Anderson Cooper has signed a new multiyear contract with CNN, ending months of intense speculation that he would leave the network to anchor the CBS Evening News.
The deal, finalized in recent weeks and first reported by Variety on December 8, 2025, ensures Cooper will remain host of Anderson Cooper 360° at 8 p.m. ET, continue contributing to 60 Minutes, co-host CNN’s New Year’s Eve broadcast with Andy Cohen, and expand his role in digital and podcast content including The Whole Story with Anderson Cooper and All There Is.
His decision comes despite CNN’s sharp primetime ratings declines—down 42% overall and 58% in the key 25–54 demographic in Q3 2025—and amid broader industry upheaval as networks shift toward streaming and digital revenue.
The renewal locks in one of CNN’s biggest remaining stars as the network, led by CEO Mark Thompson, pushes deeper into paywalled digital content and broadband distribution while linear viewership continues to erode.