CNN announced a big primetime shakeup Monday as the network copes with a major ratings drop over the past year.
CNN’s Abby Phillip is filling the 10:00 p.m. slot, and Laura Coates will host the 11:00 p.m. hour, the network announced. The two slots have been vacant since the network fired former anchor Chris Cuomo in Dec. 2021 and placed the now-fired Don Lemon on “CNN This Morning” in Nov. 2022.
The network named chief White House correspondent Phil Mattingly to co-host “CNN This Morning” alongside Poppy Harlow, according to CNN. The show originally comprised Harlow, Lemon and former Daily Caller reporter Kaitlan Collins. The two seats have been vacant since the network fired Lemon in April and gave Collins her own show at 9:00 p.m.
CNN Announces New Programming Lineup@abbydphillip to Anchor 10pm & @thelauracoates to Anchor 11pm
Christiane @Amanpour & Chris Wallace to Launch New Weekend Shows@Kasie Hunt to Anchor Early Start & @Phil_Mattingly to Co-Anchor CNN This Morning & morehttps://t.co/YDOXjtXgyx pic.twitter.com/3fDdR4zdjY
— CNN Communications (@CNNPR) August 14, 2023
Anchor Kasie Hunt is set to begin hosting “Early Start” after the departure of Christine Romans in late July, and Pamela Brown will host a new show at the 3:00 p.m. hour, according to CNN. (RELATED: Chris Licht Warns Employees Of Upcoming Layoffs At CNN)
The network is also rearranging its weekend lineups. Anchor Victor Blackwell will host a Saturday show airing at 8:00 a.m., with Chris Wallace in the 10:00 a.m. slot and Christiane Amanpour at 11:00 a.m., according to CNN’s announcement.
The new shakeup is the latest of many recent changes at the network as it struggles with low ratings and profitability. CNN saw its profits fall below $1 billion for the first time since 2016 in the past year due to the rise of streaming services, and faced its lowest-rated year among the key 25-54 key demographic since ratings tracking started in 1992.
Former CNN President Chris Licht, who took over for his predecessor Jeff Zucker in 2022, was fired from the network in early June.