CNN’s new boss Chris Licht is allegedly in “secret talks” to poach MSNBC mainstays Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski, in accordance with a report on Wednesday.
Licht, a longtime TV boss who beforehand served as govt producer on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” and “CBS This Morning,” is fascinated with hiring Scarborough and Brzezinski whereas main an overhaul at CNN, RadarOnline.com reported, citing unnamed sources.
“When CBS employed Chris, he needed to rent Joe and Mika to go up his morning present as an alternative of Gayle King,” one unidentified supply informed the outlet.
“Joe and Mika have been into it, however they couldn’t get out of their take care of NBC. Now Chris is pulling the identical trick once more as he begins his new job at CNN hoping this time, he'll be capable to pull it off,” in accordance with the supply.
“It's unlikely MSNBC will allow them to out of their contract, however Chris is a affected person man,” the supply added.
The Put up couldn't independently confirm the report’s claims. CNN and MSNBC representatives didn't instantly return a request for remark.
MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” debuted in 2007 with Scarborough and Brezezinski serving as co-hosts alongside John Ridley. Scarborough and Brezezinski married in 2018.
“Morning Joe” switched to an expanded four-hour format in April and not too long ago handed its 15-year anniversary on air. Each Scarborough and Brezezinski have contracts operating by the tip of the 12 months, however are stated to be in lively negotiations on extensions.
Enterprise Insider reported final fall that the pair had begun early contract discussions with NBC executives concerning their subsequent strikes on the community. Puck Information reported that Scarborough was looking for $31 million per 12 months from the community for a contract extension.
It’s unclear how including Scarborough and Brzezinski would match into the general CNN technique being pursued by Licht and Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav. Scarborough and Brezezinski are left-leaning hosts at a time when CNN is aiming to shed its repute for liberal bias and pivot to laborious information.
The 2 executives are aiming to re-focus CNN on straight information protection somewhat than left-leaning opinion programming that outlined the community beneath former president Jeff Zucker – who was ousted earlier this 12 months after failing to correctly disclose a romantic relationship with a subordinate.
Nonetheless, in Might, Licht stated CNN deliberate to “reimagine our morning present” starting this fall.
“[To] be trustworthy there, we're looking for to be a disrupter of the published morning reveals on this house, and we consider now we have the individuals and assets who can do it,” Licht stated.
Licht is claimed to be monitoring CNN’s anchors and personalities, with these unable to undertake the community’s give attention to non-partisan content material probably dealing with the ax.
“Chris’ first precedence might be fixing CNN’s morning and primetime programming,” sources informed RadarOnline. “That's the place the large advertiser cash is. Anderson Cooper, Don Lemon, and the morning hosts needs to be involved.”
The CNN president has additionally reportedly informed producers to keep away from calling former President Donald Trump’s claims that the 2020 presidential election was stolen “the large lie,” amongst different efforts aimed toward centrism.
In the meantime, Scarborough and Brezezinski are amongst Trump’s most vocal critics and have recurrently clashed with him lately.
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