TV Ratings: CNN's Cuomo Tanks With Women

What? Me Worry?

CNN anchor Chris Cuomo's viewership among women experienced a sharp decline last week after a New York State Attorney General's report that found his brother, the outgoing governor of New York, sexually harassed at least 11 women.

The Wrap reports “Cuomo Prime Time” averaged 453,000 total female viewers, of whom just 76,000 were in the advertiser-coveted age demographic of 25 to 54, according to Nielsen Media Research ratings data. (Cuomo was off Friday.)

In total female viewers, that’s a 21% decrease from his second-quarter average of 570,000 and in the demo, it’s a 41% decrease from his second-quarter average of 128,000. Year-to-date, total average female viewership was down last week by 45% and was down in the demo 61%. Compared to the same four days last year, “Cuomo Prime Time” was down 48% in average female viewers, falling from 878,000, and was down 64% in demo-age female viewers, falling from 213,000.

Cuomo last appeared on the network on Thursday and he did not mention at any point last week the accusations against his brother Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D), who announced his resignation Tuesday. 

“Every year I take my birthday week off. I’m looking forward to it,” he said. "I’ll be fishing, I’ll be hanging out with you and I’ll be making memories with the kids.”

Chris Cuomo was mentioned in the attorney general's report, which stated that the anchor sent his brother an email in which he proposed lines that were eventually included in a late February statement to respond to allegations that were made against him last winter.

When news of his collaboration with his brother first came to light through media reports, Chris Cuomo apologized and said it wouldn't happen again.   

Several media critics have said Cuomo's contacts with his brother during the early days of the scandal raise serious journalistic ethics questions and some have called for the network to launch an investigation into the incident.