HLN embarked on a bold re-brand a couple of years ago, going with news programming during the day, and crime and investigation shows at night.
The network is sticking with that theme, but has decided to tinker with the lineup, in part to make the transition from news to originals more seamless.
Beginning Monday, December 4th, SE Cupp Unfiltered, which has been airing in the 7 p.m. hour since its August premiere, will air in the 5 p.m. hour, Mondays – Thursdays.
Unfiltered has experienced some ratings problems since it launched in the 7 p.m. hour, going up against more established cable news opinion shows. The 5 p.m. landscape isn’t necessarily as cutthroat, which could benefit the news panel program.
Prime Time Justice With Ashleigh Banfield has been airing in the 8 p.m. hour, but beginning Dec. 4, it will air from 6 – 8 p.m. ET, Mondays – Thursdays. Because it will no longer air in prime time, the name of the program will become Crime & Justice With Ashleigh Banfield.
Moving Cupp to 5 p.m. and Banfield up to 6 p.m. now means there’s news programming on HLN from 6 a.m. – 8 p.m., with no HLN/CNN original programming in between.
This move will also free up HLN prime time for original programming, including Forensic Files, The Hunt With John Walsh, and others.
Here’s the internal note to staff sent by HLN chief Ken Jautz:
Less than two years ago, we set out to re-brand HLN as news-by-day and investigation by night. A big part of that goal was to seamlessly go live from 6a – 8p ET. I’m pleased to share that beginning Monday, December 4, we are hitting that target. SE Cupp Unfiltered will now air Monday-Thursday from 5-6p, leading into a two-hour newly-titled, Crime & Justice with Ashleigh Banfield.
This new line-up creates a stronger flow into prime, which now hosts a robust library of highly-rated HLN and CNN Original programming, designed for us to win.
I want to thank you for your hard-work and flexibility over the past couple of years as we continue to position HLN for greater success.
Lastly, please hold-the-date of Thursday, December 7, for an ATL / LA Town Hall, and Wednesday, December 13 for NY. More details to come. I look forward to hearing from you on this and much more.
Wishing everyone a very Happy Thanksgiving.
Ken