CNN is giving low-rated Don Lemon a weekly talk show on its paid streaming service for some reason

CNN is definitely hard up for talent to fill up its paid streaming service, CNN+. CNN announced in January that it had hired Twitter troll Rex Chapman for a weekly show, and now it’s apparently tapping Don Lemon to host a weekly talk show in front of a live studio audience.

.@DonLemon is coming to #CNNPlus and he’s making his voice heard. Stream his new talk show, The Don Lemon Show, this spring. pic.twitter.com/gwEd4CtlPk

— CNN+ (@CNNplus) February 1, 2022

pic.twitter.com/S8ai6emhHA

— suprflykev (@suprflykev) February 1, 2022

Don Lemon to Host a Weekly Talk Show on CNN+ Featuring a Studio Audiencehttps://t.co/H9I7Rs0rNW
Will people PAY to watch @donlemon when they don’t watch him for free? See his latest ratings via @RoadMN. pic.twitter.com/uC2GbYaxv2

— johnny dollar (@johnnydollar01) February 1, 2022

In case that’s too small to see, “Don Lemon Tonight” is currently ranked 49th among cable news shows. Even Jim Acosta’s “Democracy in Peril” drew more viewers last week.

I can't wait for this whole venture to fail.

— Francis Watts (@Francis_Watts) February 1, 2022

Can't get people to watch for free in cable, but sure, create a new platform and charge people for it. Seems like a great plan.

— Kelly Lowery (@kellydlowery) February 1, 2022

I’m just here for the ratio pic.twitter.com/WdNppml2uG

— Majin Goku Black (@MajinGokuBlack) February 1, 2022

I’ll be washing my hair.

— usaiscraycray (@usaiscraycray) February 1, 2022

Lmao. This is going to fail so hard…

— Pilk (@pilkoids) February 1, 2022

OMG the ratio! Make it stop! I'm peeing myself and I need to work!

— Eat The Rich (@EatTheRichNow22) February 1, 2022

I'm not asking to be disparaging but earnestly: What's the business rationale for believing that TV personalities on CNN who nobody wants to watch when it's on for free free will suddenly find an audience which has to pay to watch? Don Lemon's audience is shockingly miniscule. https://t.co/wrqqkyqr4q

— Glenn Greenwald (@ggreenwald) February 1, 2022

Don Lemon looking at his ratings of his first show. pic.twitter.com/JF94oGJZKy

— Noah Diaz 🧢 (@diaz_noah) February 1, 2022

They need content and he's already there. They throw him a few extra dollars, he produces something NOBODY will watch and they tout all of their "offerings" to potential subscribers and investors.

— Bill (@BillyEs13) February 1, 2022

I think that is just it. There are so few viewers they have to charge the people who are interested to increase margins. It is kind of counterintuitive but often when sales are decreasing, the best thing to do is actually increase price.

— David (@David94218236) February 1, 2022

I'm glad he's finally making his voice heard. If there's one thing to think about, it's how much Don Lemon has been censored over his career. He's so bold and courageous.

— Brian (@BolzenBrian) February 1, 2022

I think they just want to double down on their core audience. Perhaps they can pivot to something else or rehabilitate his image, but at this point I find this high risk, low reward.

— Jack (@jacliu_) February 1, 2022

Their only reference point is themselves.

They don’t get why Rogan gets more listeners and think that it is for some dark evil reason.

They also think that if they put themselves out there, they will automatically get play.

— Joe (@JoeGordon83) February 1, 2022

Do they think all of Rex Chapman’s Twitter followers are going to pay to subscribe for a weekly show? They’re in for a surprise.

It’s one step away from putting him out to pasture. Either he drives meaningful subscriptions or he goes away completely quietly

— MasterJamesMace (@MasterJamesMace) February 1, 2022

That’s baloney! I just subscribed for a year after hearing the great Don Lemon will have a show. I’m so excited to hear his thoughts. He’s one of the few reporters who will talk about REAL news.

— Linda Mackey 🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊 (@LiberalDogMom) February 1, 2022

Well that's great. They got one.

— Glenn Greenwald (@ggreenwald) February 1, 2022

pic.twitter.com/ng7iM2QvfA

— josh (@Joe_catts) February 1, 2022

Not really wanting to point out the obvious here, but you should probably focus on getting viewers to your free channel first.

— Nick (@nick82b) February 1, 2022

Hard pass.

— Suparman bin-Batman (@SuparmanbinBat1) February 1, 2022

pic.twitter.com/za7fCOJInI

— Jess (@JessJessEnrique) February 1, 2022

Great business model by CNN where viewers have to pay for shows they don’t watch for free

— jockomac (@jockomacdougal) February 1, 2022

I want to know, how much is CNN+ going to cost?

— Carrie Nation (@CarrieNation1) February 1, 2022

Your soul

— Supergoodpixel (@Supergoodpixel) February 1, 2022

We checked the website, but you have to give them your email address to find out how much it costs per month. We did learn this: “At the launch of CNN+, the CNNgo brand will sunset for users on desktop, mobile and several streaming platforms and devices, and the functionality of accessing CNN TV content will be fully integrated within CNN’s app.” There was such a thing as CNNgo?