Atlanta -- Cable News Network made several key programming decisions over the
weekend, but there's still no official word from the network about anticipated
layoffs this week.
Expanding its new strategy of personality-driven news programs, Bill Hemmer
will host a new CNN Tonight show from 10 p.m. to 10:30 p.m., leading into
The Spin Room with Tucker Carlson and Bill Press at 10:30 p.m.,
spokeswoman Kyra Bartlett said Tuesday morning.
CNN also said it signed a multiyear contract renewal with political analyst
Jeff Greenfield, who will host a yet-to-be-named half-hour program at 6 p.m.
After 16 years, it appears that the network is cutting Showbiz
Today,which runs in the slot Greenfield will take over later this
week.
Two longtime veterans have also left the network. Elsa Klensch, host of
fashion program Style, resigned Saturday. And CNN Headline News president
Bob Furnad announced his retirement Friday. The company hasn't named a
successor.
CNN -- which has seen its lead in the all-news niche slip thanks to ratings
gains by Fox News Channel and MSNBC -- began adding personality-driven programs
several weeks ago.
Its Gulf War star, Wolf Blitzer, hosts the half-hour Wolf Blitzer
Reports at 8 p.m. Legal analyst Greta Van Susteren -- who gained prominence
at CNN during its coverage of the O.J. Simpson murder trial -- now hosts The
Point at 8:30 p.m., leading into Larry King Live at 9 p.m.
CNN also signed a multiyear contract renewal with chief international
correspondent Christiane Amanpour. The network said Monday that Amanpour will
play an increased role on its Web coverage, in addition to a series of hour-long
programs she'll research and report for the network.
