CNN took home $100 million more than anticipated this election year thanks to the network’s “fascination” with Donald Trump, according to respected NPR media correspondent David Folkenflik.
CNN has been widely criticized for what some describe as an unhealthy “obsession” with Trump, which can be traced back to the Republican primaries. The network routinely carried Trump rallies live and in full (while rarely extending the same courtesy to other candidates) and CNN continues to employ former Trump campaign operative Corey Lewandowski.
News: I'm told by two sources that CNN earned approx $100M above expected election year lift in TV & digital thanks to Trump fascination
— David Folkenflik (@davidfolkenflik) October 24, 2016
Renewed focus on CNN's performance and journalistic independence in light of proposed AT&T/Time Warner deal – My story coming up on NPR
— David Folkenflik (@davidfolkenflik) October 24, 2016
That fascination with Trump was apparently one shared by viewers as well as the network.
— David Folkenflik (@davidfolkenflik) October 24, 2016
CNN president Jeff Zucker is presumably pleased with the results. Zucker knows a thing or two about cashing in on Donald Trump. He was one of Trump’s biggest champions in his former post as president of NBC, the network that broadcast Trump’s hit reality show, The Apprentice.
Will Zucker get a bonus? https://t.co/GZAXWS4nYf
— Steven Dennis (@StevenTDennis) October 24, 2016
NBC is still struggling to deal with the fallout of its years of pampering Trump as a money-making television star. The network, for example, recently dragged its feet over whether or not to publish explosive years-old audio of Trump making lewd comments about women.
The footage was ultimately leaked to the Washington Post, and became one of the most talked about scandals of the entire campaign. Today show host Billy Bush, who was captured on the tape egging on Trump, was fired in the aftermath.
Earlier this month Zucker acknowledged in an appearance at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government that it was a “mistake” to air so many live Trump rallies. The financial ledgers, however, appear to say otherwise.
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