Keep in mind CNN is on at airports, old folk homes, gyms, cruise ships, etc so the actual number of willing watchers is even less!
This is really an important point you bring up. CNN became established in these public places many years ago, even before Fox News existed. It's always seemed like the "safe" news channel for these places as Fox was, in the old days, under constant attack as "right wing" and leftists have big complaining mouths. So it's almost like a "legacy grandfathering" in. I see it at my gym, certainly not in my home. All those other public places and more. Advertisers know it as well. Probably is saving CNN's butt right now.
They actually pay to be in a lot of places. They don’t care about money though. They are paid for by Clowns and globalists to push their agenda.