CNN Attracts Younger Demos With Original Series

Mike Rowe

As CNN continues to experiment with ways to boost its primetime ratings, the net has accomplished one objective: getting younger.

According to Nielsen data for 2014 released Tuesday, the median age of an average CNN viewer during primetime fell to 58 from 60 in 2013 — matching 2008 as the network’s youngest-skewing year since at least 1992.

At the same time, Fox News Channel held steady at a median age of 68 and MSNBC skewed slightly older this year (61 vs. 60 last year).

Variety reports CNN had skewed older in primetime than both MSNBC and Fox News until 2005, and this marks the first time that the Turner network is younger than both of its rivals.

Given the aging population of television viewers, any decline in median age is noteworthy. And of course, it could reap dividends to CNN when selling ad time, which is based primarily on viewership among those in the key news demo of 25 and 54.

Key to the declining median age in primetime for CNN has been its increased emphasis on original series, including “This is Life with Lisa Ling,” Mike Rowe’s “Somebody’s Gotta Do It” (pictured), “The Hunt with John Walsh” and “Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown.”