Ratings-challenged CNN is reportedly moving veteran anchor Wolf Blitzer to a new morning slot as part of a broader shake-up by the cable news pioneer’s chief executive, Mark Thompson.
The 76-year-old Blitzer, one of the network’s longest-serving hosts and current host of “The Situation Room” at 6 p.m., will join Pamela Brown on a new morning show, sources told Status newspaper Thursday.
The changes could also include frequent Donald Trump antagonist Jim Acosta returning as anchor of “CNN Newsroom” at 10 a.m., sources said.
Thompson, the former chairman of the BBC and the New York Times, who was brought in by the CEO of Warner Bros. former CNN media analyst Oliver Darcy.
CNN declined to comment when contacted by The Post.
Blitzer recently signed a new multi-year deal with CNN, while Brown currently hosts CNN’s 11 a.m. weekday program.
It’s unclear whether the new Blitzer-Brown breakfast pairing will adopt Blitzer’s signature “Situation Room” or debut under a different name.
However, the reported change means that Blitzer’s screen time will increase by an hour each day.
The reshuffling of anchor chairs is part of Thompson’s plan to pave the way for a new generation of on-air talent, according to Darcy.
The decision to move Blitzer, who was recently mocked on social media for his outdated television set-up, to mornings allows CNN to keep one of its most respected anchors on the air while gradually moving him away from evening lineup.
But the change means CNN will have to change the rest of its lineup by cutting an hour of programming.
One scenario being considered is moving Hunt, a former MSNBC anchor and Associated Press writer, from early morning to 4 p.m. — a move that would raise her profile significantly.
Hunt, who currently earns $1 million a year, hosts “Early Start,” which airs daily from 5 a.m. to 6 a.m.
Giving Hunt a high-profile afternoon slot aligns with the network’s strategic priorities, though it could create internal competition with other anchors eyeing a similar position.
If Hunt takes over at 4 p.m., CNN will move Jake Tapper’s show “The Lead” to a 5 to 7 p.m. slot, putting it closer to prime time, according to Status.
CNN will then have to face the question of who replaces Hunt in the morning.
According to Status, one possibility that could be floated is a split-hour deal, with business correspondent Rahel Solomon anchoring the 5 a.m. hour and former NPR anchor Audie Cornish handling the 6 a.m. hour.
To accommodate Blitzer and Brown’s two-hour morning show, CNN must find an extra hour in its schedule.
One potential casualty is Acosta’s appearance.
Another option could be to cut CNN News Central from three hours to two hours, but the low cost of producing the show makes it more likely that Acosta’s program will be the casualty, Status reported.
It’s unclear what role Acosta would have if the show were to be canceled.
The network is also considering other changes to its programming, including expanding Erin Burnett’s late-night show, according to Status.
CNN’s ratings have plummeted since Trump’s recent election victory.
In 2024, the network averaged 92,000 viewers in the key 25-to-54 demographic, down 1% from a year-ago low, and 77,000 in primetime, down 52% from passed.
Overall, primetime viewership dropped 45% to 405,000 viewers.
By contrast, Fox News captured 72% of the cable news primetime viewership, up 7% since the election.
CNN also lags behind second-place MSNBC, the left-leaning network owned by Comcast, which is also in the midst of major changes to its corporate structure and management team.
The Post and Fox News share common ownership.
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