Under New CEO, CNN Faces Radical Overhaul: Big Names Brace For Chopping Block

This downturn in ratings has been linked to the network's perceived anti-conservative bias, which has been particularly pronounced during the Trump administration. The recent departure of CEO Chris Licht, who was held accountable for the network's struggles despite the issues predating his tenure, has paved the way for a new leadership approach focused on cost-cutting.

According to recent reports, several of the network's high-profile anchors could be facing substantial salary reductions or even potential termination. New CEO Mark Thompson is reportedly planning drastic cuts to overhaul the network as it grapples with plummeting ratings. This puts anchors such as Anderson Cooper, Chris Wallace, Wolf Blitzer, and Jake Tapper in a precarious position, a source reveals.

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"Anderson knows he's on the chopping block because he makes a whopping $20 million a year. He's already started looking for a new gig!" a network insider exclusively tells. "Chris Wallace takes $8 million and figures he's a likely target, too!" Other network favorites, including Blitzer, who earns $15 million, and Tapper, who earns $8 million, are also reportedly bracing for potential dismissal.

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CNN's predicament mirrors that of Disney. Regardless of a company's ideological leanings, financial viability is paramount. If revenue is not generated, the company's survival is at stake. CNN has been grappling with a ratings deficit for years. In January 2024, it found itself lagging behind more specialized networks like Hallmark and History (formerly The History Channel).

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March 03, 2024

The network, which recently appointed former New York Times and BBC boss Mark Thompson as its CEO, had an average of 538,000 nightly viewers in the 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. block during the seven-day period from Jan. 15 until Jan. 21, according to the most recent data compiled by Nielsen. CNN not only trailed behind rivals Fox and MSNBC, but it also ranked as the 10th most-watched channel on cable, falling behind Hallmark, The History Channel, and INSP, a South Carolina-based channel founded in the late 1970s by Christian televangelists.

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Even if CNN's ratings were not in decline, the justification for paying Chris Wallace $8 million or Anderson Cooper $20 million is questionable. The ability to read a teleprompter and exhibit a left-wing bias is not a unique skill set. The value offered by Jake Tapper's on-camera performances and his expressed concern for "democracy" is also debatable.

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If these high-profile anchors were attracting large audiences and providing a return on investment for their salaries, the situation might be different. However, they are being outperformed by low-budget movies on Hallmark. Something has to change, and it falls to new CEO Mark Thompson to stabilize CNN's finances if the network is to endure.

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Does this mean that CNN will abandon its perceived left-wing bias? Unlikely. If anything, it is expected that CNN will attempt to emulate MSNBC more closely. With this in mind, perhaps bankruptcy is the most viable option for the network.