thaite
03-25-2003, 09:26 PM
By CAROLINE WILBERT
Cox News Service
ATLANTA - CNN has canceled "Connie Chung Tonight," which was launched in the summer and has been criticized for its tabloid style.
The network offered the host the opportunity to stay at the network in another capacity, but she declined, according to CNN spokesman Matt Furman.
This is the second show new CNN President Jim Walton has canceled as he moves the network toward a more serious, hard-news tone. He also recently canceled "Talk Back Live"
"This is simply an effort to further distinguish ourselves in a crowded market" Furman said.
For now, Chung's 8 p.m. time slot will air Iraq war coverage anchored by Aaron Brown. The network has not named a permanent replacement for the time slot.
Chung pressed CNN's management last Friday to put the program, which had been suspended for war coverage, back on as soon as possible, The New York Times reported. CNN, a unit of AOL Time Warner, responded by telling her that it would decide over the weekend when it would bring the show back.
Instead, its management called her in Tuesday to tell her the program will not resume when the war coverage ends.
Walter Isaacson, the former chairman of CNN who hired Chung, resigned in January. Isaacson, during his tenure, focused on hiring well-known personalities to anchor shows. This move frustrated some old-timers. When Ted Turner founded CNN, the motto was: “News is the star.” Walton has worked at the network almost since its founding.
Chung, who has interviewed supermodel Nikki Taylor and other guests who don't fit with much of CNN's hard-news lineup, has been the target of particular criticism.
Even Turner called Chung 'just awful' in a much-quoted interview earlier this year.
Though Chung attracts more viewers than many of CNN's shows, she has continued to be roundly beaten in the ratings war by Fox News powerhouse Bill O'Reilly.
Cox News Service
ATLANTA - CNN has canceled "Connie Chung Tonight," which was launched in the summer and has been criticized for its tabloid style.
The network offered the host the opportunity to stay at the network in another capacity, but she declined, according to CNN spokesman Matt Furman.
This is the second show new CNN President Jim Walton has canceled as he moves the network toward a more serious, hard-news tone. He also recently canceled "Talk Back Live"
"This is simply an effort to further distinguish ourselves in a crowded market" Furman said.
For now, Chung's 8 p.m. time slot will air Iraq war coverage anchored by Aaron Brown. The network has not named a permanent replacement for the time slot.
Chung pressed CNN's management last Friday to put the program, which had been suspended for war coverage, back on as soon as possible, The New York Times reported. CNN, a unit of AOL Time Warner, responded by telling her that it would decide over the weekend when it would bring the show back.
Instead, its management called her in Tuesday to tell her the program will not resume when the war coverage ends.
Walter Isaacson, the former chairman of CNN who hired Chung, resigned in January. Isaacson, during his tenure, focused on hiring well-known personalities to anchor shows. This move frustrated some old-timers. When Ted Turner founded CNN, the motto was: “News is the star.” Walton has worked at the network almost since its founding.
Chung, who has interviewed supermodel Nikki Taylor and other guests who don't fit with much of CNN's hard-news lineup, has been the target of particular criticism.
Even Turner called Chung 'just awful' in a much-quoted interview earlier this year.
Though Chung attracts more viewers than many of CNN's shows, she has continued to be roundly beaten in the ratings war by Fox News powerhouse Bill O'Reilly.