ZWF: Things are not well at CNN
Zander's Weekend Facts #69: Sunday, June 4, 2023
Inside this week’s edition of Zander’s Weekend Facts, turmoil engulfs CNN, and a look at what Zander’s been reading this past week. Plus, a compilation of the top headlines you need to know from the last seven days.
Also, go listen to the latest episode of the Zander’s Facts podcast! Episode 107 features a preview of the NBA Finals with Zander’s Facts NBA analyst Hill Billy. Go download the Zander’s Facts podcast wherever you get your podcasts!
Here are Zander’s Weekend Facts for Sunday, June 4, 2023:
New article exposes turmoil inside CNN
CNN hasn’t exactly been thriving under its new management.
Back in April 2022, the parent company of CNN, WarnerMedia, was spun-off from its previous owner, AT&T, and merged with Discovery, Inc. to create Warner Bros. Discovery. In February of that year, CNN CEO Jeff Zucker resigned from the company after nine years at the helm for failing to disclose a relationship with another CNN executive.
When new WBD CEO David Zaslav, previously head of Discovery, Inc., took charge, he needed to find the next leader for the self-proclaimed “most trusted name in news.”
In May of last year, he turned to The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, plucking its executive producer Chris Licht from late night and putting him in charge with one of the world’s largest news media organizations.
While Licht had previous experience in television news, he previously served as the executive producer of MSNBC’s Morning Joe and CBS’ CBS This Morning, the choice was a little out of left field.
Throughout Licht’s first year, it was clear things were not going well at the Cable News Network.
Ratings for the network, which routinely finished behind rivals Fox News and MSNBC previously, have cratered. The Associated Press found that in March, CNN’s ratings were down 61% from one year ago, compared to 27% and 12% decreases for its conservative and liberal competitors. Last month, the network averaged just 494,000 viewers in primetime, paltry compared to the 1 million+ its aforementioned adversaries averaged.
Attempts to remedy the main problem have been wildly unsuccessful. Licht’s first try was revamping the programming block he may know best, morning television. Licht engineered “CNN This Morning” in November, just before last year’s midterm elections as the supposed answer to capturing viewership currently held by other networks.
Seven months in, two of the program’s three original anchors are gone. One fired, and another moved to primetime. And the show has yet to make a dent in its competitors.
Another try, the reprehensible Donald Trump town hall in New Hampshire, gave the network a much-needed ratings boost for one night, only to fall to severe lows in the days afterward. CNN hadn’t only fallen back behind Fox and MSNBC in primetime, but had actually averaged fewer viewers than far-right network Newsmax.
The company also announced hundreds of layoffs late last year, adding even more insult to the company’s beleaguered reputation both internally and externally.
Things weren’t looking great from the outside. And now, thanks to a new article published in The Atlantic on Friday, we know that things were actually much worse on the inside.
Friday morning, The Atlantic staff writer Tim Alberta dropped a devastating exposé into Licht’s one-year tenure in an article titled, “Inside the Meltdown at CNN.” (The article can be found here. It is available to read in full for free on Apple News.)
Licht unprecedently sat down with Alberta for a series of interviews over the last year, giving Alberta a nearly unfettered look into how the company was run top to bottom.
And I’m not sure the result was what Licht was hoping for when he agreed to speak.
But my main takeaway isn’t that Licht has clearly failed at his job of revitalizing CNN. It’s that he was put in a position to fail by his bosses.
Sure, Licht made some grave mistakes that were detailed in the feature. Like moving his office away from his employees so they wouldn’t know where he is, staring into his phone at social occasions, inconsistently punishing his employees, and alienating the network’s viewers by courting others who were never going to watch in the first place. But the reason CNN is grasping at straws at the moment is not the fault of Licht.
A look-through of the article will clearly tell you where the trouble is coming from. Alberta writes,
Lots of CNN employees on that morning call disagreed with Licht. They thought his execution of the event had been dreadful; they believed his tactical decisions had essentially ceded control of the town hall to Trump, put Collins in an impossible position, and embarrassed everyone involved with the production. These opinions were widely held—and almost entirely irrelevant. Everyone at CNN had long ago come to realize that Licht was playing for an audience of one. It didn’t matter what they thought, or what other journalists thought, or even what viewers thought. What mattered was what David Zaslav thought.
