CNN Developing New Morning Show?

CNN is developing a morning show pilot with a new format that is reportedly similar to the current morning chat shows on Fox News and MSNBC. The Wrap’s Dylan Stableford reports:

A representative for CNN had no comment. But according to one source familiar with the network’s development process, CNN is testing a concept that would include personalities with dueling political ideologies and opinions.

This would be in line with what our colleagues at FishbowlLA reported late last year, that CNN was bringing in talent to audition for a “Crossfire”-esque show the network was developing for an unknown time slot.

TheWrap cites an insider who says any pilot is not tied to a specific time slot. CNN’s morning program has seen plenty of changes in recent years. John Roberts and Kiran Chetry joined the program in 2007, replacing Miles O’Brien and Soledad O’Brien. Prior to that, Bill Hemmer anchored before he left for Fox News.

In February, “American Morning” averaged 341,000 Total Viewers, just ahead of MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” (340K), and slightly behind HLN’s “Morning Express with Robin Meade” (342K). FNC’s “Fox & Friends” is the dominant morning cable show, averaging 1.13M Total Viewers last month.

But the changes may not end with a revamped morning show. TVNewser hears another top-line talent may bolt the cable channel when her contract expires. We hear she’s being wooed by one of the big 3 news divisions.

This story appeared on the mediabistro.com Morning Newsfeed. Click here to subscribe and get the morning’s media news in your inbox.

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