Chris Licht: Last News

Todd Spangler NY Digital Editor Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav said CNN is rebuilding itself to be a news network that presents “both sides” of every issue rather than an “advocacy network” — comments coming as CNN continues to face a backlash over the town hall with Donald Trump last week. Zaslav, speaking at the MoffettNathanson Technology, Media and Telecom Conference in New York, said that previously the overall impression of CNN’s brand was “left-leaning.” That’s now changing, he said, citing a new YouGov poll finding an 11-point improvement in U.S. viewers’ trust in CNN. “Our view is, there’s advocacy networks on either side. We have the best journalists in the world. We need to show both sides of every issue,” he said.

“Republicans are back on the air. Republicans weren’t on the air,” on CNN, Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav told a media conference Thursday as he said the storied brand is moving to become less of an “advocacy network” under new leadership.

Naman Ramachandran Christiane Amanpour has spoken out against Donald Trump’s recent CNN town hall, where he described moderator Kaitlan Collins as a “nasty person.” “We know Trump and his tendencies, everyone does, he just seizes the stage and dominates. No matter how much flack the moderator tries to aim at the incoming, it doesn’t often work. I would have dropped the mic at ‘nasty person,’ but then that’s me,” Amanpour said on Wednesday to the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism. Amanpour was accepting the Columbia Journalism Award and delivering the school’s commencement speech. Amanpour, who is CNN’s chief international anchor, said she had met with CNN chair and CEO Chris Licht earlier this week and they “had a very robust exchange of views” about the town hall. Licht “welcomed” the exchange but stood by his decision to hold the event, according to Amanpour.

Jennifer Maas TV Business Writer Warner Bros. Discovery kicked off its 2023 upfront presentation in a no-frills way, with an overall brand sizzle and ad chief Jon Steinlauf giving a few remarks on stage at the Theater at Madison Square Garden Wednesday. While the presentation covering HBO, Max, CNN, Food Network, HGTV, Discovery and more Warner Bros. Discovery brands was shorter than last year’s show (which was the company’s first since the merger that created it last April) the tight 90-minute presentation still covered each of its key divisions. Albeit, with much less sizzle, with no stars in attendance amid the writers strike. “Let me just start by saying I am hopeful that a fair resolution is found soon with the writers,” HBO and Max chief Casey Bloys said, adding that he hopes for a return of talent to the stage, “making this a far more entertaining show” compared to “me and my clips.”

CNN’s town hall with Donald Trump beat the cable news competition, as expected, with an average of 3.12 million viewers, according to early Nielsen numbers.

After moderating CNN’s town hall with Donald Trump, Kaitlan Collins is expected to be tapped as the new host of the network’s 9 p.m. hour, which has lacked a permanent occupant for more than a year.

Brian Steinberg Senior TV Editor Kaitlan Collins spent Wednesday night going toe to toe on live TV with a former President who refused to acknowledge her fact-checking of his many conspiracy theories and untruths. And that just may be a warm up. Collins, the CNN up-and-comer who has gone from White House correspondent to morning anchor all before turning 35, is widely expected to be given new anchoring duties at 9 p.m., according to two people familiar with the matter. The hour is one of the most competitive on the cable-news schedule and has served as a home to some of the most popular hosts in the format, including Rachel Maddow, Sean Hannity and Chris Cuomo. CNN declined to make executives available for comment. Puck previously reported the looming deal, which could be unveiled in days to come — barring unforeseen changes, or a pivot in the strategic thinking of CNN CEO Chris Licht, one of these people cautioned.

Todd Spangler NY Digital Editor Warner Bros. Discovery chief David Zaslav weighed in on CNN’s controversial decision to host a live town-hall format Q&A with former President Donald Trump — defending the decision as needing to represent “both sides.” “The U.S. has a divided government. We need to hear both voices,” Zaslav said, speaking Friday on CNBC’s “Squawk Box” when asked about Trump’s scheduled May 10 appearance on CNN. “Republicans are on the air on CNN, Democrats are on the air… When we do politics, we need to represent both sides. I think it’s important for America.” Zaslav continued about Trump, “He’s the front-runner — he has to be on our network. We’re happy he’s coming on there.”

Donald Trump will make his first appearance on CNN in many years next week, when he appears in a town hall event sponsored by the network.

Brian Steinberg Senior TV Editor Washington journalism veteran Dana Bash will take over CNN’s weekday broadcast of “Inside Politics,” giving the network mainstay her first weekday anchoring assignment in nearly three decades at the Warner Bros. Discovery-backed network. Bash will take over the program from John King, whose facility with a digital technology known as CNN’s “Magic Wall” that is used heavily during election coverage has expanded his overall profile. King will lead a new reporting project focused on voters in key battleground states as the 2024 presidential campaign cycle gets underway. Bash will continue as co-anchor of the Sunday political talk program “State of the Union,” along with Jake Tapper. King is expected to continue to play a significant role in CNN’s coverage of elections.

