It truly is the most busted name in news.
According to a report from Page Six, CNN boss Christ Licht may already be on the chopping block after failing to turn around the struggling news network; ratings continue to hit historical lows.
From Page Six:
Less than a year after he took over as chairman of CNN, Page Six hears that there’s already chatter throughout the halls of the network that Chris Licht will be gone before Labor Day.
But other insiders say he might just stick around — but only because such a quick about-face would be embarrassing for CNN’s corporate boss, David Zaslav, who took a big risk in putting the untested Licht in charge of the operation.
…
He has steamed into the role, casting off marquee names like Brian Stelter and Jeffrey Toobin (who, admittedly, had some baggage), overseeing major layoffs, shifting network star Don Lemon from his own primetime show to co-hosting the morning show, and shutting down streamer CNN+ just one month after its launch.
Meanwhile, CNN ratings have plummeted on his watch (although they were heading downwards under Zucker, too) and “CNN This Morning” — which should be well within his expertise as a breakfast time guru at CBS and MSNBC — has seen on-set confrontations between anchors and a mortifying national scandal after Lemon suggested presidential hopeful Nicki Haley is “past her prime.” Licht publicly rebuked Lemon for the gaffe.
Insiders say Licht doesn’t have his ear to the ground and fails to connect with key staff members.
“He’s constantly with an entourage,” said one, “You see him rush by with his lackeys, but he doesn’t stop to talk with us regular folk. It’s like he’s scared of us.”
“The joke is that he’s never alone,” they added, “Does he go to the bathroom alone?”
“No wonder he had no idea that [Lemon], Poppy [Harlow] and Kaitlan [Collins] were never going to gel [as the co-hosts of “CNN This Morning,]” said the insider, “He doesn’t have his ear to the ground.”
More over at Page Six:
Whispers already spreading around CNN that Chris Licht is on his way out https://t.co/EODnXeoTa0 pic.twitter.com/Ee18ogjrdg
— Page Six (@PageSix) March 13, 2023
Thank you for visiting