Entertainment
NEW: CNN To Fire Hundreds As Ratings Crash
CNN, the once-dominant cable news network, is set to lay off approximately 210 employees, or about 6% of its total workforce, as it struggles to stay afloat amid plummeting ratings and shifting viewer habits. The network’s parent company, Warner Bros. Discovery, confirmed the layoffs Thursday, signaling yet another turbulent chapter for the media giant.
CEO Mark Thompson addressed the staff in a memo, confirming the cuts and attempting to reassure employees that the company remains committed to its future. The network has faced a steady decline in viewership in recent years, particularly as audiences seek alternative sources for news and entertainment.
With traditional cable subscriptions dwindling and competition from independent and conservative media outlets rising, CNN has been forced to reconsider its approach to maintaining relevance. In the memo, Thompson said that the overall headcount might not significantly decrease this year due to a planned $70 million investment in digital initiatives.
“I know that whatever the total number of job losses, the impact on the individuals involved can be immense,” Thompson said in a memo obtained by CNBC. “The process of change is essential if we’re to thrive in the future, but I both acknowledge and regret its very real human consequences.”
According to sources familiar with the situation, the job cuts at CNN are aimed at reducing production costs and consolidating teams. Some shows currently produced in New York or Washington may be relocated to Atlanta, where production costs are lower.
The sources noted that the cuts are unlikely to impact CNN’s most recognizable on-air talent, who are protected by contracts. CNN employs approximately 3,500 people globally.
CNN unveiled several initiatives in the memo, detailing plans to introduce a new streaming option for digital subscribers outside of CNN Max, which is part of Warner Bros. Discovery’s Max streaming service. “CNN plans to announce content details in the coming months,” Thompson noted in his message to staff.
To enhance its digital footprint, CNN also intends to hire at least 100 new employees in the near future, focusing on product development, technology, and “new high-quality journalism and storytelling.” This includes creating a “lifestyle-oriented digital product.”
Additionally, the network is making significant changes to its linear TV lineup both in the U.S. and internationally. CNN is developing new morning shows in the U.S., extending “The Situation Room,” hosted by Wolf Blitzer and Pamela Brown, by an hour, moving “CNN’s The Arena with Kasie Hunt” to 4 p.m. ET, and repositioning Jake Tapper’s “The Lead” to 5 p.m. ET.
While the liberal outlet scrambles to adapt to the evolving media landscape with new digital initiatives and strategic layoffs, internal challenges extend beyond just financial struggles. The network is also grappling with how to navigate its coverage of President Donald Trump—a figure who has long been at odds with the organization.
The long-simmering war between Trump and CNN entered a new phase this week when a top network executive reportedly warned anchor Jake Tapper about “pre-judging” Trump and putting their team in legal jeopardy once again.
Thompson urged his network to shift its coverage of President Trump, advising anchors like Tapper to avoid “pre-judging” him based on past controversies. This follows Tapper’s recent defamation lawsuit loss and comes amid CNN’s declining ratings and financial struggles. Thompson prioritized focusing on Trump’s current actions, such as his executive orders on immigration and diversity programs, rather than revisiting past conflicts. The move is a strategic pivot as Thompson works to rebrand CNN despite resistance from journalists accustomed to the network’s previous adversarial stance against Trump.
