures including the Dalai Lama. Morgan's shown runs for 60-minutes in a prime time slot.

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5 comments

Wed, 2012-07-04 09:24 — studiostu (not verified)

What a shame, I thought we'd got rid of him for good.

Sun, 2012-07-01 02:19 — Will H (not verified)

I agree with Red Meggie, I don't think Americans have grown to him over the past couple of years. Maybe the smug, self-indulgent style conflicts with what the viewers want? A lot of liberals may agree with his views and approach, but he less inclined to agree with or like him because of the way he conveys this.

Or perhaps it's because it's another foreigner taking an American's job under Obama? :P

Fri, 2012-06-29 21:54 — Red Meggie (not verified)

So good he said it twice.

Fri, 2012-06-29 21:51 — Red Meggie (not verified)

Whenever I have gone to the States my accent (even though Northern) has been enough to establsih an enormous amount of goodwill. This idiot is ruining it all!

Fri, 2012-06-29 21:50 — Red Meggie (not verified)

Whenever I have gone to the States my accent (even though Northern) has been enough to establsih an enormous amount of goodwill. This idiot is ruining it all!