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☆ CNN news is coming to Warner Bros. Discovery streaming service Max
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-24 | by ( Lillian Rizzo | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Warner Bros. Discovery announced Thursday that CNN Max will be added to its Max streaming service on Sept. 27, and will serve as a 24/7 live news hub. Discovery relaunched its flagship streaming service HBO Max as Max, combining content from Warner Bros. and Discovery+ under one roof. As for including sports on Max, Warner Bros. Discovery is targeting the start of MLB playoffs this fall to introduce sports on the streaming app, CNBC previously reported.

Persons: CNN Max, Jim Acosta, Rahel Solomon, Amara Walker, Fredricka Whitfield, Jim Sciutto —, Anderson Cooper, Jake Tapper, HBO Max, Max, Jeff Zucker, Chris Licht, Semafor, Mark Thompson, David Zaslav, we'll, We've, Zaslav, Warner, It's, Jim Sciutto Organizations: Cable News Network, CNN, Warner Bros . Discovery, Max, HBO, Warner Bros, Discovery, BBC, New York Times, MLB, CNBC Locations: Atlanta , Georgia

☆ Media and entertainment companies are finding more investment from the Middle East, but it can come with controversy. Here are 11 of the most notable deals.
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-22 | by ( Lucia Moses | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Insider broke down 11 top media companies with Middle Eastern backing or partnerships. Middle Eastern investment has poured into US media and entertainment, and US media companies have been eager recipients. Here's a rundown of 11 key Western media and entertainment companies, listed alphabetically, that have licensing and investment partnerships with Middle Eastern entities. Jimmy Finkelstein's news startup The Messenger has Middle Eastern funding via its acquisition of IMI-backed startup Grid, which is now shuttered. The North Road, Peter Chernin and Providence Equity's production roll-up, took a $150 million investment in January from the Qatar Investment Authority, Qatar's main investment vehicle, to support its expansion.

Persons: Peter Chernin, Jeff Zucker, Uber, Jamal Khashoggi's, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, —, hasn't, Mohammed bin Salman, SRMG, Abu, Abu Dhabi's, Jimmy Finkelstein's, BeIn, Stone, Ian Orefice, WBD Organizations: Providence, North, IMI, ex, CNN, Public Investment Fund, Blackstone, Washington Post, Saudi Crown, Saudi, Guardian, Media, Bloomberg Media, Saudi Research, Media Group, Media Investments, CNN Business, Abu Dhabi Media Investment Corporation, Sky News Arabia, Business, Independent, SRMG, Miramax, BeIn, Paramount, Qatar Investment Authority, Penske Media Corporation, Billboard, Variety, Penske, Vox Media, New York, Billboard Arabia, RedBird Capital, Mideast, MBC Group, MBC, Fortress Investment Group, Investment, Warner Bros Locations: Saudi Arabia, Qatar, UAE, West, Saudi, Abu Dhabi, ViacomCBS, SRMG

☆ Variety faces calls for a retraction as its head-turning story about CNN drama begins to fall apart
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-27 | by ( Oliver Darcy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Variety has a mess on its hands. Former CNN chief Jeff Zucker, The Atlantic journalist Tim Alberta, and Puck Editor-In-Chief Jon Kelly have all called for the outlet to publicly correct the record. But, thus far, Variety has resisted taking any such action, outside quietly removing the widely panned Tatiana Siegel-written feature from its online homepage. The outlet’s deafening silence comes as the piece begins to fall apart in public. (It goes without saying that Zucker’s camp denied to Siegel that this ever happened, but she printed it anyway.)

