CNN

TV News and Current Affairs Subscription and International News Broadcasts
476

The way CNN is treating this reminds me a lot of the failed CNN Pipeline initiative, which offered a curated feed of CNNI and exclusive and “experimental” breakaway programming, including CNN Newsource and raw video feeds. The project was heavily advertised by CNN in its networks and its digital platforms, and, even if it was targeted to American viewers, it was available in most of the Americas, Western Europe, some MENA countries, India, East Asia and ANZ. It was so pioneering, that it failed after two years, and much of the video content became freely accessible and ad-supported by the end of 2007.

According to Axios’ Sara Fischer, the project is being labeled as a “beta”, as it will lack on-demand functionalities (even pausing). It will also not feature pre-roll ads, but the live feed itself will be ad-supported and feature normal commercial breaks. PVR functionalities and smart-inserted ads (with more functions to come) are being added in the future.

3 Likes
477

Both NY Times and Puck have the scoop that former NYT chief and BBC Director General Mark Thompson is near being appointed the new CNN head.

1 Like
478

exciting… he’s the perfect candidate

479

Mark Thompson Named Chairman and CEO of CNN Worldwide

News industry leader Mark Thompson has been appointed to the role of Chairman and CEO of CNN Worldwide. Thompson will report to David Zaslav, chief executive officer, Warner Bros. Discovery, and the appointment will be effective on October 9.

In his new role, Thompson will lead CNN’s strategy, operations and business units, including its global portfolio of networks, channels and programming across broadcast, streaming and digital as well as CNN’s approximately 4,000 employees worldwide. He will act as editor-in-chief, ultimately responsible for all CNN content.

“There isn’t a more experienced, respected or capable executive in the news business today than Mark, and we are thrilled to have him join our team and lead CNN Worldwide into the future,” said David Zaslav, chief executive officer, Warner Bros. Discovery. “Mark is a true innovator who has transformed for the digital age two of the world’s most respected news organizations. His strategic vision, track record in transformational leadership and sheer passion for news make him a formidable force for CNN and journalism at this pivotal time.”

“I couldn’t be more excited about the chance to join CNN after years of watching it and competing against it with a mixture of admiration and envy,” said Thompson. “The world needs accurate trustworthy news now more than ever and we’ve never had more ways of meeting that need at home and abroad. Where others see disruption, I see opportunity. I can’t wait to roll up my sleeves and get down to work with my new colleagues to build a successful future for CNN.”

A 40-plus-year veteran of the news business, Thompson has a formidable reputation as a programmer, editorial leader and successful business innovator. As president and CEO of The New York Times from 2012-2020, he led the creation of the world’s largest and most successful digital business to date, increasing paid digital subscriptions to the Times tenfold and more than doubling the company’s total digital revenues. During his tenure, there were also stand-out innovations in podcasting (The Daily) and life-style and features content (NYT Cooking, NYT Games, Wirecutter). Thompson has served as Chairman of Ancestry since December 2020.

Previously, as director-general (CEO and editor-in-chief) of the BBC from 2004-2012, Thompson presided over one of the world’s biggest newsrooms as well as scores of national and international TV and radio services and extensive global digital news assets. He led the development of the BBC iPlayer, the world’s first streaming service from a major broadcaster, expanded web and smartphone services from news to education to entertainment, and oversaw coverage of the biggest events of the time from the global financial crisis of 2008-09 to the 2012 Olympic Games in London. Before becoming a senior executive, Thompson was a working researcher, director, field producer and award-winning showrunner in the BBC’s news division.

Mark Thompson was knighted for services to Media in the King’s Birthday Honours June 2023.

CNN’s interim leadership team of Amy Entelis, EVP, Talent and Content Development, David Leavy, COO, Virginia Moseley, EVP of Editorial, CNN US, and Eric Sherling, EVP of U.S. Programming will continue in their functional roles, reporting to Thompson.

from Mark Thompson Named Chairman and CEO of CNN Worldwide | Warner Bros. Discovery

3 Likes
480

what are everyone’s predictions on the changes he will make first up?

1 Like
481

He has a difficult job.

Steady CNNs linear ratings and viewership - but also start building out the brand for a streaming and digital future where younger audiences get news from always on news alerts and Tik tok

He needs to transform cnn into a relevant news brand for the future

6 Likes
482

Rebuilding trust with the viewer is going to have to be a priority to stem any viewer losses. From there you can build a platform for growth

The election gives CNN a good springboard for this

4 Likes
483

CNN’s new Mexico City studio, introduced this Spring. This is a fully virtual studio installed in a broom cupboard studio inside their bureau (located at an office block in Paseo de la Reforma). The Latin American branch of WBD has been recently going all-in with virtual sets, with most news and sports programming from the company’s local brands coming out of green-screen studios.

The new studio is used for CNN en Español’s main news program, Panorama Mundial con Gabriela Frías (Frías, long a biz journalist for CÑÑ, was anchor of the midday edition of CNN Redacción, a Spanish-language version of the domestic CNN Newsroom, which also airs a morning edition from the Buenos Aires studio; Frías moved to the evening show after the resignation of María Alejandra Requena, who left CNN to pursue its own media projects; the signing of Frías after months of rotating hosts led to the dropping of the midday edition, and Panorama Mundial’s production moving from Miami to Mexico City in the process), as well as an interview program led by lauded and acclaimed Mexican journalist Carmen Aristegui (similar in format to Amanpour, but much shorter and focusing on Latin American and Mexican issues).

