Rankings-challenged CNN is reportedly set for a serious massacre — with boss Mark Thompson anticipated to put off high-priced on-air expertise as a part of wide-ranging layoffs.
The cable community — which lagged behind rivals MSNBC and Fox Information throughout final week’s Election Evening protection — will implement “layoffs that will impact hundreds of employees across the organization,” based on Puck Information.
Thompson, who took over final yr after the ouster of Chris Licht, will cull personnel from CNN’s tv manufacturing groups whose “talents won’t necessarily be needed in the new digital-first landscape,” the outlet added.
The community’s workforce is reported to be dealing with “an atmosphere of high stress and high anxiety,” based on Puck.
Thompson, the previous CEO of the New York Instances and the BBC, might also demand deep cuts to the large salaries raked in by its struggling primetime secure of anchors, which embrace Anderson Cooper, Erin Burnett and Kaitlan Collins.
Cooper, who anchored the Election night time protection, rakes in an annual wage reported to be as excessive as $20 million. Burnett makes about $6 million and Collins takes dwelling a extra budget-friendly $3 million.
The Put up has sought remark from CNN.
Indicators of change had been obvious on Monday after Chris Wallace confirmed that he was leaving CNN — ending a three-year stint on the community that was marred by low rankings and turmoil in its company board.
Final month, the impartial publication The Ankler reported that Thompson would ask Wallace, who was incomes a reported wage of $8.5 million yearly, in addition to different high stars on the community resembling Jake Tapper and Wolf Blitzer to take pay cuts.
As a part of Thompson’s reorganization plan, CNN will ask reporters and correspondents to imagine extra of the tasks which might be at present being dealt with by producers and manufacturing assistants.
CNN will even eliminate redundant assignments whereas both lowering — or outright eliminating — varied divisions, based on Puck.
Earlier this yr, CNN laid off about 100 staff — or 3% of its workforce.
The anticipated adjustments come amid paltry rankings for the community on Election Day — a day that’s has traditionally dominated.
CNN had simply 5.1 million viewers in prime time final Tuesday night time, based on Nielsen information. Fox Information, which shares frequent possession with The Put up, reeled in 10.3 million viewers from 8 to 11 p.m. Japanese time on Tuesday, based on Nielsen information.
MSNBC’s protection, anchored by Rachel Maddow, averaged 6 million viewers to finest CNN for the primary time in its historical past.
In 2016, CNN had an viewers of 13.3 million viewers on Election Day.
CNN spokespeople touted the community’s “cross-platform audience” of 44 million, which incorporates 14 million who streamed protection on its digital platforms and on CNN Max.
The community additionally famous that 67 million individuals visited CNN.com over the course of Election Day.