Persons: Jeff Zucker, Tim Alberta, Puck, Jon Kelly, Tatiana Siegel, Chris Licht, ”, Byers, Zucker, Siegel, David Zaslav, ” Byers, Siegel weaved, imploring, Natalie Korach, Zucker’s, Ramin Setoodeh, Cynthia Littleton, Korach, Kelly, Puck’s, “, Jeffrey Goldberg, …, ” Goldberg Organizations: CNN, Variety, The Atlantic, Warner Bros, Penske Media Corporation, PMC, The Locations: . Alberta, ” Alberta, Miami, cabanas, ”, Russian, Littleton

☆ Explosive Variety report on behind-the-scenes CNN drama ignites fierce backlash from top industry figures
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-25 | by ( Oliver Darcy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —Variety is facing a blistering wave of backlash. “Siegel was informed by The Atlantic that the charges were completely false, but she nevertheless decided to smear Alberta. Jon Kelly, editor in chief of Puck, similarly defended his reporter, who was portrayed in the piece as a Zucker shill. Reached for comment, a Variety spokesperson notably offered a defense of the piece that contained far less fervor. The spokesperson simply said, “Variety stands by our investigative story about CNN written by one of the best journalists in the business.”

Persons: Tatiana Siegel, Jeff Zucker, Zucker, —, Risa Heller, Heller, ” Heller, Chris Licht, Tim Alberta, Dylan Byers, Puck, ” Jeffrey Goldberg, “ Siegel, Siegel, ” Goldberg, Licht, “, Jon Kelly, “ Dylan Byers, ” Kelly, ” Organizations: CNN, Variety, Hollywood, Warner Bros, The, The Atlantic, Alberta Locations: Alberta, Alberta’s

☆ A bolder CNN is emerging after the ouster of former network chief Chris Licht
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-26 | by ( Oliver Darcy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —The post-Chris Licht era at CNN is taking shape. Viewers saw the most visible change on Monday when CNN updated the network’s on-screen banners that Licht had implemented in the final days before his departure. While the former network chief sought to tone down the volume, the emerging iteration of CNN is reporting the news in a bolder, unbridled way. To be clear, CNN has not reverted entirely back to the style of journalism that it practiced under former network chief Jeff Zucker. And the new programs that Licht introduced into the lineup, such as “CNN News Central,” remain in place, for now.

Persons: Chris Licht, Licht, I’m, Jeff Zucker, Donald Trump’s, it’s Organizations: CNN, CNN News Central Locations: Florida, Russia

☆ Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky says he'll 'challenge any leader in tech to bench press' after Musk/Zuck cage fight vow
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-23 | by ( Jyoti Mann | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Airbnb chief Brian Chesky said he'll "challenge any leader in tech to bench press." The vow follows Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg apparently agreeing to hold a cage fight. Brian Chesky told Bloomberg's Dave Lee he'd "challenge any leader in tech to bench press. The vow comes days after Musk escalated his rivalry with the Meta CEO by challenging him to a cage fight. The Airbnb chief weighed in on the billionaires' plans to cage fight and told Lee: "I've been waiting for these physical battles in tech.

Persons: Brian Chesky, Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, Chesky, Bloomberg he's, Bloomberg's Dave Lee he'd, Musk, Zuckerberg, Lee, I've, Christ Licht, he'd, Licht, Jeff Zucker, Zucker, Airbnb didn't Organizations: Bloomberg, CNN Locations: Atlantic

☆ CNN management focused on 'listening' and 'getting back to work' as the network moves on from Chris Licht
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-08 | by ( Trisha Gopal | Lucia Moses | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

A trio of longtime executives have taken charge at CNN following the exit of Chris Licht. There's a moment in Tim Alberta's brutal profile of CNN's now-former CEO Chris Licht where Licht awkwardly takes a jab at his predecessor Jeff Zucker. The following Monday, as Licht attempted to quell growing calls for his ouster, Licht told CNN staff: "As I read that article, I found myself thinking, CNN is not about me. Jeff Zucker and Chris Licht at an event in 2019, back when Zucker still ran CNN and Licht was the showrunner on The Late Show on CBS. If Licht was seen as mismanaging CNN's top talent, Entelis, in particular, is known to be the queen of talent.

