CNN announced on Monday that its long-struggling morning show would undergo yet another change. Despite changes in leadership and the person behind the anchor desk, the network has not been able to resolve its AM problem.
With its programming constantly changing and its viewership steadily declining, CNN has been experiencing an identity crisis in recent years. Creating a hallmark morning show has perhaps been one of CNN’s toughest difficulties over the last ten years, as its offerings have lagged behind MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” and FOX News Channel’s “FOX & Friends” in terms of audience.
When “New Day” debuted in 2013 under then-CNN president Jeff Zucker, the revolving door officially started. During his tenure at NBC’s “Today,” Zucker was once regarded as a morning show maestro.
CNN CHANGES STRUGGLING MORNING SHOW, PROMOTES JIM ACOSTA TO WEEKDAYS, AS RATINGS ISSUE CONTINUE
Zucker personally chose anchors Chris Cuomo, Kate Bolduan, and Michaela Pereira to replace the short-lived morning program presented by left-wing journalist Soledad O’Brien, and “New Day” made a big splash when it debuted. Trade journals for broadcast production lauded the show’s intricate set design, and CNN even got pop sensation Alicia Keys to sing a promotional jingle before the show’s highly reported premiere.
No matter who sat behind the anchor desk, “New Day” struggled to acquire traction despite being reintroduced several times with different anchors. After taking turns at the leadership, Cuomo, Bolduan, Pereira, Alisyn Camerota, and Brianna Keilar were all finally removed from the show. “New Day” never had a yearly average of 700,000 viewers.
