What Does CNN Have Planned For Fareed Zakaria?

Newsweek International editor Fareed Zakaria is leaving the magazine to join Time. The news was broken by Joe Pompeo of Business Insider, who added a little nugget about Zakaria’s role at CNN:

We hear that CNN plans to build a bigger franchise around Zakaria, who hosts the hour-long foreign affairs program “Fareed Zakaria GPS.” CNN also did not immediately return a call and email for comment.

At the moment CNN’s lineup is full, but there will be big changes coming this Fall with the new 8 PM show hosted by Eliot Spitzer and Kathleen Parker and a new host taking over for Larry King. Still, Zakaria’s Sunday program has drawn much praise from the typically stodgy television critics since its debut in 2008.

What would Zakaria’s “expanded role” at CNN include? A new weekday show? if so, where would they put it? Leave your thoughts in the comments.

Update: We have more on Zakaria’s new role at CNN, after the jump.

Zakaria’s expanded role at CNN will include producing “several special reports a year,” in addition to his duties at GPS. he will also serve as an consultant to HBO Films’ documentary unit.

“Fareed has brought unparalleled insight to CNN’s Sunday morning programming, and his voice will now resonate like that of no other journalist in the world – globally, in print, online, and in longform – thanks to the unmatched resources of Time Warner,” said Jon Klein, president of CNN/U.S. in a statement. “We’re looking forward to continuing to blaze new trails with Fareed and our partners at Time and HBO.”

CNN, Time and HBO are all part of Time Warner.

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