Persons: Chris Licht, David Leavy, Amy Entelis, Tim Alberta's, CNN's, Licht, Jeff Zucker, Zucker, Donald Trump, Christiane Amanpour . Licht, Anderson Cooper, Jake Tapper, Kara Swisher, Mike Coppola, — Licht, Virginia Moseley, Eric Sherling, Wolf, David Zaslav, Zaslav, WBD, Leavy, We're, — Leavy, I'm, Kaitlan Collins, Don Lemon's, Poppy Harlow, Licht's, PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA, Jonathan Miller, Entelis, Peter Jennings, Ted Koppel, Anthony Bourdain, Eric Ripert, Masa Takayama, Turner, Lisa Ling's, Bell, Tapper —, CNN —, She's, — Organizations: CNN, Morning, Vox Media, CBS, ABC, Warner Bros, Warner Bros Discovery, HBO, Getty, BBC News Board, Integrated Media, CNN Worldwide, Masa Locations: Trump, Japan, America

☆ Who Are the 4 People Running CNN Now?
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-08 | by ( Katie Robertson | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Her division was reduced as part of cost-cutting measures by Mr. Licht, who announced in October that CNN would stop buying original TV series and documentary films and that Ms. Entelis would explore developing a studio focused on long-form content. Before joining CNN, Ms. Entelis worked at ABC News for 30 years, starting as a producer and rising through various leadership roles. She was one of three executives chosen last year to lead CNN on an interim basis after the ouster of its previous chief executive, Jeff Zucker. She was promoted to that job in July 2022 by Mr. Licht after a decade at the network, which she joined as a deputy in the Washington bureau. Ms. Moseley previously worked for 18 years at ABC News, where she was a senior Washington producer for “Good Morning America.” She is married to Thomas R. Nides, the U.S. ambassador to Israel.

Persons: . Licht, Entelis, Jeff Zucker, Virginia Moseley Virginia Moseley, Moseley, Thomas R Organizations: CNN, ABC News, White House, America Locations: United States, Washington, U.S, Israel

☆ Stephen Colbert gave ousted CNN chief Chris Licht a hilarious on-air tribute a year before CNN fired him
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-08 | by ( Edith Honan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Before Chris Licht became CEO of CNN, he was the showrunner for "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" on CBS. Licht lost his job this week after a disastrous profile in The Atlantic made him seem clueless and aloof. It was just over a year ago that Licht was treated to a hilarious and heartfelt goodbye from "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert." Stephen Colbert and Chris Licht during the February 28, 2022 show. Colbert and Licht then embrace to the music from Bette Midler's "Wind Beneath my Wings."

Persons: Chris Licht, Stephen Colbert, Licht, —, Colbert, nudging, Jimmy Fallon's, Joe, David Zaslav, Jeff Zucker's, Colbert's sendoff, Scott Kowalchyk, Shriekin, Bette Midler's, Tim Alberta, Colbert hasn't Organizations: CNN, CBS, Service, Warner Bros, Getty, Writers Guild of America, New York Times Magazine

☆ CNN staffers breathe sigh of relief after dismissal of embattled network chief. Now they wonder, what’s next?
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-08 | by ( Oliver Darcy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN staffers don’t want the organization to be known for and consumed by a never-ending soap opera starring the C-suite. With Chris Licht’s dismissal as chairman and chief executive of CNN on Wednesday morning, staffers are aiming to get back to that mission. In recent months, David Zaslav, chief executive of CNN parent Warner Bros. The piece, in which Alberta spoke to more than 100 CNN employees, called into question Licht’s ability to lead the organization moving forward. Will the next network chief be an improvement over Licht?

Persons: don’t, Chris Licht’s, Jeff Zucker, Licht, David Zaslav, Zaslav’s, David Leavy, Tim Alberta, Zaslav, —, “, ”, ” Zaslav, “ It’s, Amy Entelis, Virginia Moseley, Eric Sherling, WBD Organizations: CNN, Employees, Warner Bros, Hudson, New Locations: Alberta, New York

☆ Does CNN’s Turmoil Mean There’s No Room on Cable for Independent News?
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-08 | by ( Jim Rutenberg | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

In the end, Mr. Licht’s attempt appeared to satisfy no one. In fact, Mr. Licht’s short tenure does not provide an easy answer. But it did illuminate just how hard it can be to find success where Mr. Licht was sent looking. And, several current and former CNN staff members said, that clear notion was precisely what was lacking under Mr. Licht and his boss, Mr. Zaslav, whose direction he was following. The definition was shaped more by what they did not want — all that had come before them under Mr. Licht’s predecessor, Jeff Zucker — than what they did want.

