It’s time for TCA winter press tour. I’m in Pasadena, Calif. for the next two weeks, where I’ll be covering press tour for Quartz and banking stories for other outlets as well. First up is my very first TCA story for Quartz, on CNN Worldwide President Jeff Zucker’s plan to right the ship at his flagging news network. One item very high on his agenda: Shoring up primetime.
Admitting that CNN makes a smaller profit in primetime than MSNBC and Fox News, Zucker said, “Do we want to do better between 8 and 11? Yes!” One possible target for a primetime shakeup: Piers Morgan Live. Zucker said he could ultimately see Piers “maybe in a different role, I don’t know. I don’t want to presuppose anything.” But whatever happens, he insisted, “Piers will continue to be part of CNN.”
Whatever he does, things at CNN are probably going to get worse before they get better.