In a post on The Paley Center for Media’s site, VP and executive director of the Center J. Max Robins writes about why a network partnership with ABC or CBS would not help CNN in the way others have speculated.
“On the surface, especially in these difficult financial times, that might seem to make sense both editorially and financially,” writes Robins. “But does it really? For ABC or CBS it would, but for CNN the answer would likely be: ‘Not interested.'”
According to Robins, the time for a mutually beneficial relationship has come and gone. “Back when CNN had a real interest in a broadcast alliance, the organization suffered from much more of an inferiority complex in terms of its lack of star power and perceived broadcast news polish,” he writes. “Clearly, those days are gone.”
Robins is the former EIC of Broadcasting & Cable magazine.