Persons: Licht’s, Licht, ” —, Zaslav, Donald J, Trump, . Licht, Jeff Zucker — Organizations: Cable, Republican, CNN

☆ Embattled CEO Chris Licht out at CNN
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-07 | by ( Helen Coster | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] Chris Licht arrives for the Time 100 Gala celebrating Time magazine's 100 most influential people people in the world in New York, U.S., June 8, 2022. REUTERS/Caitlin OchsJune 7 (Reuters) - CNN Chairman and Chief Executive Chris Licht has stepped down from the media company, effective immediately, parent company Warner Bros. The move comes less than a week after the Atlantic magazine published a critical report about Licht. Discovery President and Chief Executive David Zaslav wrote that the company will be conducting a wide search, internally and externally, for a new leader. Reporting by Tiyashi Datta in Bengaluru; Editing by Savio D'Souza and Nick ZieminskiOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Chris Licht, Caitlin Ochs, Amy Entelis, Virginia Moseley, Eric Sherling, David Leavy, David Zaslav, Chris, Zaslav, –, ” Licht, Stephen Colbert, ”, Jeff Zucker, Licht, Donald Trump, Trump, Kaitlan Collins, Tiyashi Datta, Savio D'Souza, Nick Zieminski Organizations: REUTERS, CNN, Warner Bros ., Warner Bros, Discovery, CBS, Republican, U.S . Capitol, Thomson Locations: New York, U.S, Bengaluru

☆ Embattled CNN CEO Chris Licht is reportedly stepping down
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-07 | by ( Nathan Mcalone | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

CNN CEO Chris Licht will step down, Puck reported Wednesday. He was the subject of a disastrous Atlantic profile published Friday. Embattled CNN CEO Chris Licht will be shown the door, according to reporting Wednesday from Puck's Dylan Byers, as well as CNN itself and The New York Times. COO David Leavy, who Zaslav installed last week to run the business side of CNN, will continue to do so, Byers reported. The Wall Street Journal reported Monday that top CNN talent including Anderson Cooper, Jake Tapper, and Erin Burnett had criticized Licht to Leavy.

Persons: Chris Licht, Puck, Licht, Puck's Dylan Byers, I'm, Byers, Amy Entelis, Jeff Zucker, Entelis, David Zaslav, David Leavy, Zaslav, Oliver Darcy, Anderson Cooper, Jake Tapper, Erin Burnett Organizations: CNN, New York Times, Warner Bros, Discovery, CNN Films, Street

☆ CNN's story on the ouster of its CEO is a giant middle finger
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-07 | by ( Hayley Peterson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

CNN reporter Oliver Darcy described Licht's tenure as "stained by a series of severe missteps." Darcy wrote that Licht alienated employees at all levels of CNN and effectively "lost the room." He said the chairman and CEO alienated employees at all levels of the organization and effectively "lost the room." But he "quickly squandered much of that goodwill through a series of blunders, many of his own making," Darcy wrote. "In the final days, Licht seemed to understand that he had alienated staffers," Darcy wrote.

Persons: Christ Licht, Oliver Darcy, Darcy, Licht, Chris Licht, Licht's, Jeff Zucker, Stephen Colbert, Brian Stelter, Donald Trump, Kris Coratti Kelly, Matt Dornic Organizations: CNN

☆ CNN Chairman and CEO Chris Licht is out after a brief and tumultuous tenure
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-07 | by ( Oliver Darcy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

New York CNN —Chris Licht, the embattled chief executive and chairman of CNN, whose brief one-year tenure at the network was stained by a series of severe missteps, departed the company on Wednesday. “I met with Chris and he will be leaving CNN,” David Zaslav, the chief executive of parent company Warner Bros. But it became increasingly clear that Licht’s tenure as the chief executive was not tenable and quickly coming to an end. The CNN chief had, in effect, lost the room. Hundreds of CNN employees were laid off in late November and early December.