CNN_MexicoCity
CNN_MexicoCity1920×1581 302 KB

Another show based out of Mexico, Perspectivas con Mario González (focused exclusively on local current affairs), is still airing from a flash cam position located inside the bureau’s newsroom (remodeled around 2015, but still having quite some relics of the 1990s-style CNNI studio designs), which is also often utilized for pre-recorded interviews. A more conventional DTL flash cam studio is also available there, often used for two-ways:

CNN_MexicoCity_Newsroom
CNN_MexicoCity_Newsroom1920×618 150 KB

1 Like
484

Coinciding the launch of the lunchtime bulletin, CNN Brasil has updated the lower thirds while introducing a new series of colour palette.

In their own words:

CNN Manhã (the early morning radio simulcast) handing over to CNN Novo Dia (New Day):

Live CNN in daytime:

CNN Brasil Maio Dia, the new midday news programme:

CNN 360° in the afternoon:

Evening investigative programme CNN Arena:

And CNN Prime Time:

2 Likes
485

What’re people’s thoughts of Phil and Poppy on CNN mornings?

Bits I have seen tonight seem a bit wooden but Phil is still great and not bad on the eye too! :wink:

1 Like
486

Reckon they’re a great combo.

They have some lighter moments too. Look up when Phil spilt his coffee.

487

Mark Thompson’s stewardship of CNN began Monday, with a pledge to staff to end the “false balance” attitude which marked Zucker’s era of the network, but still with the need of covering “political news proportionately and fairly, but not be frightened of our own shadows.” However, Thompson was strongly critical of the network’s role in the digital era, saying that the cable linear channel was still “too dominant at CNN and digital too marginal”, and is still “still nowhere near ready for the future”, whilst praising the launch of CNN Max in the US as “encouraging developments”.

The arrival of Thompson has coincided with CNN’s superb coverage of the ongoing Middle East conflict, and he has strongly praised the coverage as “basically great”. A former CNN president, Jon Klein (now a high-profile executive and investor on start-ups related to technology and media), commended his hiring, telling to The Hollywood Reporter magazine, his experience leading the BBC and The New York Times is very fundamental to bring all that experience and “the right DNA to the crisis coverage he is stepping into” and onto CNN’s future path.

3 Likes
488

Watching the impending car crash that is CNN’s NYE celebrations - it always makes me chuckle that they can’t be bothered covering any NYE event on the West Coast

2 Likes
489

East Coast bias. They cover NY but nothing else

2 Likes
490

One of my faves on CNN. Hope she can recover well.

3 Likes
491

Industry media is reporting Mark Thompson’s first move under his leadership: first, he has elected to retain most of the Zucker-era executive team, and has promoted Virginia Moseley under a new “executive editor” role and Mike McCarthy as managing editor in a day to day basis, plus rehiring Alex McCallum (the person behind CNN+, and a Times executive during the Thompson years) to lead the digital strategy much promoted by Thompson.

Additionally, the network is making a big reorganization, with the newsgathering structure now covering CNN, CNNI and the digital services, a first step towards Thompson’s goal for a digital-first newsroom; plus, he is exploring to expand CNN’s revenue sources towards subscription-based content and refining the network’s digital offerings, calling it a “true multimedia strategy” for the network.

1 Like
492

CNN Philippines, the local franchise operated by Nine Media (who also owns RPN), is shutting down.

The station has been under financial troubles in recent years, as seen in this Rappler article.

1 Like
493

More tinkering.

3 Likes
494

This is not the only thing: the whole morning schedule is being fully turned upside down. Here’s a summary:

  • Poppy and Mattingly are out
  • Kasie Hunt’s Early Start (from DC) to use “CNN This Morning” branding, extended to 7am
  • Morning “CNN News Central” from NY moving to breakfast (a good move IMHO, straight news during the morning as an alternative to Fox/MSNBC/OTA TV)
  • Jim Acosta gets back a Domestic hour under “CNN Newsroom” branding
  • Studios stay put, but all morning programming to be produced from Techwood (Atlanta)
  • Pamela Brown’s new show from DC to debut on Spring, but at 11am

I think Mark Thompson made the good moves this time (except for demoting Poppy and Phil, whom will be staying with CNN), but I don’t understand why they are sticking with “CNN Newsroom”, even if it is now relegated to the weekend and International schedules. Maybe they are thinking “News Central” will be used for the more, breaking news-heavy dayside slots (the breakfast and lunchtime slots), whilst “Newsroom” will be retained for the more straightforward news hours primarily entitled for CNN Max and International (plus weekends).

Additionally, it would the first time the Washington bureau overtakes NY in news production hours: 13 hours a day from the domestic networks (against 7 for NY, primarily for prime time content).

1 Like
495

Yes that’s in the link although true, perhaps not obvious from the text.

2 Likes