Later,
Over the previous year, people who knew Zaslav—and who had observed his relationship with Licht—had depicted him as a control freak, a micromanager, a relentless operator who helicoptered over his embattled CNN leader. Zaslav’s constant meddling in editorial decisions struck network veterans as odd and inappropriate; even stranger was his apparent marionetting of Licht.
In total, David Zaslav’s name is mentioned 42 times throughout the piece. Third most behind Licht and fired anchor Don Lemon, a common cause for Licht’s frustrations.
Zaslav’s career spans from NBCUniversal, where he oversaw content distribution and relationships with cable operators, to Discovery, where he served as the company’s CEO for 16 years before the WarnerMedia merger.
Now, Zaslav was extremely successful at Discovery. Under his watch, the company printed money by getting millions of people to watch inexpensive programming on networks like Discovery Channel, Animal Planet, and TLC. The company acquired Scripps in 2018, bringing popular channels like Food Network, HGTV, and Travel Channel.
The issue, of course, is that a lot of that content is just mind-numbing twaddle. Anyone care for a little “My 600-lb life” on TLC (The Learning Channel?) Or how about some “Naked and Afraid” on Discovery? Or maybe you’d like “90 Day Fiancé: Happily Ever After?” Hopefully not, but a lot of people would.
So now, the architect of these and much more is in charge of not just a massive global news operation, but also legacy media brands like Warner Bros., Turner, Cartoon Network, and HBO.
While Warner Bros. wasn’t exactly a money-making machine (there’s a reason AT&T got rid of it) it has created some of the most well-done, iconic entertainment we’ve been privileged to witness. “The Sopranos,” “The Wire,” “Game of Thrones,” even modern hits such as “Succession” are products of HBO. Movies like “Space Jam,” “The Goonies,” “Superman,” “Beetlejuice,” and classics like “Casablanca,” “Bonnie & Clyde,” and “Cool Hand Luke” have all come from the classic WB. Not to mention “Looney Tunes,” “The West Wing,” “Ted Lasso,” and the critically acclaimed “Inside the NBA” studio show.
Zaslav and his team, who run the combined company, have never dealt with iconic brands like they now control, and you can already see their footprints being strategically placed.
The beginning of this year’s NBA Playoffs on TNT were almost unwatchable with the amount of ads featuring now corporate sister “Dr. Pimple Popper.” Zaslav also decided it was a good idea to tell the world that WBD Sports doesn’t need the NBA (which, why else would you watch TNT?) in an apparent negotiation tactic that backfired so bad he then had to change his tune. Even the changing name of the company’s streaming service from HBO Max to simply Max comes with the influx of Discovery programs like the aforementioned pimple popping.
It’s all led to worries about what might be next for the Warner Bros. side of the business. With cost-cutting rampant at the year-old company, how long will HBO be able to create massively expensive productions like “House of the Dragon.” Will the marvelous NBA on TNT production, headlined by the universally adored by fans of the association “Inside the NBA” crew, be a victim of the new company’s priorities? (Will we have to rely on Greeny and Stephen A’s “analysis” instead? 😰)
And then there’s CNN.
Zaslav has never been in charge of a news organization before, yet has made it his prerogative to micromanage the inner workings of one. All in the name of moving CNN closer to the center of the political spectrum. The network undoubtedly does have some liberal bias, but the attempts to move CNN neutral are egregiously halfwitted.
When Licht first took charge of the network, he made the rounds on Capitol Hill, assuring Republican politicians that this is a new CNN. That while any interview on the network would be tough, it would also be fair.
More Republicans are appearing on CNN nowadays, but it hasn’t exactly moved the network closer to the ideological center. Doing that would mean an emphasized focus on journalism and storytelling, which CNN does lots of and does very well. But having Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL), who believes the 2020 presidential election was rigged, and his lord and savior Donald Trump on the network to spread their proven lies does a great job in negating the actual journalistic work being done.