Persons: Chris Licht, “, Chris, ” David Zaslav, Jeff Zucker, Stephen Colbert ”, Kevin Mazur, Tim Alberta, Licht, David Leavy, Zaslav, ”, ” Zaslav, “ It’s, Amy Entelis, Virginia Moseley, Eric Sherling, Joe ”, Licht’s, Zucker, Brian Stelter, Don Lemon, Poppy Harlow, Kaitlan Collins, Lemon, Donald Trump, Christiane Amanpour Organizations: New, New York CNN, CNN, Warner Bros, CNN Worldwide, Discovery, CBS, Columbia Journalism School, Licht Locations: New York, CNN’s Hudson, Alberta

☆ High-profile CNN anchors Anderson Cooper, Jake Tapper, and Erin Burnett voiced their concerns about CNN boss Chris Licht: Wall Street Journal
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-07 | by ( Sarah Gray | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Major CNN talent voiced concerns about CEO Chris Licht, The Wall Street Journal reports. The report follows a disastrous profile of Licht in The Atlantic by Tim Alberta. As if things weren't rocky enough for CNN Worldwide CEO Chris Licht, a new report from The Wall Street Journal revealed top on-air talent voiced concerns about the CEO to incoming COO David Leavy. The Journal, citing anonymous sources close to the matter, reported that Anderson Cooper, Jake Tapper, and Erin Burnett have all criticized Licht. The Journal reported that Licht is seen as more aloof and walled off from the newsroom, which contrasts with the style of his predecessor Jeff Zucker, who was often in the scrum.

Persons: Chris Licht, David Leavy, Tim Alberta, Anderson Cooper, Jake Tapper, Erin Burnett, Licht, Donald Trump, Leavy, Tim Alberta's, he's, Jeff Zucker, Poppy Harlow, Kaitlan Collins, Don Lemon, Lemon, Nikki Haley, isn't, —, Cooper, Tapper, Insider's, Nich Carlson Organizations: CNN, Street, Morning, CNN Worldwide, Wall, Republican, GOP, Hall, Trump Locations: South Carolina

☆ Who is Amy Entelis? CNN exec who lead award-winning documentary unit will take over from Chris Licht
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-07 | by ( Trisha Gopal | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Entelis notably led the network's original series and feature-length documentary unit. Entelis, who joined joined CNN in 2012, revitalized the network's original series and feature-length documentary unit, launching high-profile shows like "Parts Unknown" with Anthony Bourdain and "Stanley Tucci: Searching for Italy." Entelis notably lead the charge at CNN Films, the network's longform documentary unit. According to the company's website, Entelis has been responsible for overseeing 45 documentary series and 60 feature length films, earning CNN 100 awards and 445 nominations. Before joining CNN, Entelis spent three decades at ABC, where she managed talent for shows like "20/20," "Good Morning America," "Nightline," and "World News Tonight."

Persons: Chris Licht, Amy Entelis, Entelis, Jeff Zucker, Anthony Bourdain, Stanley Tucci, Alexei Navalny, Licht, David Zaslav, David Leavy, Zaslav's, Virginia Moseley, Eric Sherling, Chris, Zaslav Organizations: CNN, Morning, CNN Worldwide, CNN Films, BAFTA, ABC, Warner Bros, Discovery Locations: Italy

☆ 'That's on me': Warner Bros Discovery CEO sends email to CNN employees taking responsibility for Chris Licht disaster
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-07 | by ( Aaron Mcdade | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Chris Licht is leaving his position as CEO of CNN after a tumultuous year in charge. CNN's parent company, Warner Bros. Warner CEO David Zaslav told employees in an email and a morning newsroom call he was taking responsibility for Licht's mistakes. CNN is once again searching for a new top executive just over a year after departing CEO Chris Licht took the job — and David Zaslav, CEO of CNN's parent company Warner Bros. Read the full memo Zaslav sent to CNN staff that was reported by Tani here:Spokespeople for CNN and Warner Bros.

