CNN announced that it will cut 300 jobs on Wednesday, and it also confirmed ongoing speculation about the future of several under-performing shows. With Jeff Zucker in charge, the news network decided to revive the long-running show Crossfire in an updated format. Unfortunately Newt Gingrich, Stephanie Cutter, S.E. Cupp and Van Jones never equaled ratings magic. The show was on hiatus for several weeks when CNN focused nonstop attention on missing flight MH370, and when it returned in July it remained the lowest rated show on any news network. Needless to say, Crossfire has been canceled as well as a few other specialty shows.
Dr. Sanjay Gupta is getting a lot of mileage out of talking about the Ebola crisis, so the fact that CNN shelved his weekly medical show probably isn't stinging too badly. Also nixed in the job cut is Jane Velez-Mitchell's nightly program on CNN's sister station, HLN and Christine Roman's CNN Money which was a Saturday staple. Rachel Nichols' sports show, Unguarded is the final show to meet its' demise in the networks' cutbacks.
While these shows will no longer be part of CNN's schedule the majority of the on-air talent will stay with the network in other position's. As for those working behind the scenes, it has been reported that about 130 workers took voluntary buyouts and the remaining 170 staffers have been laid off. CNN is acknowledging the devastating affect that job loss has on people and is offering its' now-fired former staffers counseling to help them get through the transition.
CNN has been struggling in the ratings for quite awhile now and layoffs were postponed for quite awhile before the network had no choice but to move forward with them. Were you a fan of any of the shows that have been cut? Do you think that these changes will allow the network to usher in new programming that will actually work or have they lost touch with their base audience all together?
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