David Ellison's 70% Centrist Claim Contradicted by Polling Data
David Ellison says 70% of Americans are centrist. Surveys tell a different story
The Guardian
Image: The Guardian
David Ellison, CEO of Paramount Skydance, claims that 70% of Americans identify as centrist, aiming to cater to this demographic in his media strategy. However, recent surveys indicate that only about 40-45% of Americans fall into this category, raising questions about the accuracy of Ellison's assertion and the viability of his approach.
- 01David Ellison claims 70% of Americans are centrist, but surveys show only 40-45% identify as such.
- 02Polling data from YouGov and Pew contradicts Ellison's statistic, suggesting a smaller centrist audience.
- 03Gallup data reveals that more than half of Americans identify as either Democrats or Republicans.
- 04Experts suggest that a centrist news organization could succeed, but it may face challenges due to audience partisanship.
- 05The performance of Ellison-owned CBS News has been underwhelming, with declining viewership.
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During a March appearance on CNBC, David Ellison (CEO of Paramount Skydance) claimed that 70% of Americans identify as centrist, suggesting his media strategy would focus on this demographic. However, recent polling data from YouGov and Pew indicates that only 40-45% of U.S. adults identify as center-left, center, or center-right. Gallup data further reveals that 54% of Americans identify as either Democrats or Republicans, contradicting Ellison's assertion. Experts like Daniel Cassino from Fairleigh Dickinson University suggest that while a centrist-oriented news organization could find success, it would likely struggle against a predominantly partisan audience. The early performance of CBS News, under Ellison's leadership and with Bari Weiss's influence, has not met expectations, as evidenced by a decline in viewership for flagship programs like the CBS Evening News, which averaged about 4 million viewers in March, marking a new low.
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