More changes at CNN as top programming executive to leave at year’s end
CNN President Jeff Zucker is leaving the network after three years with the company, which he took over in January. He will be replaced with CNN Chief Content Officer Jeff Zucker.
As a result, CNN entertainment president Chris Albrecht is promoted to president of CNN International, while president David Zaslav is promoted to the President of CNN Productions.
The moves by longtime CNN executives come as new CEO CNN President Jeff Zucker continues to overhaul the cable news business as part of his ambitious plan to remake the network into a 24-hour 24/7 news network.
CNN’s programming was among the most-watched in cable news last year with a record-breaking total of 3.7 billion total viewers. The network also broke the Nielsen record for largest audience with the largest number of people watching CNN-anchored programs live.
CNN also had the highest-rated cable news channel in the country, according to Nielsen Media Research.
CNN’s biggest news ratings were in the wake of the September 11 attacks, the first major U.S. terrorist attack on U.S. soil, and the shooting at the Washington Navy Yard.
CNN had the highest rated news/opinion ratings in the last quarter of 2001. In addition, CNN was first among cable news channels in terms of total viewers, with more than 1.6 million average viewers each night.
At CNN, Zucker took over the mantle of building the news network as the network came out of its long “do nothing” era. “CNN will break records and change people’s lives,” he said in announcing his vision for the cable news network.
Zucker has been at a media company before. He was the founder and CEO of Home Shopping Network. CNN executives and some who worked with Zucker at the company said they had never heard him complain, and that he was always extremely positive regarding CNN’s progress during his time there.
CNN has seen a number of top executives depart the company over the past year. The departure of CNN’s President Jeff Zucker, whose contract was up at the end of the year, was
