CNN Boses ‘Quietly Borrowing Ideas’ From Fox News’ Playbook Amid Network’s Falling Ratings

Desperate to shore up ratings-challenged CNN, network bosses have taken more than a few notes from the Fox News playbook, sources say.

First, CNN has announced the launch of a stand-alone weather app, which many in television circles say looks strikingly familiar after the explosive success of Fox Weather.

Then CNN en Español quietly rebranded its FAST (Free Ad-Supported Streaming TV) streaming channel as CNN Noticias — a name that’s shockingly close to Fox News’ already established Fox Noticias.

Now, media insiders are saying they don’t believe the developments are coincidence.

“CNN spent years acting like they were smarter, classier and somehow above everyone else,” one TV insider tells National Enquirer columnist Rob Shuter’s Naughty But Nice.

“Now they’re quietly borrowing ideas straight from the Fox playbook because Fox is the one actually winning.”

The CNN Noticias rebrand especially raised eyebrows, moles dish.

“Nobody accidentally lands on Noticias after Fox already planted that flag,” another source sniffs. “These companies track each other obsessively.”

Spies say the moves come as legacy networks scramble to survive because younger audiences are abandoning linear TV and advertising dollars are dwindling.

Inside TV circles, some executives say CNN no longer has the luxury of ignoring what works for its rivals.

“CNN is a mess,” a senior media source says. “When your ratings are struggling and your audience is shrinking, pride disappears very quickly.”

CNN executives would likely argue they’re simply modernizing their streaming strategy and expanding globally.

But an insider declares, “When you [need to], you copy the market leader.”