After plenty of sound and fury surrounding the debut of Piers Morgan Tonight on CNN, the ratings are telling a story that’s both better (and worse) than what you may have previously heard.
If you saw the initial news stories touting Morgan drawing more than 2.1 million viewers for his interview with Oprah Winfrey, then the host’s current performance is disappointing. Morgan’s recent nightly average is down about 67 percent from his highly publicized debut.
But if you’ve seen reports saying the Brit is doing worse than his predecessor, Larry King, well, that’s no longer right either…
Though a couple of Morgan’s performances have ranked below the ex-CNN chat host’s average, the past four shows have, overall, averaged 663,000 viewers — nearly identical to King’s fourth quarter performance.
Among adults 25-54 — the news nets’ preferred demo — he’s actually up a bit, averaging 200,000 to King’s 170,000.
Talk shows are marathons, not sprints, etc., but the very earliest conclusion we can make is that CNN viewership in Morgan’s time slot has matched what it was before he took over, which isn’t a terrible starting point for Morgan to potentially grow an audience.
Read more:
Madonna isn’t the only famous person Piers Morgan has barred from his new CNN show. Who else is on the blacklist?
Piers Morgan’s six reasons to watch his new CNN show: He’ll be unpredictable, have global impact, make Simon Cowell cry
Pliers is awesome. A true professional, from Canada. Xx
I personally believe that the interviews are solid. If they weren’t I wouldn’t be watching. I say keep up the good work and the ratings will come.
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Piers I think you are great. I loved Larry king. But think you can be more Intertaining and funny as well as being a Great Interviewer like Larry.
from canada
I never tuned in to Larry King but always flip to Piers to see what his show is up to. Love it! (from Canada too!)
The man is good and very clever in his interview.Criticism is always easier than doing better. Leave the man alone he is doing an excellent and entertaining job
Pleased to see am in preferred demo(so rare these days). Never watched King – gave me major willies (too Cryptkeeper) but watch Morgan most nights. Great addition!
Here here, he is doing great, give the man a break.He will prove his detractors wrong. Remenber cream always rises!
We in London are SO pleased to have exported him to the States. He had WAY out-stayed his welcome here. He’ll appeal to the simpler American mind.
Re: Piers Morgan.
WHO IN THEIR RIGHT MIND offered this man Larry’s Crown? Nobody I know here in U.K. and world wide refuse to watch the show again. PM is self opinionated, arrogant beyond belief and so unpopular. You made a HUGE mistake in giving this man the role. He is such a turn off, show off and a bore. Despite the stars that he claims are waiting begging in the wings. You should fill the place with homegrown talent. CNN you have made a big mistake.
Patsy
You obviously don’t have a sense of humour and obviously don’t understand Piers.
Americans unlike the British see the big picture and fill positions based on credit rather where the person is from.
Piers is clever and smart in his interviews, and really knows how to set up easier questions leading to difficult ones. If his ratings are down, that is because the American audience lacks education and IQ to appreciate a solid interviewer.
Larry King was awful,not prepared and ask stupid questions, Piers asks great questions, loved the interview with Joel Osteen.
Though I believe Piers Morgan needs alot more to surpass the King, he is a doing an excellent job and as he goes the ratings will come with him! By the way, his the King of Twitter!!!
It’s nice to see that Piers Morgan’s publicity team is logging on with different screen names to write good things about him.
Get a life.
America was blessed with Sir David Frost, now it is cursed with this twit.
What does it say about Piers as an interviewer who takes over by naming individuals who will be banned? God has spoken from on high…and is naming names. Boring. Sounds like a petulant child who doesn’t want to play with the other kids. I won’t be watching. CNN has made a very poor choice. Haven’t we had enough of self-absorbed egos?