Persons: Chris Licht, David Zaslav, Licht's, Puck's Dylan Byers, Zaslav, Semafor's Max Tani, Don Lemon, Brian Stelter, Donald Trump, Licht, Jeff Zucker, Oliver Darcy, Jake Tapper, Anderson Cooper, Tani Organizations: CNN, Warner Bros, Discovery, Warner, Wall Street Journal Locations: Trump

☆ CNN's Chris Licht is facing an outraged newsroom and some are wondering if he'll survive — here are 16 top execs he's counting on to help him dig out
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-07 | by ( Lucia Moses | Alison Brower | Claire Atkinson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

CNN CEO Chris Licht hopes to win back his staff's trust after a damaging magazine profile of him. Discovery exec David Leavy has been dispatched to help Licht run the network. Here are the 16 key CNN deputies under Licht leading news efforts, business development, and more. CNN boss Chris Licht has had the most scrutinized and toughest year of all Warner Bros. Leavy will report to Licht when he officially starts June 20, taking oversight of operations, marketing, and PR.

Persons: Chris Licht, David Leavy, Licht, Jeff Zucker, Oliver Darcy, Brian Stelter, that's, Amy Entelis, Virginia Moseley, Athan Stephanopoulos, Chris Marlin, Ted Turner's, John Malone, Donald Trump, Christiane Amanpour, He's, Kaitlan Collins, Gayle King, Charles Barkley, Barbara Starr, Ana Cabrera, Don Lemon, Nikki Haley wasn't, Lemon Organizations: CNN, Top Warner Bros, Discovery, Warner Bros, CNBC, Trump, White House, CBS News, WBD Sports Locations: WBD, York

☆ Chris Licht's tumultuous 13-month run as CEO of CNN: Layoffs, anchor drama, and that really bad Atlantic profile
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-07 | by ( Madeline Berg | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

Discovery CEO David Zaslav emailed staff, letting them know Licht was stepping down. On the programming side, Licht launched "CNN This Morning," with anchors Don Lemon, Poppy Harlow, and Kaitlan Collins. "It's another shit show" on top of Licht's multiplying challenges at CNN, one former employee told Insider at the time. "Having people applaud those sexual abuse comments definitely made me question my allegiance to this network," one network executive told Insider. CNN's own media reporter Oliver Darcy said Licht had "lost the room," adding that dozens of CNN staffers no longer had confidence in their leader.

Persons: Chris Licht, David Zaslav, Licht, Zaslav, He'd, Jeff Zucker, Stephen Colbert's, Joe, Licht's, WBD, —, Brian Stelter, John Harwood, Don Lemon, Poppy Harlow, Kaitlan Collins, Chris Cuomo, Nikki Haley, isn't, Lemon, Gayle King, Charles Barkley, Dana Bash —, Donald Trump, Trump, CNN's Collins, Zucker, Insider's Nich Carlson, Zaslav's, Puck's Dylan Byers, he'd, CNN's, Oliver Darcy, Anderson Cooper, Jake Tapper, Max Tani Organizations: CNN, Warner Bros, Discovery, Licht, CBS, Trump, House, Republican Party, — CNN, AP, Variety, cnn Locations: Trump

☆ Timeline: CNN’s 18 Months of Tumult
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-07 | by ( Gregory Schmidt | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

CNN has endured nearly two years of turmoil as the cable news network has struggled to overcome national scandals, abrupt departures, plummeting ratings and declining profits. The tumult culminated this week with the sudden exit of CNN’s top boss, Chris Licht, whose rocky 13-month run as the leader of CNN came to an end after a string of controversies. He was appointed chief executive and chairman of CNN in February 2022, succeeding Jeff Zucker, who had resigned weeks earlier. Here’s a timeline of 18 months of turmoil at CNN that led up to his ouster. CNN fired Chris Cuomo, a star anchor, on Dec. 4, 2021, over his involvement in the political affairs of his brother, former Gov.