Don Lemon isn’t letting his unexpected termination from CNN keep him down. The longtime TV newsman is looking on the bright side and planning for his upcoming summer.

Don Lemon isn't letting his unexpected termination from CNN keep him down. The longtime TV newsman is looking on the bright side and planning for his upcoming summer.Lemon walked the carpet at the TIME 100 Gala in New York City on Wednesday — where he was joined by his fiancé, Tim Malone — and he spoke with ET's Rachel Smith about parting ways with the network.«I'm doing well, and I'm here to celebrate… I'm happy to be here,» Lemon said, smiling.

Don Lemon opted for a little retail therapy following his ouster from CNN. The 57-year-old was spotted at an Apple Store in New York City on Monday shortly after news broke that the network where he spent nearly two decades abruptly fired him.Lemon was seen wearing jeans, a black sweater over a white T-shirt, shades and a hat while holding two iPhones.

Joe Otterson TV Reporter WME has hired Carly Frankel as an agent in the digital department and Samantha Korn as an agent in the talent department focused on comedy, Variety has learned exclusively. Frankel will focus on the agency’s podcasting business, including the comedy, personal development, and narrative nonfiction verticals. Prior to joining WME, she was senior development executive at Wondery, having originally joined the company in 2019. In that role, she worked across creative and business development to identify original podcast concepts and to bring them to production. She was previously at Wondery where she most recently served as a senior development executive, working across creative and business development to both identify hit original podcast concepts and bring them to production. Following Wondery’s acquisition by Amazon Music in 2021, Frankel was instrumental in designing the company’s consolidated greenlight and deal protocols for original programming. She is based in WME’S Beverly Hills office.Korn comes from “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,” where she most recently served as a creative executive for Colbert’s production company, Spartina. Prior to that, she started her professional career at CAA and went to “The Late Show” to work for then-executive producer and showrunner Chris Licht. In addition to “The Late Show” and its associated specials, her credits include “Pickled” for CBS and “Tooning Out the News” for Paramount+. She is also based in the Beverly Hills office.

After Don Lemon‘s abrupt exit from CNN, his CNN This Morning cohosts addressed his absence head-on during the Tuesday, April 25, episode of the show.

Don Lemon's former co-hosts are wishing him well. During Tuesday morning's broadcast, Poppy Harlow and Kaitlan Collins addressed Lemon's firing from the network. «Welcome to, we're so glad you're with us,» Harlow began. «We do begin, though, with news about this show.

Poppy Harlow and Kaitlan Collins opened CNN This Morning on Tuesday by addressing the exit of co-anchor Don Lemon.

pic.twitter.com/8PyLqvS0d7— Don Lemon (@donlemon) April 24, 2023 Chris Licht, the CEO of CNN, said that the network and Lemon have “parted ways,” according to a memo posted on CNN’s official communications Twitter account six minutes after Lemon’s tweet went out.“Don will forever be a part of the CNN family, and we thank him for his contributions over the past 17 years,” the statement reads. “We wish him well and will be cheering him on in his future endeavors.”Lemon, who was interviewed by Metro Weeklyin 2016, was first hired by CNN in 2006, after a stint anchoring at NBC Chicago and working as a correspondent for NBC News, the TODAY show and the daily NBC Nightly News program.After multiple media outlets quoted Lemon’s tweet, CNN’s communications account issued a follow-up statement accusing Lemon of misrepresenting the facts surrounding his firing.“Don Lemon’s statement about this morning’s events is inaccurate.

Don Lemon's sudden CNN ouster has sent shockwaves through the network's newsroom. A source tells ET that «everyone is floored» at CNN by the news of Lemon's firing. CNN staff is nervous by the «direction the network is going in or how things are going to play out.» CNN revealed on Monday that it has «parted ways» with the longtime anchor, who had become the subject of controversy while co-hosting .

s jaw-dropping breakup with Fox News when Twitter started lighting up with reactions to yet another major departure: Don Lemon’s from CNN. “I was informed this morning by my agent that I have been terminated by CNN.

Tucker Carlon's departure from Fox News on Monday, CNN revealed that it has «parted ways» with longtime anchor Don Lemon, who had become the subject of controversy while co-hosting . According to an email from CNN CEO Chris Licht, «Don will forever be a part of the CNN family, and we thank him for his contributions over the past 17 years. We wish him well and will be cheering him on in his future endeavors.» Following the announcement, Lemon took to Twitter to share that he was «stunned» by the decision. «I was informed this morning by my agent that I have been terminated by CNN,» he shared in a statement posted on the social media platform.