Out Is Better

Anderson Cooper's Ratings Grow After Host Comes Out, Helping CNN Rebound From June Lows

UPDATED: The same month the veteran "360" host addressed his sexuality, his series sees double-digit gains in total viewers and adults 25-54 and is the only primetime cable news broadcast to improve in the demo from July 2011.

1:50 PM PDT 7/31/2012 by Michael O'Connell


Though only Fox News Channel is in better shape than it was this time last year, July was still a good month for CNN. The network saw growth across the board after record lows in June.

Ratings for the month have the network still firmly in third place, but up in double digits in primetime and daily viewers, with even stronger gains in the demo.

CNN averaged 488,000 total primetime viewers, 149,000 of them in the coveted adults 25-54. That's up 15 and 20 percent, respectively, from last month's 427,000 total and 121,000 in the demo. The numbers are still down double digits from July 2011. The network posted the sharpest declines, year over year, with a 26 percent loss among adults 25-54 during primetime.

In daily ratings, CNN brought in 355,000 total viewers and 109,000 in the demo. Similar to primetime, the numbers are up from June's 303,000 total viewers and 91,000 in the demo -- but down from the same time last year.

Of particular note is Anderson Cooper. The 360 host, who came out of the closet in early July, has the only primetime cable news broadcast to actually see growth among adults 25-54 since last July. At the 8 p.m. hour, he was up 27 percent from June in total viewers (533,000) and 31 percent in the demo (161,000).

His show, as did all cable news, included extensive coverage of the July 20 shooting in Aurora, Colorado. He's up six percent in the demo from July 2011, though the 10 p.m. broadcast is down 36 percent.