CNN Overhauls Schedule, Setting Abby Phillip, Laura Coates in Evenings

CNN, grappling with shortfalls in linear TV ratings, unveiled a new programming schedule that will put new faces in key weekday slots and launch new weekend programs for veterans Chris Wallace and Christiane Amanpour.

Pamela Brown, Kasie Hunt, Victor Blackwell and Manu Raju are among the journalists who will have new solo-anchored hours. Allisyn Camerota, who has been holding down late nights for the past few months, will take up longer form reporting and will contribute to the Sunday documentary program “The Whole Story,” CNN said Monday.

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“By expanding the range and depth of our programming lineup across multiple dayparts, we are strengthening our reporting excellence throughout the schedule, elevating our ability to tell great stories across platforms, and doubling down on CNN’s position as the most trusted name in news,” the network said in a statement.

CNN unveils the new assignments as many TV-news outlets are preparing for the run-up to the 2024 presidential election, a cycle that typically brings with it more viewership and ratings — and advertising revenue.

The moves give rise to a new weekday lineup that is largely anchored by women and people of color — a rarity in cable news, even in 2024. Anderson Cooper will keep his regular 8 p.m. hour, but, starting with Erin Burnett at 7, CNN will be anchored by women in four of five weekday evening hours. Kaitlan Collins started anchoring the 9 p.m. hour earlier this year. Now she will be followed by Abby Phillip at 10, in a New York-based program, “CNN NewsNight.” Coates will anchor “Laura Coates Live,” at 11, finally being awarded a regular weekday evening slot that is said to have been promised to her when Jeff Zucker ran CNN.

Pamela Brown will take up new duties at 3 p.m. Phil Mattingly has, after weeks of appearing alongside Poppy Harlow on “CNN This Morning,” been made her official co-anchor. Kasie Hunt, who once opened up the daytime schedule for MSNBC in advance of the start of “Morning Joe,” is taking up duties on the early-morning “Early Start.”

CNN is also making substantial moves on the weekends. Manu Raju, an intrepid Capitol Hill correspondent, will take up the reins of the weekend version of “Inside Politics,” previously anchored by Phillip. Victor Blackwell will lead a new solo morning program on Saturdays, which will broadcast from Atlanta and focus on stories that affect communities of color. Chris Wallace and Christiane Amanpour take up solo hours on Saturdays.

Fredricka Whitfield and Jim Acosta retain their current weekend duties.

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