In the ever-evolving world of cable news, the conversation about bias and ratings has taken a high-profile turn.
John Malone, billionaire media mogul and part-owner of CNN through Warner Bros.
Discovery, didn’t hold back in a recent interview when discussing the network’s struggles.
He labeled CNN as “too political” and suggested that this approach has caused its ratings to slip.
Malone Reopens Old Critiques
The remarks came during a chat with Kara Swisher, a CNN contributor, on her podcast.
Malone revisited comments he first made in 2021 during the Warner Bros. and Discovery merger.
At that time, he told The New York Times that CNN wasn’t focused enough on hard journalism and was lagging behind competitors like Fox News.
Now, Malone’s critique has intensified.
He insists CNN’s heavily political coverage hampers its ability to compete not only with Fox but also with MSNBC.
Comparing CNN to Fox News
Swisher pointed out that Fox News is political as well.
Malone acknowledged it, but made a distinction: Fox doesn’t pretend to be purely journalistic.
“They hold themselves to be sometimes journalism, but a Sean Hannity openly admits he’s very biased,” Malone said.
He highlighted how entertainment blends with news on Fox, citing Greg Gutfeld as an example.
“Is it entertainment or is it news? I think it’s entertainment.
They try to be controversial and funny and keep an audience, not necessarily overwhelmingly factual.”
Data consistently shows that Fox News dominates CNN and MSNBC in ratings, with Adweek regularly tracking the network’s strong audience numbers.
Bias in Journalism
Swisher then asked Malone about CNN anchors and potential bias. Malone stressed that bias is often subtle.
“These are good people. They believe they’re not biased,” he said.
He also noted a political imbalance in the journalism field, pointing out that few professional journalists lean right politically or contribute to conservative causes, which he believes affects coverage.
The Rise of Right-Wing Networks
The discussion shifted to growing conservative outlets like One America News and Newsmax.
Malone sees an economic angle: “There is a rising group because there is a rising economic structure that’s willing to support it.
I want a news service that not only serves the public, but makes us money.”
Malone’s Political Leanings
Malone identifies as a libertarian and has financially supported Republicans, including a $250,000 donation to Donald Trump’s 2017 inauguration.
He also backed several Republican campaigns during the 2024 election cycle, including Trump’s.