CNN RIDES THE (TIDAL) WAVE TO FORMER DOMINANCE

When it comes to breaking news — particularly disaster news — CNN can still draw a big audience. The cable news network, which has seen its day-to-day ratings plummet in recent years attracted huge audiences for its coverage of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan. TVbytheNumbers.com observed that the 1.25 million viewers 25-54 who tuned in to Wolf Blitzer’s Situation Room on Friday night outnumbered Fox’s Shepard Smith, MSNBC’s Chris Matthews and HLN’s Showbiz Tonight combined. In addition, Reuters reported that worldwide some 60 million viewers tuned into CNN International to watch its coverage of the disaster — setting a new record.