CNN’s Morning Plan Will Face A.M. Scramble
variety.comBrian Steinberg Senior TV Editor CNN’s new chief hopes primetime anchor Don Lemon can help the network gain ground in some of TV news’ toughest terrain.
Chris Licht, who has vowed to tone down some of the more aggressive commentary at the network since taking its reins earlier this year, has enjoyed an eyebrow-raising streak in morning news.
He launched the durable MSNBC franchise “Morning Joe” in 2007 and then helped CBS gain new momentum in the a.m. in 2012 by starting “CBS This Morning.” Neither program was the most-watched of its brethren, but Licht gained new viewership for the networks that backed him by providing more substantial conversation among anchors and ignoring some of the frillier elements of the time period, like cooking demonstrations or street interviews with passersby.
Now he’s betting he can do the same for CNN, even as TV networks are seeing new challenges to their sunrise efforts. “People are increasingly going to their smartphones before turning on the TV, but morning remains a financially lucrative daypart for everybody.
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