Report: CNN Gives-Up Trying To Replace Chris Cuomo

CNN has decided to abandon plans altogether to fill its weekday evening 9pm time slot with a regular anchor or opinion host following the firing of Chris Cuomo more than one year ago, in December 2021.

The Daily Mail reports Instead, the network will present a variety of programming including a range of special reports, all under the banner: 'CNN Primetime' in a shift towards what's being termed, 'news not names'.

Such content might include one-on-one interviews with newsmakers, town halls that put government officials in direct contact with the people affected by policy decisions other 'scoops', the network has said.

The move is something of a departure for CNN from having a single presenter in a regular time slot such is the form at rivals MSNBC where Rachel Maddow hosts or at Fox News where Sean Hannity rules the roost at that hour.

CNN's new approach is part of a larger effort by its parent company, Warner Bros. Discovery, to position the network as 'the place for fact-based reporting and thoughtful discourse,' CEO David Zaslav stated to investors last week. 

CNN's challenge comes with the knowledge that traditional, straight news programming, has generally not brought in the viewing figures needed to beat its competitors, both of which rely heavily on opinion and personality-led programming.

For 25 years at CNN, the network's 9pm slot was home to Larry King and his legendary Larry King Live show from 1985 to 2010. Piers Morgan then took over with his show Piers Morgan Live but it was shelved in 2014 after just three years routinely being beaten in the ratings by cable competitors.