CNN introduced a fresh programming schedule on Monday, giving opportunities to emerging talents and established stars with major prime-time shows.
Significance:
This marks the initial significant shift in the network under the guidance of its new leaders, who assumed control following the departure of former CEO Chris Licht in a dramatic fashion.
CNN has been lacking a stable primetime lineup since the dismissal of Chris Cuomo in late 2021.
Key Details:
The revised lineup accentuates CNN’s in-house talents, propelling longstanding correspondents like Abby Phillip and Manu Raju into anchor roles.
Furthermore, it reinstates seasoned anchors to prominence, with Chris Wallace and Christiane Amanpour hosting new programs. The updated schedule also promotes diverse talents, granting increased visibility to women of color in two evening anchor slots.
Notably, women will lead news coverage between 7 pm ET and midnight, with the exception of Anderson Cooper at 8 pm.
Weekday Evenings:
The revised schedule reassigns anchor Alisyn Camerota from the daily evening lineup to reporting duties for CNN’s long-form unit.
Political reporter Abby Phillip will helm a new 10 pm ET show, while chief legal analyst Laura Coates will anchor at 11 pm.
“It certainly felt like the center of the universe,” former Georgia Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan, who testified today before the grand jury, says. “There's a whole trail of information that I think America is going to get to see.” His reaction to Trump saying he "shouldn't" testify: pic.twitter.com/tl4KbcnuUD
— Kaitlan Collins (@kaitlancollins) August 15, 2023
Pamela Brown will take the helm of her own hour-long show at 3 pm, titled “The Bulletin with Pamela Brown.” Jake Tapper’s show, “The Lead,” will retain its slot from 4 pm to 6 pm, followed by “The Situation Room” with Wolf Blitzer until 7 pm. “Erin Burnett’s Out Front” will remain at 7 pm, succeeded by “Anderson Cooper 360” at 8 pm and “The Source with Kaitlan Collins” at 9 pm. Earlier in the day, “CNN
This Morning” will continue to be hosted by Poppy Harlow and Phil Mattingly. Mattingly has been co-anchoring the show for months since Don Lemon’s departure and Kaitlan Collins’ assumption of the 9 pm slot.
Kasie Hunt, who joined CNN in 2021 to anchor a program for its now-defunct streaming service, will take the reins of CNN’s earliest morning program, “Early Start.” A new show named “King Charles,” co-anchored by Gayle King and Charles Barkley, will premiere later this autumn on Wednesdays at 9 pm as a limited series.
Weekends:
On Saturdays, veteran anchor Chris Wallace will headline his own show from 10 am-11 am, followed by a new U.S. program from Christiane Amanpour, who is typically an anchor for CNN International.
Sundays will see the debut of a new hour of “Inside Politics Sunday” at 11 am, featuring chief congressional correspondent Manu Raju. Statement: CNN’s Amy Entelis, David Leavy, Virginia Moseley, and Eric Sherling expressed, “By broadening the scope and depth of our programming lineup across various dayparts, we are reinforcing our commitment to exceptional journalism throughout the schedule.
This move enhances our storytelling prowess across platforms and reaffirms CNN’s status as the most credible name in news.”
