Anderson Cooper’s 24-year run at CNN may be coming to a close as the network scrambles to cut costs amid falling ratings and declining revenue.
According to sources, CNN executives are weighing the possibility of cutting ties with Cooper as part of a broader cost-saving initiative.
Once a marquee figure under former CEO Jeff Zucker, the veteran anchor now faces growing uncertainty as the network undergoes another wave of restructuring.
Cooper’s salary is reported to be around $18 million per year, a figure that has become increasingly hard to justify given CNN’s current financial climate.
In recent years, other high-profile anchors have left the network or taken substantial pay cuts, signaling a broader shift in how CNN manages talent expenses.
Much of the budget trimming is focused on on-air salaries, reducing costs for CNN’s extensive overseas bureaus and scaling back expensive special event coverage.
Gunnar Wiedenfels, the chief financial officer for Warner Bros., which owns CNN, is believed to be leading these cost-saving efforts, according to Trending Politics.
Meanwhile, other top CNN personalities like Erin Burnett, who earns roughly $3 million annually, appear to be safe for now.
Industry sources suggest that CNN plans to maintain some big-name anchors under contract during a transitional period as the network adjusts its overall strategy.
Behind the scenes, staffers at CNN’s studios in New York and Atlanta are anxious about what these changes mean for their future.
The once ambitious network now resembles a leaner operation similar to HLN, with smaller budgets, fewer high-profile programs, and lower salaries across the board.
Rumors of Cooper’s departure began circulating after reports emerged that he signed an agency agreement with Creative Artists Agency (CAA), which represents many leading figures in television.
This move is seen as Cooper preparing to explore opportunities beyond CNN rather than waiting to be pushed out.
According to sources, Cooper has grown weary of declining viewership, internal conflicts and watching longtime colleagues leave the network.
The atmosphere at CNN is described as tense and uncertain, with many employees expressing distrust in management’s ability to safeguard the network’s future or its staff.
Wiedenfels’ vision for CNN includes spinning the network off into a new cable division emphasizing reality and lifestyle programming alongside channels like HGTV, TBS, TNT and the Food Network.
Internally, some staff have sarcastically nicknamed the combined entity “Sh*t Co.” due to the drastic changes underway.
Despite leaks and insider commentary, no one at CNN is immune from the sweeping restructuring, according to TP.
High-earning anchors are said to be “targets” in the CFO’s cost-cutting strategy, and many fear that further departures are inevitable.
Several insiders blame Warner Bros. CEO David Zaslav for the network’s struggles, describing the last few years under his leadership as disastrous.
Sources claim that his decisions have directly contributed to CNN’s decline from a leading news brand to a financially troubled cable channel fighting to stay relevant.
As CNN navigates this turbulent period, Cooper’s fate remains a focal point for media watchers and cable news audiences alike.
Whether the network can reinvent itself while maintaining its star power remains an open question.
The post CNN Veteran Anderson Cooper on Chopping Block in Cost-Cutting Spree: Report appeared first on Resist the Mainstream.
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Author: Gloriel Howard
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