When CNN anchor Jake Tapper took over the airwaves after the Trump town hall to express his disgust at the mistruths that were told moments before, Zaslav, according to the article, told confidants that it reminded him of “Zucker’s CNN” in reference to the near-daily Trump-bashing that took place on the network under former CEO Jeff Zucker.
The article detailed how Licht and his lieutenant’s made sure the term “Sexual abuse” was not used on an on-air chyron that night, how they made sure Anderson Cooper’s more opinionated panel of guests got more airtime than Tapper’s, and how Licht berated CNN media reporter Oliver Darcy for opening his newsletter the day after the town hall with the line, “It’s hard to see how America was served by the spectacle of lies that aired on CNN Wednesday evening.”
And with the constant “micromanaging” and phone calls Licht receives according to the article, it’s hard to see how the overall message isn’t being handed down from corporate headquarters. Especially when one of WBD’s biggest shareholders, John Malone, has argued that, according to the article, “CNN could learn a few things from the reporters at Fox News.”
Fears inside CNN regarding Licht, Zaslav, and Malone have apparently been building for over a year now. And if Licht departs the company, which could be sooner than later as a Zaslav deputy was just appointed the company’s COO, those fears won’t go away.
Former CNN media reporter and anchor Brian Stelter, who was fired by Licht, provided this Twitter thread with context:
https://twitter.com/brianstelter/status/1664637312041451528?s=20
As long as Zaslav and Malone continue to push their “I would like to see CNN evolve back to the kind of journalism that it started with, and actually have journalists, which would be unique and refreshing” load of bull, it doesn’t matter who the head of CNN will be. The network and its news-gathering organization will certainly be in trouble.
What Zander’s been reading
As Republicans across the country attempt to ban books, ridicule teachers, and take control of the public education system, new polling shows their efforts aren’t backed by the majority of Americans. New NPR/Ipsos polling shows that even among Republican voters, banning books and limiting teaching race in schools isn’t popular.
Check out this week’s featured article on NPR - Poll: Americans say teachers are underpaid, about half of Republicans oppose book bans - (Apple News link)
Rapid-fire Facts
These are top news headlines from the past week in rapid-fire fashion:
U.S. Default Averted: After a deal to raise the U.S. debt ceiling was reached between President Joe Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy last week, Congress has subsequently passed and the President has signed the bill into law. The bill comes just two days before the U.S. would have defaulted on its debt for the first time in history. The White House and House Republicans negotiated a deal that would raise the debt ceiling until January 2025 while also capping government spending for the next two years and increasing work requirements for the SNAP program.
Jobs Report: The May U.S. jobs report released on Friday showed much better numbers than initially expected. The U.S. economy added 339,000 jobs last month, higher than the Dow Jones’ estimate of 190,000 and the 29th straight month the economy has added jobs. The number is also the highest since January when 472,000 jobs were added. The unemployment rate rose to 3.7% from 3.4%, although the labor force participation rate did not change from 62.6%. The positive numbers, along with the passage of the debt ceiling bill in Congress, brought green to Wall Street on Friday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up over 700 points on the day, while the NASDAQ added 139 points, concluding its sixth straight positive week.
India Train Crash: Over 280 people were killed and 900 more injured in a train crash that took place in India on Friday. The crash took place after two passenger trains collided due to a signal failure in the eastern state of Odisha. The country, which just surpassed China as the world’s most populous, deals with several hundred train accidents per year. The National Crime Records Bureau found that from 2017 to 2022, there were over 100,000 train-related deaths in India. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi canceled a ceremony planned on Saturday that would have inaugurated a new high-speed train as the country attempts to modernize its railways.
Turkey Election: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan was declared the winner in Turkey’s presidential election, which wrapped up with a run-off last Sunday. Erdoğan got 52% of the vote against Leader of the Main Opposition Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu. Erdoğan’s victory continues his 20-year reign over Turkey, having served as president since 2014 and as prime minister for 11 years prior. Erdoğan will serve another five-year term as the country’s president that runs through the 2028 elections.