Persons: Chris Licht, Jeff Zucker, . Licht, Licht, Chris Cuomo, Andrew M, Cuomo Organizations: CNN Locations: New York

☆ Media insiders react as CNN's embattled CEO steps down: 'The only person who hates bad press more than Chris Licht is ... David Zaslav.'
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-07 | by ( Ashley Rodriguez | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

CNN CEO Chris Licht stepped down on Wednesday following a damning profile in The Atlantic. "The only person who hates bad press more than Chris Licht is ... David Zaslav," said one ex-CNN staffer. CNN CEO Chris Licht has stepped down after a damning profile in The Atlantic signaled the end to a tumultuous 14 months on the job. Licht stepped into the role in April 2022 after the merger that formed Warner Bros. David Zaslav, the head of the parent company, and John Malone, a big investor, have very specific *editorial ideas for how news should work.

Persons: Chris Licht, David Zaslav, Jeff Zucker, Licht, Oliver Darcy, Brian Stelter, Jamie Stelter, Brian, Kara Swisher, " Swisher, CNN's, Zucker, Glenn Greenwald, Edmund Lee, weren't Licht's, Greenwald, Lee, John Malone Organizations: CNN, Morning, Warner Bros, Wall Street Journal, NY1, Tech, New York Times Locations: Trump

☆ CNN shouldn't get a new CEO after the Licht debacle — here's what it needs instead
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-07 | by ( Alison Brower | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Chris Licht's exit as CEO of CNN gives Warner Bros. Jeff Zucker, whose title was president, led CNN successfully — if not without controversy — for nine years. The CEO title didn't empower Licht, who was seen as executing Zaslav's vision, not his own. Without a CEO title. If Zaslav anoints a Licht replacement without the CEO title, even if the functions of the job don't change much, media observers will see it as a less lofty role.

Persons: Chris Licht's, Jeff Zucker, Licht, WBD, David Zaslav, that's, — Zucker, Zaslav, Zucker, David Leavy, should've, — Organizations: CNN, Warner Bros, CNN Worldwide, WarnerMedia News, Sports, Trump, Street Journal

☆ CNN's CEO bragged to the Atlantic about shedding 48 pounds through diet and exercise. Reports say he had a little help from Ozempic.
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-06 | by ( Jake Swearingen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

CNN CEO Chris Licht claimed to lose nearly 50 pounds from diet and exercise. Now sources tell the Daily Mail and the Daily Beast's Confider that Licht boasted of using Ozempic. Licht told reporter Tim Alberta he dropped nearly 50 pounds over the last three years through a strict diet and grueling exercise regimen. In the Atlantic profile, Licht, 51, boasted about his ascetic eating habits and intense early-morning workouts with trainer Joe Maysonet. "I'm a fucking machine," Licht told The Atlantic, explaining why he was skipping a meal.

Persons: Chris Licht, Licht, Tim Alberta, Ozempic, Joe Maysonet, Jeff Zucker, Zucker, —, It's, Matt Dornic Organizations: CNN, Daily Mail, Daily

☆ CNN CEO Chris Licht apologizes to staff over disastrous Atlantic magazine profile: 'I should not be in the news unless it's taking arrows for you'
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-05 | by ( Taylor Berman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

CNN CEO Chris Licht has apologized to his staff over a disastrous profile published by The Atlantic on Friday. Three days after The Atlantic published a bombshell profile about him, CNN CEO Chris Licht has apologized to his staff in an editorial call. The Atlantic profile, written by Tim Alberta, described Licht as aloof from staff, in contrast to his well-liked predecessor Jeff Zucker. Puck's Dylan Byers reports Licht told staffers on the call that he will move his office back to the newsroom. Insiders at CNN have also shared their theories on how the article became such an spectacular and ill-timed mess for Licht and CNN.

Persons: Chris Licht, Licht, Brian Stelter, Jake Tapper, Nikki Haley, I've, Tim Alberta, Jeff Zucker, Trump ., Puck's Dylan Byers Organizations: CNN, The Atlantic, Morning, GOP, Trump, CNN's New Locations: Alberta, CNN's, CNN's New York City

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