Staff Reports
CNN’s efforts to keep its head above water have led to the network giving Wolf Blitzer, long-time anchor and veteran broadcaster, a new morning gig. After watching its ratings tumble like a rock skipping across a pond, CNN is shuffling the deck, hoping to pull in a few more viewers during daylight hours. He’ll team up with Pamela Brown for two hours each morning, reinforcing the idea that perhaps desperation is the mother of invention—or at least, scheduling changes.
Blitzer, who recently celebrated a birthday that many might find alarming for a news anchor’s career longevity, has signed on for a new contract, ready to clock in an extra hour daily. One can only imagine the boardroom discussions that might have led to this moment—something akin to a frantic family trying to revive a dying houseplant. As this former White House correspondent steps into the glimmering morning light, Jim Acosta could be facing oblivion with the possible axing of his mid-morning show, which might send him back to the doghouse of cable news.
Desperate CNN Set to Undergo Significant Programming Overhaul – Big Names Impacted: CNN is searching for a winning formula. https://t.co/6qZ2rw0LtQ pic.twitter.com/4kpPEILAAg
— The Western Journal (@WestJournalism) January 17, 2025
Meanwhile, the other programming casualties are lining up like ducks in a row. Kasie Hunt’s spot may be shifted to the 4:00 p.m. hour, effectively slapping a new “not prime time” label on her. And Jake Tapper may inch closer to prime time after his 4:00 p.m. elegantly named “The Lead” might shift to the coveted 5:00 p.m. hour. All this shake-up does raise eyebrows about who’s really steering the ship over at CNN.
Mark Thompson, the new chief executive who packed his bags from The New York Times and the BBC to take over CNN, is at the helm of this apparent chaos. The bold moves reflect an acknowledgment that CNN’s ratings have seen better days, having plummeted more dramatically than a bungee jumper with a faulty cord. With prime time audiences dwindling to a mere 800,000 viewers compared to the 13.3 million that tuned in back in 2016, one must wonder how far CNN is willing to go to regain that lost audience.
This entire situation serves as a testament to a network so deep in the ratings hole that it’s scrambling to rearrange its programming calendar while hoping to stanch the flow of viewers fleeing to Fox News and even the likes of MSNBC. Speaking of which, during the last election night, CNN wasn’t merely left behind; it got lapped, with the competition leaving it in a cloud of dust. CNN might have to reconcile with a sad truth: when it comes to cable news, the viewer’s decision is as clear as a sunny day, and the ratings reflect a shocking reality that perhaps audiences aren’t as captivated by their schtick as they once were.
