I for one appreciate CNN. As far as fair and balanced, I think they are trying the hardest lately. It is important to have Fox News for the conservative view and MSNBC for the liberal view. I really would question anyone who has a single source like FOx or MSNBC.
The problem with CNN (from a sales standpoint) is that they think playing it down the middle by definition also means you have to be really boring. One of the smartest things they could do is axe either the 7 or 8 pm programming they have now and replace it with a revamped version of Crossfire.