CNN's Velshi has a ratings problem

TALKING BIZ NEWS EXCLUSIVE

CNN’s chief business correspondent, Ali Velshi, is losing viewers, according to recent Nielsen ratings, three months after switching over and helping out with “CNN Newsroom.”

Earlier this week, Velshi announced on the air his cable news philosophy. “I want to get great at keeping you connected to ideas that you otherwise don’t have time to read about,” he said. “Together, we can raise our voices when we’re passionate, but not in endless, tiresome, predictable debate.”

He also mentioned, according to Steve Krakauer of Mediaite, the “three things” he aimed to convey: “Conversation, respect and above all curiosity.”

That philosophy isn’t working right now. Velshi switched over earlier three months ago to helping out with the cable news network’s mainstream news as well. But his ratings for his weekend business show and his stint on “CNN Newsroom” have been dropping dramatically since then.

For 2010 vs. 2009, his weekend business program, “Your $$$$$,” is down 28 percent overall and down 34 percent in the key 25 to 54 age demographic, according to Nielsen.

And moving Velshi over to help on “CNN Newsroom” hasn’t helped its ratings either. Compared to the same time period last year, that show’s ratings are down 37 percent overall and in the 25 to 54 demographic since Velshi has been anchoring, again, according to Nielsen.

The ratings have spoken: Velshi needs to stick to business news. By doing both, he’s not helping his own show, and he’s not helping “CNN Newsroom.”

CORRECTION: Velshi’s comments were not in response to ratings, but in response to a media commentator’s discussion on crowdsourcing.