Just months after launch, “CNN This Morning” executive producer Eric Hall is leaving the rebooted program’s top slot hosted by Don Lemon, Poppy Harlow and Caitlin Collins.
A network insider tells TheWrap that during a meeting today “CNN This Morning” staffers were informed by Ryan Kadro, CEO Chris Licht’s No. 2, that Hall would be exiting the program and hosted by Laura Coates. Will go to CNN Tonight.
As TheWrap previously reported, Licht is in dire need of concrete results that can win back the trust of a weary and wary staff that has been on the mend since taking over the news network last spring under new corporate owner Warner Bros. Shaken by the changes made. Search.
Changes to CNN’s mornings were definitely needed. Over the past year, “New Day” averaged only 414,000 viewers — its smallest morning audience since 2015 — compared to 839,00 for MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” and 839,00 for Fox News’ “Fox & Friends.” compared to 1.36 million for But so far the “CNN This Morning” reboot is up 410,00 total viewers and 87,000 in the all-important 25-54 news demo in the Nielsen ratings.
Licht fast-tracked an overhaul of “CNN This Morning” to win over an audience ahead of last year’s midterm elections. The new trio was announced on 15 September and Lemon signed on from his primetime show on 8 October. “This Morning” launched Tuesday in a temporary studio set up on the “CNN Election Center” set, according to one person. nearing production, while the new production location for the show is still under construction.
A representative for CNN declined to comment on this article.