Hurricane Season: The first named storm of the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season formed in the Gulf of Mexico on Friday. Arlene, a tropical storm with its effects reaching the west coast of Florida, is currently moving south toward Cuba. Arlene was only a tropical storm for a few hours, being downgraded to a tropical depression on Saturday. Late last month, NOAA forecasters predicted that there will be 12-17 named storms this year in the Atlantic, with 5-9 of those being hurricanes.
Zander’s Facts Sporting Club
Here are the top headlines from the sports world in the ZF Sporting Club:
NBA Finals: The final round of the 2023 NBA Playoffs has tipped off, with the Denver Nuggets and Miami Heat meeting in this year’s edition of the NBA Finals. Game 1 of the series took place on Thursday night, with the Nuggets winning 104-93 at home. Game 2 tips-off from Denver tonight at 8:00 pm et on ABC. The series shifts to Miami for Games 3 and 4 later this week. Game 3 tips off on Wednesday night while Game 4 takes place on Friday, with both games starting at 8:30 pm et. All games in the seven-game series will air on ABC. The Nuggets are looking for their first NBA championship in franchise history, while the Heat are seeking their fourth league title and the first since 2013.
Stanley Cup Finals: The 2023 Stanley Cup Finals kicked off on Saturday night between the Florida Panthers and Vegas Golden Knights. In Saturday’s Game 1 in Las Vegas, the Golden Knights scored three third-period goals to take a 1-0 series lead over the Panthers. Game 2 of the series will take place tomorrow night in Las Vegas. The series will shift to Sunrise, Florida for Games 3 and 4, which are set for Thursday and Saturday. All games in the series will begin at 8:00 pm et and air on TNT. Both franchises are looking for their first-ever Stanley Cup, with both having made one previous appearance in the final.
NBA Coaching Carousel: With 28 teams in the NBA now in offseason mode, the coaching carousel has continued to roll on around the league. Last week, the Detroit Pistons hired former Phoenix Suns head coach Monty Williams to a massive six-year, $78.5 million deal to become the team’s head coach, making Williams the highest-paid coach in the league. After firing Doc Rivers, the Philadelphia 76ers named former Toronto Raptors head coach Nick Nurse to be the team’s new head man. Nurse was coach of the Raptors when the team won the 2019 NBA Finals. One of Nurse’s assistants, Adrian Griffin, was hired to replace Mike Budenholzer as head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks.
Women’s College World Series: The NCAA Softball season will conclude this week with the finale of the Women’s College World Series in Oklahoma City. The best-of-three Championship round does not begin until Wednesday, but the WCWS preliminary rounds continue until Monday. So far, #1 Oklahoma and #3 Florida State have advanced to the semifinals, which take place on Monday. The winner of today’s game between #9 Stanford and #7 Washington will face Oklahoma, while Florida State will face the winner of today’s game between #6 Oklahoma State and #4 Tennessee. Oklahoma or Florida State wins automatically put them in the Championship Final, while wins by the remaining teams would force a winner-take-all if necessary game on Monday.
CONCACAF Champions League: The second leg of the largest club soccer competition in the North American region takes place later tonight. In the CONCACAF Champions League Final, MLS club LAFC faces Liga MX’s Club León. In the first leg of the competition that took place in León on Wednesday night, León held on for a 2-1 advantage. Tonight’s second leg will take place in Los Angeles, with an MLS club looking to win the competition for the second straight year and second time overall. Tonight’s match kicks off at 9:00 pm et on FS1, UniMás, and TUDN. The winner of the Final will also clinch a spot in the next edition of the FIFA Club World Cup.
Wrapping up the Facts
Before this edition of Zander’s Weekend Facts wraps up, here’s another reminder to check out the latest episodes of the Zander’s Facts podcast. Download and listen to the latest episode of the podcast, along with every episode of Zander’s Facts, wherever you get your podcasts.
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That’s a wrap on this week’s edition of Zander’s Weekend Facts. The facts in print return next Sunday, June 11, 2023.
