Report: CNN Wooing Gayle King, Charles Barkley

Gayle King and Charles Barkley

CNN is finalizing a deal for “CBS Mornings” anchor Gayle King to host a weekly prime-time show, according to people familiar with the situation, as network boss Chris Licht experiments with new programming to counter a steep ratings slide. 

The Wall Street Journal reports the 68-year-old King is expected to begin hosting a once-a-week show this fall, while continuing her duties at CBS, the people said. CNN is also in conversation with former NBA player Charles Barkley about potentially joining a show with Ms. King. 

Licht has been struggling to find the right formula for prime time since he took over last May. The network was on track to average 535,000 primetime viewers for the first quarter as of March 24, down about 35% from a year ago and its lowest quarterly ratings average since 2015, according to Nielsen data. 

In March, CNN is set to post its lowest monthly rating in at least three decades among adults 25 to 54, a key demographic for advertisers.

Cable news channels are collectively having a harder time drawing viewers after several years of high interest in the Covid-19 pandemic, the last presidential election cycle and the war in Ukraine. CNN has experienced the biggest decline. Ratings leader Fox News, which was averaging 2.1 million prime-time viewers as of March 24, was down about 15% compared with a year earlier, while MSNBC’s ratings were down about 6%.

Turnover in big names has been a challenge. At CNN, former 9 p.m. host Chris Cuomo was fired in late 2021 after an investigation into his efforts to help his brother, former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, respond to sexual misconduct allegations. Chris Cuomo, who claimed he was wrongfully terminated, last year joined Nexstar Media Group Inc.’s cable-TV news network NewsNation.

King, a well-known national news figure, would add a familiar face with broad experience to CNN’s lineup. Mr. Barkley, who is outspoken on a range of issues beyond basketball, is already part of the Warner Bros. Discovery family as one of the hosts of the popular “Inside the NBA” program on its TNT channel.