CNN, which has battled sagging ratings this year, on Monday unveiled a dramatic remaking of its morning and evening programming.
Abby Phillip, a senior political correspondent and anchor of “Inside Politics Sunday,” will be the new anchor of the network’s 10 p.m. hour on weekdays. Laura Coates, an anchor and chief legal analyst at CNN, will anchor the network’s 11 p.m. hour.
CNN’s prime-time programming has been in flux since Chris Cuomo, its star anchor, was fired in late 2021 amid an inquiry into whether he aided his brother, former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo. Earlier this year, CNN named Kaitlan Collins, its former White House correspondent, as anchor of its 9 p.m. hour, replacing Mr. Cuomo. Don Lemon, who was ousted from the network after a bumpy run as co-host of its revamped morning show, was previously a prime-time anchor, leaving another gap.
CNN’s morning show, which until recently was co-hosted by Ms. Collins, Mr. Lemon and Poppy Harlow, is also getting a makeover. The show will be co-hosted by Ms. Harlow and Phil Mattingly, CNN’s chief White House correspondent. “Early Start,” a program earlier in the morning, will be anchored by Kasie Hunt, CNN’s chief national affairs analyst. Ms. Hunt was previously anchor of “Way Too Early,” a morning show on MSNBC.
Much of CNN’s afternoon programming will remain the same. Pam Brown, the network’s chief investigative correspondent, will anchor the network’s 3 p.m. hour.
The changes come as CNN is trying to improve the diversity of its on-air talent. While CNN is adding two Black journalists to its evening lineup, in Ms. Phillip and Ms. Coates, the absence of Mr. Lemon in the morning means that the network’s flagship morning program will be without a journalist of color. But the network is promoting journalists of color elsewhere, making Victor Blackwell anchor of its 8 a.m. hour on Saturday and promoting Manu Raju to anchor of “Inside Politics.”
CNN has struggled to turn around its ratings this year as it has dealt with the rocky tenure and eventual departure of Chris Licht, the network’s former chairman and chief executive. CNN is currently running behind longtime ratings leader Fox News and MSNBC, its chief cable news rivals, in total viewership.
CNN’s weekend lineup is also being reorganized. Chris Wallace, the former anchor of “Fox News Sunday” who joined CNN to launch a show on the network’s ill-fated CNN+ streaming service, will anchor the network’s 10 a.m. hour on Saturday. Christiane Amanpour, CNN’s chief international correspondent, will anchor the 11 a.m. hour. Mr. Blackwell will anchor CNN’s 8 a.m. hour on Saturday followed by Michael Smerconish at 9 a.m.
Source: | This article originally belongs to Nytimes.com
