David Zaslav ‘takes full responsibility’ for CNN’s Chris Licht
CNN’s CEO, David Zaslav, has faced criticism after admitting that he takes full responsibility for hiring and then letting go of network boss Chris Licht after just 13 months. He told CNN staff during an early morning editorial call on Wednesday that they are in the process of conducting a wide search, internally and externally, for a new leader after Licht’s tenure failed because “things did not work out the way we had hoped.” Zaslav’s mission to return CNN to its centrist coverage has been put under the microscope by critics, with many mocking his search for Licht’s replacement. Licht was hired by Zaslav to steer the network away from left-leaning partisan commentary that was often heard during the Trump presidency, but CNN’s ratings dropped sharply after Licht implemented his “middle-of-the-road programming” strategy and CNN’s bottom line saw profits drop from $1.25 billion to just $750 million since the merger.
FAQs
What is CNN’s CEO David Zaslav’s “search” for a new leader met with on social media?
Zaslav’s mission to return CNN to its centrist coverage has been mocked on social media.
Who was Chris Licht and why did he leave CNN?
Chris Licht was hired by CNN’s corporate overlord David Zaslav to steer the network away from left-leaning partisan commentary that was often heard during the Trump presidency. He left CNN after 13 months because his tenure failed as ratings dropped sharply after he implemented his “middle-of-the-road programming” strategy.
What happened to CNN’s profits since the merger between WarnerMedia and Discovery?
CNN’s profits dropped from $1.25 billion to just $750 million since the merger between WarnerMedia and Discovery.
Who will replace Chris Licht in the interim?
Chris Licht will be replaced in the interim by a group “comprising seasoned programming leaders” that include Amy Entelis, the executive vice president of talent and content development; Virginia Moseley, executive vice president of editorial; and Eric Sherling, who heads US-based programming.
CNN’s Chris Licht: David Zaslav Assumes Complete Responsibility
CNN corporate boss David Zaslav took responsibility for the disastrous 13-month tenure of Chris Licht, whom he hired to lead the network, during an editorial call with staff on Wednesday. Zaslav, CEO of Warner Bros. Discovery, informed employees that the company is conducting an internal and external search for a new leader for the ratings-challenged network. The announcement was met with ridicule on social media, with some questioning whether a course correction is likely, given Zaslav’s mission to return CNN to centrist coverage. Licht was tasked with steering the network away from left-leaning partisan commentary during a period of high ratings under the Trump presidency. However, the post-Trump period saw a sharp dip in viewership, resulting in CNN lagging behind competitors Fox News and MSNBC in the ratings race. Licht resigned effective immediately and will be replaced in the interim by a group of veteran programming leaders.